Dielectric-barrier discharges (DBDs), also known as silent discharges, are widely used in industrial applications. They combine the advantages of non-equilibrium plasma properties with the ease of atmospheric-pressure operation. DBDs can be scaled from small laboratory reactors to large industrial installations with megawatt input powers. Efficient and cost-effective all-solid-state power supplies are available. The preferred frequency range is between 1 kHz and 10 MHz, and the preferred pressure range is between 10 kPa and 500 kPa. Industrial applications include ozone generation, pollution control, surface treatment, high power CO₂ lasers, ultraviolet excimer lamps, excimer-based mercury-free fluorescent lamps, and flat large-area plasma displays. The discharge can have filamentary structures or diffuse appearances depending on the application and operating conditions. The history of DBDs dates back over a century, with early experiments by Siemens in 1857 on ozone generation. The term "silent discharge" was introduced by Andrews and Tait in 1860. Many researchers have studied DBDs, including Warburg, Becker, Otto, and Buss. Buss discovered that atmospheric-pressure air breakdown between planar electrodes covered by dielectrics occurs in many tiny current filaments. The power formula for ozonizers was derived by Manley in 1943. Ozone formation in DBDs has been studied by various researchers. Until about ten years ago, ozone generation was the major industrial application of DBDs, with thousands of installed facilities used mainly in water treatment. DBDs are sometimes referred to as "ozonizer discharges." Occasionally, the term "corona discharge" is used for DBDs, although most authors prefer it for discharges between bare metal electrodes without dielectrics. Both discharge types share common features, such as the generation of "cold" non-equilibrium plasmas.Dielectric-barrier discharges (DBDs), also known as silent discharges, are widely used in industrial applications. They combine the advantages of non-equilibrium plasma properties with the ease of atmospheric-pressure operation. DBDs can be scaled from small laboratory reactors to large industrial installations with megawatt input powers. Efficient and cost-effective all-solid-state power supplies are available. The preferred frequency range is between 1 kHz and 10 MHz, and the preferred pressure range is between 10 kPa and 500 kPa. Industrial applications include ozone generation, pollution control, surface treatment, high power CO₂ lasers, ultraviolet excimer lamps, excimer-based mercury-free fluorescent lamps, and flat large-area plasma displays. The discharge can have filamentary structures or diffuse appearances depending on the application and operating conditions. The history of DBDs dates back over a century, with early experiments by Siemens in 1857 on ozone generation. The term "silent discharge" was introduced by Andrews and Tait in 1860. Many researchers have studied DBDs, including Warburg, Becker, Otto, and Buss. Buss discovered that atmospheric-pressure air breakdown between planar electrodes covered by dielectrics occurs in many tiny current filaments. The power formula for ozonizers was derived by Manley in 1943. Ozone formation in DBDs has been studied by various researchers. Until about ten years ago, ozone generation was the major industrial application of DBDs, with thousands of installed facilities used mainly in water treatment. DBDs are sometimes referred to as "ozonizer discharges." Occasionally, the term "corona discharge" is used for DBDs, although most authors prefer it for discharges between bare metal electrodes without dielectrics. Both discharge types share common features, such as the generation of "cold" non-equilibrium plasmas.