Plasma-assisted catalysis of reactions is at the forefront of both sustainable fuel production as well as space-based
applications, where simpler molecules such as ammonia and carbon dioxide are present, but traditional hydrocarbon
fuels must be carried from Earth. Combustion of ammonia and conversion of carbon dioxide are unfavorable reactions
under normal circumstances, but careful geometric choices of plasma-inducing electrodes can improve the efficiency
to application-useful levels. In this project, we aim to study various geometries of plasma microreactors
and their performance for key plasma reactions, executing the entire design, manufacturing, and
characterization process, hopefully prototyping designs that can fuel deep space exploration and colonization.

Through this SuperUROP, I hope to follow a formal scientific pipeline applied to engineering: problem clarification, ideation, design, validation, implementation/fabrication, and characterization; we can finally assemble all the pieces of the flow to create not just an elegant solution to a problem, but a real product that contributes to the community and to humanity’s exploration of space.