With plasma, zapping harmful chemicals away

Published on January 12, 2026

Refrigerants known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are among the most common and most harmful greenhouse gases, and getting rid of them is complicated. A team of researchers has found an effective and efficient way to break down these chemicals by zapping them with plasma. Portable and accessible, it has the potential to prevent gigatons of harmful emissions from entering the atmosphere. The results are published in ACS Energy Letters. Read the article here: https://engineering.yale.edu/news-and-events/news/plasma-zapping-harmful-chemicals-away. 

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