Described herein are plasma generation devices and methods of use of the devices. The devices can be used for the cleaning of various surfaces and/or for inhibiting or preventing the accumulation of particulates, such as dust, or moisture on various surfaces. The devices can be used to remove dust and other particulate contaminants from solar panels and windows, or to avoid or minimize condensation on various surfaces. In an embodiment a plasma generation device is provided. The plasma generation device can comprise: a pair of electrodes positioned in association with a surface of a dielectric substrate. The pair of electrodes can comprise a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and second electrode can be of different sizes, one of the electrodes being smaller than the other of the electrodes. The first electrode and second electrode can be separated by a distance and electrically connected to a voltage source.

A nozzle assembly for generating an atmospheric plasma jet includes an inlet, through which the jet can be introduced into the nozzle assembly, and a channel connected to the inlet so that the plasma jet introduced is conducted through the channel. Multiple nozzle openings are provided in the channel wall along the channel, through which a plasma jet can exit the assembly. The cross section of the channel in the region of a nozzle opening is shaped in such a way that a virtual medial plane runs between a virtual first tangent plane of the cross section through the nozzle opening and a virtual second tangent plane of the cross section opposite thereto and parallel to the first tangent plane divides the cross section into a first cross-sectional area at the nozzle opening. The cross-sectional surface of the first cross-sectional area differs from the cross-sectional surface of the second.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a plasma treatment system and methods for utilizing directed plasma to reduce instances of gas venting and leaking of contents from plastic bottles due to scratches occurring on sealing interfaces of the bottles and closures. In an embodiment, a plasma treatment system for repairing scratches applied to PET bottles comprises one or more plasma nozzles disposed along a bottle filling line and a plasma being issued by the plasma nozzles to repair the scratches. The plasma nozzles are arranged into a configuration that uniformly distributes plasma to all parts of a neck finish comprising the PET bottles. The plasma treatment of the PET bottles is performed prior to capping of the bottles. In an embodiment, the plasma treatment is performed after filling the bottles with contents so as to avoid a risk of scratches from misaligned filling tubes.

A plasma device for treating surfaces, in particular surfaces of fabrics. In order to allow for better ease of handling, an elongate housing is provided which can be manipulated with one hand and in which a plasma source is arranged. The plasma source has a plateau surface that extends in the longitudinal direction of the housing and includes at least one electrode via which plasma can be dispensed onto the surface to be treated. A center of gravity M and a geometrical center G are located at a distance of less than 20 mm from one another.

A method of forming an identifiable marking at an outer surface of a plurality of articles formed from a solid-state material, wherein each marking is formed from one or more recesses extending from the outer surface and into the article, said method including the steps of (i) providing at least a first mask having a first surface and a second surface and having a plurality of mask patterns, wherein each mask pattern is formed by one or more apertures extending through the mask from the first surface and to the second surface, and wherein the pattern is indicative of the shape of marking to be formed; (ii) affixing a plurality of articles formed from a solid-state material relative to the mask such that an outer surface of each article of the plurality of articles is affixed adjacent a mask pattern and adjacent the first surface of the mask; and (iii) applying a plasma etching process in a direction of from towards the second surface of the mask and towards the plurality of articles, wherein the outer surface of each article exposed to the plasma etching through the apertures in the mask has a marking formed thereon by one or more recesses etched by the plasma etching process.

A method and system for forming a thin patterned metal film on a substrate are presented. The method includes applying an ink composition on a pre-treated surface of the substrate, wherein the ink composition includes at least metal cations; and exposing at least the applied ink composition on the substrate to a low-energy plasma, wherein the low-energy plasma is operated according to a first set of exposure parameters.

A system for treating an article. The system comprises a segment adapted to contain a local atmosphere and an internal pressure which is within the range of 90 kPa to 110 kPa. The segment comprising a module. The module comprising a pair of electrodes and a manifold for delivering a fluid to the pair of electrodes, wherein the electrodes are adapted to energise the fluid delivered from the manifold before being deposited onto the article.

Systems, devices, methods, and computer readable media for generating plasma for treating objects may be provided. Embodiments include a housing; a plasma generation zone within the housing configured to enable accommodation of an object; a plasma generator for enabling formation of plasma within the plasma generation zone; a plurality of vacuum pumps within the housing, each pump having a vacuum inlet; a plurality of conduits within the housing connecting the plurality of vacuum pumps in series, such that when activated, the series of pumps cause a vacuum within the plasma generation zone; and at least one processor configured to simultaneously operate the plurality of vacuum pumps while the object is in a region of the plasma generation zone.

Method for treating in an enclosure an inner surface of a container made from polymer material, in order to deposit a barrier coating there on, comprises: inserting the container into the enclosure; introducing a precursor gas into the container intended, once transformed into the plasma state, to be deposited at least partially on the inner surface of the container in order to constitute the coating; wherein the method further comprises: transforming the precursor gas into the plasma state by a combination of excitations comprising a main excitation by means of electromagnetic waves comprising microwaves, and a secondary excitation by means of an electrical discharge of alternating voltage having a frequency between 1 kHz and 15 MHz.

Plasma generating apparatus includes a pair of electrodes configured to generate plasma by discharge, a first supply path configured to supply processing gas along an outer periphery of each of the pair of electrodes, a second supply path configured to supply processing gas between the pair of electrodes, and a suction path configured to suck the processing gas supplied along an outer peripheral surface of each of the pair of electrodes via the first supply path.