A stable atmospheric-pressure plasma for extreme-temperature synthesis

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

17 Scopus Citations
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Author(s)

  • Hua Xie
  • Qian Zhang
  • Hongtao Zhong
  • Liqun Guo
  • Xinpeng Zhao
  • Daozheng Li
  • Shufeng Liu
  • Zhennan Huang
  • Aditya Dilip Lele
  • Alexandra H. Brozena
  • Xizheng Wang
  • Keqi Song
  • Sophia Chen
  • Yan Yao
  • Miaofang Chi
  • Wei Xiong
  • Jiancun Rao
  • Minhua Zhao
  • Mikhail N. Shneider
  • Jian Luo
  • Ji-Cheng Zhao
  • Yiguang Ju
  • Liangbing Hu

Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)964-971
Journal / PublicationNature
Volume623
Issue number7989
Online published29 Nov 2023
Publication statusPublished - 30 Nov 2023
Externally publishedYes

Abstract

Plasmas can generate ultra-high-temperature reactive environments that can be used for the synthesis and processing of a wide range of materials 1,2. However, the limited volume, instability and non-uniformity of plasmas have made it challenging to scalably manufacture bulk, high-temperature materials 3–8. Here we present a plasma set-up consisting of a pair of carbon-fibre-tip-enhanced electrodes that enable the generation of a uniform, ultra-high temperature and stable plasma (up to 8,000 K) at atmospheric pressure using a combination of vertically oriented long and short carbon fibres. The long carbon fibres initiate the plasma by micro-spark discharge at a low breakdown voltage, whereas the short carbon fibres coalesce the discharge into a volumetric and stable ultra-high-temperature plasma. As a proof of concept, we used this process to synthesize various extreme materials in seconds, including ultra-high-temperature ceramics (for example, hafnium carbonitride) and refractory metal alloys. Moreover, the carbon-fibre electrodes are highly flexible and can be shaped for various syntheses. This simple and practical plasma technology may help overcome the challenges in high-temperature synthesis and enable large-scale electrified plasma manufacturing powered by renewable electricity. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.

Citation Format(s)

A stable atmospheric-pressure plasma for extreme-temperature synthesis. / Xie, Hua; Liu, Ning; Zhang, Qian et al.
In: Nature, Vol. 623, No. 7989, 30.11.2023, p. 964-971.

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review