Method and apparatus for producing particles in an atmospheric pressure plasma

The invention relates to a method for producing particles (30) using an atmospheric-pressure plasma, wherein the plasma by a discharge (15, 15 ') between electrodes (16, 16', 16 ''; 5, 32) in a process gas ( 18) is generated, and at least one of the electrodes, a sacrificial electrode (16, 16 ', 16' '), it is removed from the through the discharge material, it is particles in which removed material and / or from the removed material particles are formed. A portion of the sacrificial electrode is actively cooled so that the average temperature of the sacrificial electrode in an area of ​​the sacrificial electrode outside the discharge area (17, 17 ', 17' ') of the sacrificial electrode is lower than within the discharge region of the sacrificial electrode. The invention further relates to an apparatus for producing particles (30) using an atmospheric-pressure plasma, comprising: a housing (5) having a channel (7, 7 ', 7' '), at least two electrodes (16, 16', 16 ''; 5, 32) which are at least partially disposed in the channel, and to apply a voltage source (22) which is adapted to a voltage between the at least two electrodes. The at least two electrodes are adapted to the plasma by a discharge (15, 15 ') between the electrodes in a process gas (18) to produce in the channel, and at least one of the electrodes is a sacrificial electrode (16, 16', 16 ' '), is removed from the discharge through the material, wherein the removed material consists of particles and / or arising from the removed material particles. The apparatus further comprises a cooling device (2) which is adapted to cool a portion of the sacrificial electrode active so that the average temperature of the sacrificial electrode in an area of ​​the sacrificial electrode outside the discharge area (17, 17 ', 17' ') of the sacrificial electrode is lower than within the discharge region of the sacrificial electrode.