Development of a Portable and Low Cost Atmospheric Pressure Microplasma Generation Device Driven By Mobile Power Pack

This work presents the development of a portable plasma system that integrates a microplasma generation device (MGD), a high voltage module, and a mobile power pack. The MGD is made of double-sided copper laminate with the 0.050-mm-thick FR-4 glass epoxy as the dielectric layer. The electrode patterns on this MGD are defined by the toner-transfer method, which enables the spatial resolution down to 0.150 mm and without the need of cleanroom facilitates. The MGD itself is low cost and disposable. MGD with different designs can be easily replaced and installed on this portable plasma system. The high voltage module is a printed circuit board that contains an oscillating circuit that converts DC to AC and a transformer that raises the voltage up to 168 times. The mobile power pack outputs 5 V DC and drives the high voltage module that gives a high voltage output: up to 2.5 kVp-p with a frequency of 20 kHz. The portable plasma system is low cost (<30 USD/system), compact (<70 mm * 40 mm * 40 mm), and portable, as opposed to conventional plasmas that are expensive and bulky. The system allows for generation of microplasmas for tens of minutes. We test several designs of the high voltage module and the MGD. Electrical and optical analyses are performed to obtain the system characteristics of each design with the goal of obtained a stable and controllable plasma with low power consumption. It will be demonstrated that by analyzing the optical emission spectrum emanating from this portable plasma system; ppm level volatile organic compounds in the gas phase can be detected.