Purpose: – This paper aims to present certain issues in direct bonded copper (DBC) technology towards the manufacture of Al2O3 or AlN ceramic substrates with one or both sides clad with a copper (Cu) layer. Design/methodology/approach: – As part of the experimental work, attempts were made to produce patterns printed onto DBC substrates based on four substantially different technologies: precise cutting with a diamond saw, photolithography, the use of a milling cutter (LPKF ProtoMat 93s) and laser ablation with differential chemical etching of the Cu layer. Findings: – The use of photolithography and etching technology in the case of boards clad with a 0.2-mm-thick Cu layer, can produce conductive paths with a width of 0.4 mm while maintaining a distance of 0.4 mm between the paths, and in the case of boards clad with a 0.3-mm-thick copper layer, conductive paths with a width of 0.5 mm while maintaining a distance of 0.5 mm between paths. The application of laser ablation at the final step of removing the unnecessary copper layer, can radically increase the resolution of printed pattern even to 0.1/0.1 mm. The quality of the printed pattern is also much better. Research limitations/implications: – Etching process optimization and the development of the fundamentals of technology and design of power electronic systems based on DBC substrates should be done in the future. A limiting factor for further research and its implementation may be the relatively high price of DBC substrates in comparison with typical PCB printed circuits. Practical implications: – Several examples of practical implementations using DBC technology are presented, such as full- and half-bridge connections, full-wave rectifier with an output voltage of 48 V and an output current of 50 A, and part of a battery discharger controller and light-emitting diode illuminator soldered to a copper heat sink. Originality/value: – The paper presents a comparison of different technologies used for the realization of precise patterns on DBC substrates. The combination of etching and laser ablation technologies radically improves the quality of DBC-printed patterns.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) conversion in non-thermal plasma is a promising route for carbon utilisation under mild conditions. This study investigates the performance and dynamic behaviour of kaolin-based catalysts modified with Ni (nickel), Ni–Ce (nickel-cerium), and Fe–Cu (iron-copper) oxides in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) reactor. Materials were characterised using X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. CO₂ conversion was evaluated at varying Plasma Energy Numbers (PEN = 1.65–20) with time-resolved gas analysis over a 10 min period. Results demonstrate that the kaolin support is not inert; its dielectric properties actively influence discharge characteristics. Ni-based catalysts exhibited the highest stable activity, reaching ~53% conversion for samples calcined at 500 °C. Conversely, adding cerium oxide significantly decreased conversion and induced temporal instabilities, contrasting with its typical role in thermal catalysis. Time-resolved measurements revealed that Ni–Ce and Fe–Cu systems exhibit initial activity followed by gradual deactivation, suggesting plasma-induced surface restructuring. These findings highlight that catalyst performance in DBD is governed by a complex interplay of chemical activity and plasma–material interactions. The generated time-series data provide a robust foundation for machine learning applications in predictive modelling and stability classification of plasma-catalytic systems.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present issues related to the design of a modern lighting system based on LED technology. The developed system provides lighting with a high colour rendering index (up to 98); it also has many innovative functions, which make its implementation bring significant energy savings and increase the comfort of work. Design/methodology/approach: In contrast to typical solutions, the dynamic synthesis of white light from six component colours was used in the presented project. This process is controlled by a microcontroller, and there is a colour temperature sensor in the feedback loop. The communication between smart luminaires and sensor modules is provided by means of a ZigBee wireless network. Findings: The correctness of the proposed methodology has been proved by measurements and laboratory tests. Research limitations/implications: The process of improving the lighting system is continued and significant changes in the spectrum of used sensors are expected. Practical implications: The proposed system based on mixing light from six components is an innovative solution that besides undoubted advantages entails a more elaborate electronic circuitry. However, good characteristics of the obtained light, as well as the possibility of compensating for changes in colour temperature of natural light and reducing the impact of aging of LEDs, in the authors’ opinion, make the proposed solution find its place on the market. Originality/value: The proposed solution is original, both in terms of the light mixing technique and advanced functionality offered by the system.