Catalyst‐enhanced plasma oxidation of n ‐butane over α‐MnO 2 in a temperature‐controlled twin surface dielectric barrier discharge reactor

A twin surface dielectric barrier discharge is used for the catalyst‐enhanced plasma oxidation of 300 ppm n ‐butane in synthetic air. Plasma‐only operation results in the conversion of n ‐butane into CO and CO 2 . Conversion is improved by increasing the temperature of the feed gas, but selectivity shifts to undesired CO. α‐MnO 2 is used as a catalyst deposited on the electrodes by spray coating with a distance of 1.5 mm between the uncoated grid lines and the square catalyst patches to prevent the inhibition of plasma ignition. The catalyst strongly influences selectivity, reaching 40% conversion and 73% selectivity to CO 2 at a specific energy density of 390 J·L −1 and 140°C, which is far below the onset temperature of thermocatalytic n ‐butane conversion.