A kinetic model for H2 production by plasmolysis of water vapours at atmospheric pressure in a dielectric barrier discharge microchannel reactor

► The model was analysed for different pathways of water vapour dissociation. ► 99% of the H2 produced reached steady state at ∼10−2 s. ► Result showed economical H2 production using plasma microreactors. ► A mechanism consistent with the kinetically important steps is proposed. ► H2 is produced by the reaction between H AND HO2 and not by H-H recombination.