The effect of particle gas composition and boundary conditions on triboplasma generation: a computational study using the particle-in-cell method

Abstract

Two dimensional particle in cell simulations of free charge creation by collisional ionization of C12 and C60 molecules immersed in plasma for the parameters of relevance to plasma gasification are presented. Our main findings are that (i) in uniform plasmas with smooth walls two optimal values which emerge for free electron production by collisional ionization (i.e. a most efficient discharge condition creation) are $C60:C12$ fractions of $10:90$ and $80:20$, (ii) in plasmas with rough walls, modelled by comb-like electric field at the boundary, the case of tangential electric field creates significant charge localization in C12+ and C60+ species, again creating most favorable discharge condition for tribo-electrically generated plasma. The numerical simulation results are discussed with reference to recent triboelectric plasma experiments and are corroborated by suitable analytical models.