The effect of an atmospheric pressure plasma treated MgO layer on the discharge performance of an AC plasma display panel

The effect of an atmospheric pressure plasma treated MgO layer on the discharge performance of an alternating current plasma display panel (AC PDP) was investigated by measuring the contact angle, the surface roughness, the composition, the breakdown and sustaining voltages. The plasma cleaning was performed using the He/O2/Ar gas mixture. Higher contact angle (35°) of water droplet on the MgO surface and the MgO surface roughness (90 nm, Rmax) after one day duration in the air was significantly reduced to 4° and 54 nm (Rmax) after the plasma cleaning. After the plasma treatment, the adsorbed CO2, CO, H2O impurities on the MgO surface are effectively removed. The breakdown and sustaining voltages were reduced probably due to the increase of secondary electron emission coefficient of MgO, implying that the plasma cleaning process of the MgO layer is beneficial for the improvement of the discharge performance of the AC PDPs.