A flat pad structure, designed to generate a dielectric barrier discharge plasma on a contact side (109) of said pad structure, comprises a flat electrode arrangement (112) which is embedded in a flat dielectric (102), can be supplied with high-voltage signals and is shielded on all sides against an unimpeded current flow; said pad structure has better stability and can be better adapted to elongate treatment areas because a width of the structure extends in a longitudinal direction (L) and in the longitudinal direction (L) the structure has a plurality of identically structured portions (101), each with a dielectric portion in the width of the pad structure and each with at least one electrode portion; the electrode portions of said portions (101) adjoin one another in the longitudinal direction (L) and form an electrode arrangement (112) extending over the entire length such that, in order to reduce the size of the contact surface in the longitudinal direction (L), at least one portion (101) can be separated from an adjacent portion (101) at a predetermined separation line (103) extending transverse to the longitudinal direction (L) and such that in the remaining portion (101) the predetermined separation line (103) is covered by an insulating component (116).