Dr. Peter Bruggeman seminar
Dr. Peter J. Bruggeman, the Ernst Eckert Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, will deliver a seminar, "Low Temperature Plasma: A Unique Non-Equilibrium Reactive Environment," on April 20.
Abstract:
Low temperature plasmas represent a unique non-equilibrium environment composed of neutral atoms and molecules, radicals, excited states, ions and electrons. These plasmas have characteristic electron energies of a few eV and can produce highly reactive chemistry at close to ambient temperatures. The resulting unique non-equilibrium conditions enable the delivery of highly reactive plasma species to heat sensitive substrates and have enabled major advances in the microelectronics industry. Recently, advances in atmospheric pressure low temperature plasmas led to several emerging applications with a great potential for the electrification of chemical processes.
This seminar will discuss the unique non-equilibrium plasma-induced chemistry underpinning a selection of new applications. We will discuss three case studies: plasma-enabled electrochemistry in liquid phase, plasma interactions with heterogeneous catalysts in the gas phase and the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen at room temperature. These reaction conditions enable the capability of low temperature plasma to synthesize ammonia from N2 and H2 at ambient temperature and pressure, the green synthesis of nanomaterials and the plasma-enabled decontamination of virus and bacteria on heat sensitive surfaces. In addition, we will show that in situ diagnostics enable us to unravel the underpinning complex chemical pathways which often rely on highly short-lived reactive species leading to a strong coupling between the chemistry and transport.
Bio:
Dr. Peter J. Bruggeman is the Ernst Eckert Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. His research is focused on plasma science and engineering. He serves as the Director of the High Temperature and Plasma Laboratory consisting of 3 faculty and about 25 researchers and Associate Director of the Department of Energy Center on Plasma Interactions with Complex Interfaces consisting of 8 institutions. He also leads a MURI (Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative) on “Plasma-Driven Solution Electrochemistry”. He was Associate Department Head from 2019 to 2023.
Prof. Bruggeman was an Assistant Professor of Applied Physics at the Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands, from 2009 until he joined the University of Minnesota in 2013. His research has been recognized by several awards including the 2016 US Department of Energy Early Career Award, the 2018 Peter Mark Memorial Award of the American Vacuum Society and the 2020 George W. Taylor Award for Distinguished Research of the College of Science and Engineering of the University of Minnesota.
Prof. Bruggeman serves as an editorial board member of several journals, served on the committee charged by the National Academies with the Decadal Study of Plasma Science (Plasma 2020), and co-edited the 2017 and 2022 Plasma Roadmap giving directions for the future development of the field of low temperature plasma. Prof. Bruggeman is also an elected member of the board of directors of the International Plasma Chemistry Society.
