Plasma technology has great potential for supporting catalytic processes. On the one hand, plasmas enable chemical processes with high activation energies and can be used for the conversion of gases or the modification of liquids. The inclusion of catalytic surfaces in plasma chemical processes can increase their selectivity and/or efficiency. Secondly, plasma surface technology enables the deposition and customization of special catalytic layers. To bring plasma and catalyst together, more knowledge is needed about the correlation of the fundamental mechanisms of plasma-surface interaction and their interplay. The possibilities of new materials must also be investigated more closely.
Bringing research groups and experts together
An international workshop organized by the European Research Association for Thin Films (EFDS) on the subject of "Plasma, Catalysis & Thin Films for Conversion Processes" will bring together research groups from the fields of catalysis and plasma technology. The aim is to present the fundamentals of plasma and catalysis technology in connection with new applications such as gas purification, CO2 conversion, plasma pyrolysis, nitrogen fixation and other chemical syntheses. Plasma processes for catalyst production will also be discussed. The workshop is aimed at catalysis and plasma experts, materials specialists, process engineers, machine and component manufacturers and other experts. The event will take place at Evonik in Marl.
Initiated by Plasma Germany
The workshop was initiated by Plasma Germany, the Atmospheric Plasma Working Group and specialist committees of the European Thin Films Research Association, where experts have been exchanging information on this topic for a year now. Developments are being stimulated not least by the current debate on alternative energy sources, carbon dioxide recycling and new chemical synthesis routes. Topics such as nitrogen fixation, methanation, hydrogen production, carbon dioxide conversion, biofuels and plasma-to-X processes play an important role in achieving the goals that have been set.
The topic will also be present at V2025 from October 13 - 16, 2025 in Dresden and will be continued as a special under the title "Gas Conversion Through Activation With Non-Thermal Plasma | an Inspiring Idea for Cold Gases".