The Use of Non-Equilibrium Plasmas for the Synthesis of Heterogeneous Catalysts

A review of published works in the field of catalyst synthesis and treatment with the use of non‐equilibrium plasma techniques has been composed. Non‐equilibrium plasmas, also called low temperature plasmas, are known for their high reactivity (high electron temperature), while keeping the overall gas temperature low. Non‐equilibrium plasmas are often applied for dry surface modifications as an environment friendly alternative for solvent‐based techniques. In the field of heterogeneous catalysis, non‐equilibrium plasmas are most commonly used for the treatment of catalytically active surfaces. Such applications can result into highly dispersed catalysts with high activity and stability, such as photo‐catalytically active titanium dioxide films. Moreover, (non‐equilibrium) plasma‐assisted chemical vapor deposition can also be used for the synthesis of powder‐like materials used in heterogeneous catalysis for a wide range of applications, for example, ultrafine Fe2O3. The research field is still emerging, but already proves to be very promising, as will be shown in the review. Plasma‐assisted synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts, both films and powders, is still under thorough investigation in the plasma research field. However, like this review will show, the field proves to be very promising, because of the ability to work without solvents and at low temperature, while the reactivity in the plasma is more than sufficient to produce or treat highly dispersed catalysts with high activity and stability.