Low-temperature dielectric barrier discharge devices
Disclosed are dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) devices and methods of use for sterilizing surfaces. The DBD devices generally include one or more first electrodes, one or more second electrodes or chemical reagent layers, and at least one dielectric layer between the one or more first electrodes and the one or more second electrodes or chemical reagent layers. In various configurations, the at least one dielectric layer is either (a) in contact with at least one of the first electrodes or (if present) at least one chemical reagent layer, or (b) is separated from the one or more first electrodes by a first gap and is also separated from the one or more second electrodes or chemical reagent layers by a second gap.
1 . A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) device, comprising:
one or more first electrodes;
one or more second electrodes or chemical reagent layers;
at least one flexible dielectric layer between the one or more first electrodes and the one or more second electrodes or chemical reagent layers;
a first semipermeable layer in contact with an outward-facing surface of the first electrode;
a second semipermeable layer in contact with the outward-facing surface of the one or more second electrodes,
wherein the at least one dielectric layer is in contact with a planar surface of the one or more first electrodes on a first surface of the at least one flexible dielectric layer, and is in contact with a planar surface of the one or more second electrodes or chemical reagent layers on an opposite surface of the at least one flexible dielectric layer,
wherein the DBD device is configured to function without fluid flow,
wherein the one or more first electrodes and the at least one dielectric layer are flexible, and
wherein the DBD device is configured to ignite surface dielectric barrier discharges.
2 . The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more second electrodes or chemical reagent layers are one or more second electrodes, and each one or more second electrode is configured as a wire or a patterned metal layer.
3 . The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second semipermeable layers are a dielectric fabric or mesh.
4 . The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) device according to claim 1 , wherein the DBD device is powered by a portable power supply.
5 . The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) device according to claim 1 , wherein a current used by the DBD device is less than or equal to 2 mA.
6 . The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) device according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the device is between about 22° C. and about 40° C.
7 . The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more second electrodes are a patterned metal layer.
8 . The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more second electrodes or chemical reagent layers is a chemical reagent layer.
9 . The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) device according to claim 1 , wherein an internal volume defined by dielectric layer is filled with a gas or gas mixture capable of generating excimer molecules and UV-C during a discharge by the device.
10 . The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more second electrodes are a patterned metal layer in contact with the dielectric layer, and wherein the DBD device is configured to ignite surface dielectric barrier discharges between two parts of the patterned metal layer.
11 . The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) device according to claim 1 , wherein the DBD device is free of gaps between adjacent layers.