The elementary processes during the fixation of nitrogen by plasma catalysis are studied in a low-pressure plasma experiment using N2 and O2 as source gases. The formation of surface groups on an iron oxide foil are monitored with infrared reflection spectroscopy. Surface nitrates (NO3) are formed when the samples are exposed to a 1:1 N2:O2 plasma, as well as O3, NO2, NO, and N2O in the gas phase. During plasma exposure, bidentate nitrates are formed. The structure of this surface group changes after plasma exposure. It is postulated that adsorption plasma created NOx(g) yields the formation of these NO3 species. This constitutes an intermediate step for NOx formation by plasma catalysis.
@article{arxiv.2505.08225,
title = {Nitrogen oxidation on a plasma-exposed surface},
author = {S. C. L. Vervloedt and A. von Keudell},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2505.08225},
year = {2025}
}