Effect of voltage polarity and supply frequency on properties of plasma contacting liquid electrode and gold nanoparticle synthesis

Plasma contacting with liquid provides many charged particles and reactive species into the liquid. The difficulty in controlling or selecting each specific species has significantly limited its applications in industry. Here, we present a study on using voltage polarity to regulate the type of charged particles absorbing from plasma into liquid. Detailed understanding of the processes at the plasma-liquid interface, electrolysis due to switching in voltage polarity was investigated via a visual pH observation, measuring the concentration of H2O2 and solvated electrons. The results indicated that changing in voltage polarity strongly affects the plasma properties, chemical properties, and electrolysis process in liquid, and further in the types of reducing species for gold nanoparticle synthesis. The results also showed using a suitable frequency could improve the efficiency of absorption of H2O2from plasma into the bulk liquid and the yield in the production of gold nanoparticles. The results provide a way to select desired species from plasma into the liquid for a distinct purpose and accompanying other properties in the system of plasma contacting with liquid.