Method for treating exhaust gas containing soot particles

A method for converting soot particles of an exhaust gas, the method comprising the following steps:

• providing a device for treating the soot particles having:
• at least one source of nitrogen dioxide or oxygen;
• at least one ionization element for ionizing soot particles;
• at least one surface precipitator having an inlet region, an outlet region and a plurality of channels through which the exhaust gas can flow, the channels extending between the inlet region and the outlet region;
• and
• at least one deposition inhibitor disposed at least partially at the inlet region for inhibiting deposition of electrically charged soot particles;
• a) providing at least nitrogen dioxide or oxygen in the exhaust gas by using the at least one source of nitrogen dioxide or oxygen;
• b) ionizing soot particles with an electrical field created by the at least one ionization element;
• c) depositing electrically charged soot particles on inner channel walls of the channels of the at least one surface precipitator and preventing a predominant deposition of electrically charged soot particles in the inlet region by using the at least one deposition inhibitor;
• and
• d) placing at least nitrogen dioxide or oxygen in contact with the soot particles deposited on the inner channel walls of the at least one surface precipitator.