Plasma is the most abundant state of matter in the universe made up of a flow of ions, electrons and neutral particles. Most attempts at harnessing it have run into two fundamental issues: 1) The energy levels and temperatures of plasma can quickly overwhelm, damaging or destroying systems thus limiting run times. 2) Further, the energy inputs required to reach the plasma state are extensive, limiting commercial viability. Our team has developed techniques and devices that can work in these hostile environments for longer time periods, reducing required power inputs, while recovering a significant amount of electrical energy, opening up the viability of plasma processing to many industries.

Our work has developed devices that could be useful in numerous fields, ranging from power generation, waste disposal, chemical manufacturing, material and magnetic sciences, electronics to rocket propulsion. These devices and methods were initially developed as methods of producing clean fuel from CO₂ producing hydrocarbon or waste materials while simultaneously making useful materials without the emission of CO₂.

The parameters of the devices have wide adjustability allowing for the efficient production of a range of materials and chemicals, such as ammonia, for example, without its normally high-level CO₂ emissions. Other materials include powerful low-cost iron nitrate based permanent magnets materials, which do not require rare earth materials.

High-strength carbon materials, such as carbon nanotubes, produced by these methods are not random and in short lengths, as with current processes, but with a structurally reinforcing aligned form and in longer lengths without additional processing. The carbon tube structures produced can be formed into aligned ribbon shape with flattened surfaces, potentially useful as a catalyst, membrane for fuel cells, batteries, or a substrate for microelectronic devices.

High strength bundled cable-like carbon tube structures can be produced with a carbon outer sheathing tightly encircling the tubes together minimizing movement of individual tubes while providing significant strength enhancement for the total assembly.

Crystalline carbon materials, diamonds, can be produced in large numbers while allowing the introduction of nitrogen and other materials such as boron and phosphorus, promoting the development of electronic junction states.

These methods allow the device to safely function for long periods of time while in direct proximity to the otherwise destructive plasma state permitting magnetic fields to efficiently and intensively interact with the plasma state over short distances without damage.

The methods provide means for the direct recovery/production of significant AC or DC electrical energy used in the creation of high-level plasma states in conduction with material processing, presenting commercial viability of plasma processing for many industries.

In the move towards a cleaner, healthier environment and reduction from the adverse effects of climate change, non-adversarial engagement with current energy agencies, such as fossil fuel companies, is vitally required as part of the solution for this transition.

These devices can significantly promote this transition by taking a previously CO₂ emitting product and allow for production of useful materials, while producing clean burning hydrogen fuel, which only produces water when combusted.