Plasma Treatment Technologies and Applications

Plasma treatment encompasses a suite of techniques in which ionised gases—often generated at or near ambient temperature—interact with surfaces, liquids or gases to effect chemical, physical and biological transformations. By harnessing mixtures of ions, electrons, ultraviolet photons and neutral radicals, these methods enable precise modification of material wettability, surface energy and chemical functionality without bulk heating. In medicine and biotechnology, plasma treatments facilitate sterilisation, wound healing and the selective inactivation of pathogens through the controlled delivery of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. In environmental science, non-thermal plasmas drive conversion of greenhouse gases into value-added chemicals, decompose persistent organic pollutants and disinfect water or air streams. Surface functionalisation of polymers, metals and ceramics benefits from both low-pressure and atmospheric-pressure plasmas, allowing the grafting of biomolecules, improved adhesion and enhanced biocompatibility. Scale-up of atmospheric systems has led to plasma jets and dielectric barrier discharges customised for complex geometries and continuous-flow processes. Energy-efficient operation, minimal chemical waste and compatibility with temperature-sensitive substrates underscore the global relevance of plasma technologies in healthcare, food safety, environmental remediation and advanced manufacturing.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Investigations into cold plasma inactivation of bacteria have revealed a strong correlation between cell-wall thickness and susceptibility. Thinner Gram-negative walls are disrupted more rapidly than thicker Gram-positive counterparts, with emission spectroscopy indicating hydroxyl and atomic oxygen as primary bond-cleaving species. These insights refine disinfection protocols and underpin next-generation antimicrobial devices.

Studies of plasma-activated water storage have demonstrated that freezing at ultra-low temperatures preserves reactive species and extends bactericidal efficacy. Analyses of pH, oxidation–reduction potential and concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, nitrates and nitrites show that specific reactive anions sustain antimicrobial activity for weeks, enabling practical deployment in food preservation and surface sterilisation.

Plasma Treatment Technologies and Applications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in plasma treatment technologies and applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP): A non-thermal ionised gas at near room temperature, rich in reactive species, generated at atmospheric pressure for surface and biological treatments.

Plasma-activated water (PAW): Aqueous solution enriched with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species through plasma exposure, exhibiting prolonged antimicrobial properties.

Plasma polymer nanoparticles (PPN): Nanoscale particles fabricated by plasma polymerisation, used for surface functionalisation in liquid or complex geometries.

Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD): A method for producing non-thermal plasma between electrodes separated by an insulating layer, enabling atmospheric-pressure operation.

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS): Chemically active molecules and radicals derived from oxygen and nitrogen that drive oxidation, disinfection and surface modification processes.

References

1. Plasma medicine: an introductory review. New Journal of Physics (2009).
2. Plasma technology – a novel solution for CO 2 conversion?. Chemical Society Reviews (2017).
3. Dielectric barrier discharges: progress on plasma sources and on the understanding of regimes and single filaments. Plasma Sources Science and Technology (2017).
4. Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria differ in their sensitivity to cold plasma. Scientific Reports (2016).
5. Bactericidal Effects against S. aureus and Physicochemical Properties of Plasma Activated Water stored at different temperatures. Scientific Reports (2016).
6. On‐Demand Bioactivation of Inert Materials With Plasma‐Polymerized Nanoparticles. Advanced Materials (2024).
7. Cold atmospheric plasma can effectively disinfect SARS‐CoV‐2 in the wastewater. Exploration (2023).