Production of ozone in an electrical discharge using inert gases as catalysts

The catalytic role of using inert gases to increase the efficiency and lowe r the power cost of producing ozone (O-3) from high purity oxygen (O-2) in a process incorporating an electrical discharge is demonstrated. Three iner t gases (Ar, Ne, He) and N-2 are individually mixed with O-2 and the result s presented. The increase in ozone production is partially attributed to th e increase in electron density provided by the ionization of the inert gas in the discharge.