[en] The chemistry associated with atmospheric dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) in air has been studied. Laboratory and industrial DBD systems have been investigated. In this work, we have emphasized the use of aqueous extractions of treated surfaces, followed by analyses by ion chromatography to study the DBD chemistry. A range of DBD factors including dose, humidity, airflow and electrode configuration (one versus two dielectric barriers) is found to influence the levels of acids, notably nitrous, nitric and oxalic acids, on the treated surfaces. A mechanistic rationale involving the primary formation of the nitrous and nitric acids in the gas phase is proposed

[en] The two-dimensional spatial distribution of microdischarges in atmospheric pressure dielectric-barrier discharges (DBDs) in air was studied. Experimental images of DBDs (Lichtenberg figures) were obtained using photostimulable phosphors. The storage phosphor imaging method takes advantage of the linear response of the phosphor for characterization of microdischarge intensity and position. A microdischarge interaction model in DBDs is proposed and a Monte Carlo simulation of microdischarge interactions in the discharge is presented. Comparison of modelled and experimental images indicates interactions and short-range structuring of microdischarge channels