Plasma is very interesting for sustainable chemistry, i.e., the electrification of various chemical reactions, and we are exploring various applications, including CO2 splitting into CO and O2, CH4 conversion into olefins, H2 and valuable carbon (like C-black or C-nanotubes), the combined CO2 and CH4 conversion (dry reforming of methane, DRM) for syngas production, CO2 hydrogenation, partial oxidation of CH4, N2 fixation into NH3 or NOx for green fertilizer synthesis, NH3 cracking into H2, and (plastic and other) waste gasification.  We develop plasma fluid dynamics and chemical kinetics models and perform experiments in various types of plasma reactors, often built in our lab based on our model predictions, for better insight and improving the performance.

Key publications

Plasma technology for the electrification of chemical reactions.
A. Bogaerts
​ and ​

Fluid–electromagnetic modelling of atmospheric pressure CO2 microwave plasma: Towards reactor design.
V. Laitl, I. Tsonev, O. Biondo, E. Carbone, M.C.K. Albrechts and A. Bogaerts
and ​

Preheating applied on a 915 MHz CO2 microwave plasma: Unlocking the potential for heat recycling in plasma systems.
E.R. Mercer, C.F.A.M. van Deursen, F.J.J. Peeters, W.A. Bongers, F.M.A. Smits, M.C.M. van de Sanden and A. Bogaerts

Techno-economic and life-cycle assessment for syngas production using sustainable plasma-assisted methane reforming technologies.
M. Escribà-Gelonch, J. Osorio-Tejada, L. Yu, B. Wanten, A. Bogaerts  and V. Hessel

Selective catalytic hydrogenation of C2H2 from plasma-driven CH4 coupling without extra heat: Mechanistic insights from micro-kinetic modelling and reactor performance.
E. Morais, F. Cameli, G.D. Stefanidis and A. Bogaerts
and ​

Spatially resolved modelling of NH3 cracking in warm plasma.
R. Quiroz Marnef, S. Maerivoet, I. Tsonev, F. Reniers and A. Bogaerts
and ​

Influence of radial transport and turbulent effects on CO2 conversion in a microwave plasma reactor: Insights from a multi-dimensional thermo-chemical flow model.
H.M.S. Van Poyer, I. Tsonev, S.J.R. Maerivoet, M.C.K. Albrechts and A. Bogaerts
and ​

Plasma catalysis: What is needed to create synergy?
J. Van Turnhout, K. Rouwenhorst, L. Lefferts and A. Bogaerts

Post-plasma carbon bed design for CO2 conversion: Does size and insulation matter?
C. O’Modhrain, Y. Gorbanev and A. Bogaerts
 and ​

Coupling a CO2 plasma with a carbon bed: the closer the better.
O. Biondo, K. Wang, H. Zhang and A. Bogaerts

Plasma-assisted NH3 cracking in warm plasma reactors for green H2 production.
I. Fedirchyk, I. Tsonev, R. Quiroz Marnef and A. Bogaerts
​ and ​

Can post-plasma CH4 injection improve plasma-based dry reforming of methane?  A modeling study.
M. Albrechts, I. Tsonev and A. Bogaerts
(2024 Green Chemistry Hot Article)​ċċ

CO2 conversion to CO via plasma and electrolysis: A techno-economic and energy cost analysis.
J. Osorio-Tejada, M. Escriba-Gelonch, R. Vertongen, A. Bogaerts and V. Hessel

Upscaling plasma-based CO2 conversion: Case study of a multi-reactor gliding arc plasmatron.
C. O’Modhrain, G. Trenchev, Y. Gorbanev and A. Bogaerts
and ​

Coupled multi-dimensional modelling of warm plasmas: Application and validation for an atmospheric pressure glow discharge in CO2/CH4/O2.
S. Maerivoet, I. Tsonev, J. Slaets, F. Reniers and A. Bogaerts

Plasma catalysis in ammonia production and decomposition: Use it, or lose it?
Y. Gorbanev, I. Fedirchyk and A. Bogaerts

Importance of plasma discharge characteristics in plasma catalysis: Dry reforming of methane vs. ammonia synthesis.
R. De Meyer, Y. Gorbanev, R.-G. Ciocarlan, P. Cool, S. Bals and A. Bogaerts
and ​ċċ

Plasma-based dry reforming of CH4: Plasma effects vs. thermal conversion.
J. Slaets, B. Loenders and A. Bogaerts
and supporting information

Correction: From the Birkeland–Eyde process towards energy-efficient plasma-based NOx synthesis: A techno-economic analysis.
K.H.R. Rouwenhorst, F. Jardali, A. Bogaerts and L. Lefferts

Avoiding solid carbon deposition in plasma-based dry reforming of methane.
O. Biodo, C.F.A.M. van Deursen, A. Hughes, A. van de Steeg, W. Bongers, M.C.M. van de Sanden, G. van Rooij and A. Bogaerts

Plasma-based CO2 conversion: How to correctly analyze the performance?
B. Wanten, R. Vertongen, R. De Meyer and A. Bogaerts
and and ​

Is a catalyst always beneficial in plasma catalysis? Insights from the many physical and chemical interactions.
B. Loenders, R. Michiels and A. Bogaerts
and ​

Methane coupling in nanosecond pulsed plasmas: Correlation between temperature and pressure and effects on product selectivity.
E. Morais, E. Delikonstantis, M. Scapinello, G. Smith, G.D. Stefanidis and A. Bogaerts
and ​ċ

Nitrogen fixation by an arc plasma at elevated pressure to increase the energy efficiency and production rate of NOx.
I. Tsonev, C. O’Modhrain, A. Bogaerts and Y. Gorbanev
and ​

The 2022 Plasma Roadmap: Low temperature plasma science and technology.
I. Adamovich, S. Agarwal, E. Ahedo, L.L. Alves, S. Baalrud, N. Babaeva, A. Bogaerts, A. Bourdon, P.J. Bruggeman, C. Canal, E.H. Choi, S. Coulombe, Z. Donkó, D.B. Graves, S. Hamaguchi, D. Hegemann, M. Hori, H.-H. Kim, G.M.W. Kroesen, M.J. Kushner, A. Laricchiuta, X. Li, T.E. Magin, S. Mededovic Thagard, V. Miller, A.B. Murphy, G.S. Oehrlein, N. Puac, R.M. Sankaran, S. Samukawa, M. Shiratani, M. Šimek, N. Tarasenko, K. Terashima, E. Thomas Jr., J. Trieschmann, S. Tsikata, M.M. Turner, I.J. van der Walt, M.C.M. van de Sanden and T. von Woedtke

Foundations of plasma catalysis for environmental applications.
A. Bogaerts, E.C. Neyts, O. Guaitella and A.B. Murphy

Effusion nozzle for energy-efficient NOx production in a rotating gliding arc plasma reactor.
S. Van Alphen, H. Ahmadi Eshtehardi, C. O’Modhrain, J. Bogaerts, H. Van Poyer, J. Creel, M.-P. Delplancke, R. Snyders and A. Bogaerts​
 and its 

Energy-efficient small-scale ammonia synthesis process with plasma-enabled nitrogen oxidation and catalytic reduction of adsorbed NOx.
L. Hollevoet, E. Vervloessem, Y. Gorbanev, A. Nikiforov, N. De Geyter, A. Bogaerts and J.A. Martens
 and its ​

Carbon bed post-plasma to enhance the CO2 conversion and remove O2 from the product stream.
F. Girard-Sahun, O. Biondo, G. Trenchev, G. van Rooij and A. Bogaerts
 and its ​

Dry reforming of methane in an atmospheric pressure glow discharge: Confining the plasma to expand the performance.
B. Wanten, S. Maerivoet, C. Vantomme, J. Slaets, G. Trenchev and A. Bogaerts
​ and its .

Oxygenate production from plasma-activated reaction of CO2 and ethane.
A.N. Biswas, L R. Winter, B. Loenders, Z. Xie, A. Bogaerts and J.G. Chen
​ and its .

Nitrogen fixation in an electrode-free microwave plasma.
S. Kelly and A. Bogaerts
 and its .

Plasma catalysis for ammonia synthesis: A microkinetic modeling study on the contributions of Eley−Rideal reactions.
Y. Engelmann, K. van ’t Veer, Y. Gorbanev, E.C. Neyts, W. F. Schneider and A. Bogaerts
 and its .

Selective oxidation of CH4 to CH3OH through plasma catalysis: Insights from catalyst characterization and chemical kinetics modelling.
Y. Yi, S. Li, Z. Cui, Y. Hao, Y. Zhang, L. Wang, P. Liu, X. Tu, X. Xu, H. Guo and A. Bogaerts

From the Birkeland–Eyde process towards energy-efficient plasma-based NOX synthesis: a techno-economic analysis.
K.H.R. Rouwenhorst, F. Jardali, A. Bogaerts and L. Lefferts
  Correction published in 2023: ​

Sustainable gas conversion by gliding arc plasmas: A new modelling approach for reactor design improvement.
S. Van Alphen, F. Jardali, J. Creel, G. Trenchev, R. Snyders and A. Bogaerts

NOx production in a rotating gliding arc plasma: Potential avenue for sustainable nitrogen fixation.
F. Jardali, S. Van Alphen, J. Creel, H.A. Eshtehardi, M. Axelsson, R. Ingels, R. Snyders and A. Bogaerts
 and its ​

Spatially and temporally non-uniform plasmas: Microdischarges from the perspective of molecules in a packed bed plasma reactor.
K. van ‘t Veer, S. van Alphen, A. Remy, Y. Gorbanev, N. De Geyter, R. Snyders, F. Reniers and A Bogaerts
)

On the kinetics and equilibria of plasma-based dry reforming of methane.
Y. Uytdenhouwen, K.M. Bal, E.C. Neyts, V. Meynen, P. Cool and A. Bogaerts

How gas flow design can influence the performance of a DBD plasma reactor for dry reforming of methane.
Y. Uytdenhouwen, J. Hereijgers, T. Breugelmans, P. Cool and A. Bogaerts

Towards green ammonia synthesis through plasma-driven nitrogen oxidation and catalytic reduction.
L. Hollevoet, F. Jardali, Y. Gorbanev, J. Creel, A. Bogaerts and J.A. Martens(Hot paper, with publicity in )

Plasma-driven catalysis: green ammonia synthesis with intermittent electricity.
K.H.R. Rouwenhorst, Y. Engelmann, K. van ‘t Veer, R.S. Postma, A. Bogaerts and L. Lefferts

Plasma-based CO2 conversion: To quench or not to quench?
V. Vermeiren and A. Bogaerts

The 2020 plasma catalysis roadmap.
A. Bogaerts, X. Tu, J.C. Whitehead, G. Centi, L. Lefferts, O. Guaitella, F. Azzolina-Jury, H. Kim, A.B. Murphy, W.F. Schneider, T. Nozaki, J.C. Hicks, A. Rousseau, F. Thevenet, A. Khacef and M. Carreon

Plasma-based N2 fixation into NOx: Insights from modeling toward optimum yields and energy costs in a gliding arc plasmatron.
E. Vervloessem, M. Aghaei, F. Jardali, N. Hafezkhiabani and A. Bogaerts
and its ​

Plasma technology for CO2 conversion: A personal perspective on prospects and gaps.
A. Bogaerts and G. Centi

Predicted influence of plasma activation on nonoxidative coupling of methane on transition metal catalysts.
Y. Engelmann, P. Mehta, E.C. Neyts, W.F. Schneider and A. Bogaerts
and ​

Dual-vortex plasmatron: a novel plasma source for CO2 conversion.
G. Trenchev and A. Bogaerts

CO2 and CH4 conversion in “real” gas mixtures in a gliding arc plasmatron: how do N2 and O2 affect the performance?
J. Slaets, M. Aghaei, S. Ceulemans, S. Van Alphen and A. Bogaerts

Nitrogen fixation with water vapor by nonequilibrium plasma: Towards sustainable ammonia production.
Y. Gorbanev, E. Vervloessem, A. Nikiforov and A. Bogaerts

Plasma technology - a novel solution for CO2 conversion?
R. Snoeckx and A. Bogaerts
(Paper featered on the )

Plasma technology: An emerging technology for energy storage.
A. Bogaerts and E.C. Neyts
(Invited feature article and selected to be featured in ACS Editors' Choice + Free Open Access)

Atmospheric pressure glow discharge for CO2 conversion: Model-based exploration of the optimum reactor configuration.
G. Trenchev, A. Nikiforov, W. Wang, St. Kolev and A. Bogaerts

Modeling plasma-based CO2 and CH4 conversion in mixtuires with N2, O2 and H2O: The bigger plasma chemistry picture.
W. Wang, R. Snoecks, X. Zhang, M.S. Cha and A. Bogaerts
and its . (Invited feature article and selected for the ).

Novel power-to-syngas concept for plasma catalutic reforming coupled with water electrolysis.
K. Li, J.-L. Liu, X.-S. Li, H.-Y. Lian, X. Zhu, A. Bogaerts and A.-M. Zhu

Plasma streamer propagation in structured catalysts.
Q-Z. Zhang and A. Bogaerts

Propagation of a plasma streamer in catalyst pores.
Q.-Z. Zhang and A. Bogaerts

Effect of plasma-induced surface charging on catalytic processes: application to CO2 activation.
K.M. Bal, S. Huygh, A. Bogaerts and E.C. Neyts

(Selected by the editors of Plasma Sources Science and Technology as one of the “" in the "Papers" section)

Dry reforming of methane in a gliding arc plasmatron: towards a better understanding of the plasma chemistry.
E. Cleiren, S. Heijkers, M. Ramakers and A. Bogaerts
and its .  (Cover feature of the journal)

Gliding arc plasmatron: providing an alternativemethod for carbon dioxide conversion.
M. Ramakers, G. Trenchev, S. Heijkers, W. Wang and A. Bogaerts
and its .

Plasma technology: An emerging technology for energy storage.
A. Bogaerts and E.C. Neyts
  (Invited feature article and selected to be featured in ACS Editors' Choice + Free Open Access)

Nitrogen fixation by gliding arc plasma: better insight by chemical kinetics modelling.
W. Wang, B. Patil, S. Heijkers, V. Hessel and A. Bogaerts
 and its . (Paper featered on the , as "cover profile" and "very important paper" of ChemSusChem).

The quest for value-added products from carbon dioxide and water in a dielectric barrier discharge: a chemical kinetics study.
R. Snoeckx, A. Ozkan, F. Reniers and A. Bogaerts
and its .

CO2 conversion in a dielectric barrier discharge plasma: N2 in the mix as a helping hand or problematic impurity?
R. Snoeckx, S. Heijkers, K. Van Wesenbeeck, S. Lenaerts and A. Bogaerts

Can plasma be formed in catalyst pores?  A modeling investigation.
Y.-R. Zhang, K. Van Laer, E.C. Neyts and A. Bogaerts

Plasma catalysis: synergistic effects at the nanoscale.
E.C. Neyts, K. Ostrikov, M.K. Sunkara and A. Bogaerts

Carbon dioxide splitting in a dielectric barrier discharge plasma: a combined experimental and computational study.
R. Aerts, W. Somers and A. Bogaerts

Plasma-based conversion of CO2: current status and future challenges.
A. Bogaerts, T. Kozák, K. Van Laer and R. Snoeckx

Splitting of CO2 by vibrational excitation in non-equilibrium plasmas: a reaction kinetics model.
T. Kozák and A. Bogaerts
(Selected by the editors of Plasma Sources Science and Technology as one of the “Highlights of 2014")