EN
We have developed an atmospheric pressure plasma apparatus of remote dielectric barrier discharge (RDBD) applicable for a large area. We have systematically studied the characteristics of medium frequency (MF, 40 kHz) and radio frequency (RF, 13.56 MHz) discharge using an optical emission spectroscope. Nitrogen (N₂) and argon (Ar) gases were used in the MF and RF discharge excitation, respectively, in a mixture with clean dry air (CDA). The peak of oxygen radical (O*₂) appears at 259.3 nm when the RDBD is employed. Furthermore, intensive peaks are observed at gas ratios of N₂:CDA=100:1 in MF excitation and at gas ratios of Ar:CDA=70:0.5 in RF discharge excitation. On the other hand, the contact angle shows about 5° in PET samples after the RDBD treatment using the RF and MF discharge excitation. Surface analyses of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) samples were carried out using an atomic force microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectroscope.