Nonthermal
atmospheric pressure plasma in contact with a liquid
yields a variety of energetic photons, ions, and electrons, which
can be transported into the plasma–liquid interface (PLI).
Similar to the electrochemical interface formed between a solid electrode
and electrolyte in conventional electrochemical systems, the charge-transfer
process across the PLI is able to promote reduction–oxidation
(redox) reactions. However, in the case of free plasma jets in contact
with liquids, the absence of solid electrodes obscures the spatial
locations of the electrochemical half-reactions. Herein, we present
a spatial electrochemical measurement technique used to characterize
an aqueous solution in contact with an atmospheric pressure plasma
jet. The technique is based on measuring the potential difference
between two identical Ag/AgCl electrochemical electrodes positioned
at different locations within the solution. More specifically, electrochemical
maps were made by measuring the potential of one electrochemical electrode
positioned at different locations near the PLI with respect to the
other electrochemical electrode positioned far away from the PLI in
the bulk solution. Regions in the map with negative and positive potential
differences between these electrochemical electrodes were used to
identify the electrodeless cathode and anode, respectively. Visualization
of the spatial distribution of molecular colorimetric redox indicators
by multispectral imaging revealed that reduction was occurring near
the plasma jet centerline while oxidation was occurring further away
in solution, which constitutes an independent confirmation of the
electrochemical maps.