Decomposition of CO2 in a Glow Discharge (an Analytical Review)

An analytical review of the results of experimental and theoretical studies of carbon dioxide decomposition in glow discharges is given. From a comparative analysis of the literature data, an attempt is made to determine the discharge parameters at which the maximum values of decomposition degree of carbon dioxide and energy efficiency for a particular device are provided. The maximum values of the decomposition degree of dry carbon dioxide of 40% and energy efficiency of 32% are achieved in discharge devices at a current of 10 to 100 mA, a specific power of 0.2 to 3.6 W/cm per unit length of the positive column, at average 50–60 Torr and atmospheric pressures in the subsonic gas flow with a volumetric flow rate of 300 cm 3 /s. Discharge devices in which a pulse–periodic (in the range from a few tenths to several tens of kHz) glow discharge of atmospheric pressure is used for the utilization of carbon dioxide can be promising.