Now Torrance, California, startup Transient Plasma Systems is proposing a low-temperature plasma ignition system that it claims can replace the spark plug. Here's how traditional spark plugs work ...

Low ignition temperature desired "A large part of the pollutant emissions from an engine are generated immediately after start-up, while the catalytic converter is still cold," explains Prof.

The chemicals that make up the match head have a relatively low ignition temperature—roughly 360 degrees F. Sliding the head across the rough surface produced a temperature at least this high.

Nanothermites are a new realm of nano-energetic materials and are used in systems that need a fast energy release rate at low ignition temperature. However, conventional ignition methods are based on ...