Work

Plug-and-play plasma: decentralised water decontamination for developing countries

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Water sustainability in developing countries is challenged by pollution and inadequate infrastructure, necessitating decontamination strategies for resource-limited settings. Plasma technology has emerged as a decentralised approach, enabling generation of reactive species to degrade heterogeneous contaminants without chemical additives. Reactor modularity supports compatibility with renewable power. Translation remains limited by mechanistic uncertainty, inefficient species utilisation, by-product formation, and scaling and maintenance constraints. This Perspective outlines pathways to advance plasma-enabled water decontamination.

Source: npj Clean Water

DOI: 10.1038/s41545-025-00548-1

Authors: Wenshao Li, Ngoc Huu Nguyen, Renwu Zhou, Vi Khanh Truong, Patrick J. Cullen, Krasimir Vasilev

Institutions: Flinders University, State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Xi'an Jiaotong University, The University of Sydney

Language: English

Topic: Plasma Applications and Diagnostics

Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,890