Decomposition of 2-((2-methoxyphenyl)diazenyl)benzene-1,3,5-triol molecule by an argon plasma jet

In this study, we have presented the effects of the argon plasma on a 2-((2-methoxyphenyl)diazenyl)benzene-1,3,5-triol molecule—AZO compound (abbreviated as 2MDB)—under atmospheric pressure. In order to do this, the validated molecule has been considered and plasma has been used to modify it. The atmospheric pressure plasma jet system was specially designed for performing decomposing processes of the 2MDB molecule. The characterizations before and after the application of plasma—which takes only 3 minutes under atmospheric pressure conditions, to dissolve the 2MDB molecule in ethanol and methanol solutions—were examined using the Fourier transform infrared and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopies. After the plasma treatment, the molecule was broken at -C-N=N-C-C bond. Accurate and important changes are seen clearly from the results. In addition, according to UV-Vis spectra, π-π* electronic transitions related to –N=N– AZO bridge for the 2MDB molecule in polar-aprotic solvents such as ethanol and methanol were recorded as strong transitions. The new photoproducts such as -C-N–N=C and C=O were obtained from the 2MDB molecule.