Das Projekt "Abgasreinigung mit elektrisch steuerbaren Mikrostrukturplatten" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Abteilung Laserchemie durchgeführt. The application of Micro-Strip Electrode (MSE) structures as electrically steerable catalysts to induce chemical reactions in gases is investigated. It can be shown that, depending on the geometry, the electric field strength, and the gas pressure in the MSE reactor, chemical reactions can be 'switched on' and 'off' by applying a moderate voltage (several 100 Volt). Due to the micro-structure dimensions already at these voltages electrons with mA/cm2 current can be emitted from the solid to the gas phase without observable heating of the electrodes. The emitted and then accelerated electrons induce in an electrically steerable manner dissociation with subsequent chemical reactions via radical formation. Since a large number of final product molecules is generated per released electron, the MSE act as dynamical catalysts. The gas phase near the MSE surface contains two constitutents; very hot electrons inducing molecular excitation and fragmentation, and rather cold radicals, molecular fragments, ions and gas molecules at a temperature externally selected for the synthesis process. The MSE reactor provides thus a two-temperature system at a wide pressure range, where the temperatures for molecular dissociation and synthesis can be chosen independently from each other. First stimulating results and possible areas of application are discussed.