Note: An underwater multi-channel plasma array for water sterilization

A simple yet effective method to generate multi-channel plasma array in water is presented in this paper. Thin circular metal disks sandwiched between dielectric layers were used, allowing the production of large-volume underwater plasma array with higher stability. The system can be further scaled up by stacking multiple metal disks, making it suitable for large-scale industrial water treatment. Generation of UV and reactive species was identified by optical emission spectroscopy. Sterilization experiments were performed. Results show that the device was effective in deactivating E. coli in water over a wide range of initial concentrations ranging from 10(4) to 10(8) CFU/ml. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3633945]