Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Types of Chemical Bonds02:37

Types of Chemical Bonds

Chemical bonding theories were pioneered by American chemist Gilbert N. Lewis. He developed a model called the Lewis model to explain the type and formation of different bonds. Chemical bonding is central to chemistry; it explains how atoms or ions bond together to form molecules. It explains why some bonds are strong and others are weak, or why one carbon bonds with two oxygens and not three; why water is H2O and not H4O.
Electric Charges01:11

Electric Charges

From lightning during thunderstorms to electronic devices, the phenomenon of electromagnetism is all around us. The electromagnetic force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. It has been known to humanity in various forms for thousands of years. For example, the ancient Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus recorded his experiments on static electricity using amber and fur in the sixth century BC.
The English physicist William Gilbert studied the phenomenon of static electricity in...
Interfacial Electrochemical Methods: Overview01:06

Interfacial Electrochemical Methods: Overview

Interfacial electrochemical methods focus on the phenomena occurring at the boundary between an electrode and a solution, as opposed to bulk methods that concentrate on the solution's overall properties. These interfacial methods are classified as either static or dynamic based on the presence of a nonzero current in the electrochemical cell and the consistency of analyte concentrations. Static methods, such as potentiometry, measure the cell's potential without any significant current passing...
Electrochemical Systems01:24

Electrochemical Systems

Electrochemical systems provide a fascinating insight into the dynamic interplay of charged species within various phases. One notable example is the interaction between a membrane permeable to K⁺ ions but not to Cl⁻ ions, separating an aqueous KCl solution from pure water. As K⁺ ions diffuse through the membrane, they generate net charges on each phase, leading to a potential difference between them.Similarly, when a piece of Zn is immersed in an aqueous ZnSO₄ solution, the Zn metal, composed...
Types of Reversible Electrodes01:24

Types of Reversible Electrodes

For electrode reversibility to be maintained, all the reactants and products involved in the half-reaction must be present at the electrode. There are several types of reversible electrodes (half-cells).In metal-metal-ion electrodes, a metal balances electrochemically with a solution of its own ions. Examples are Cu2+|Cu and Zn2+|Zn. Metals that react with the solvent, like group 1 and most group 2 metals, which react with water, and zinc, which reacts with aqueous acidic solutions, cannot be...
The Electrical Double Layer01:30

The Electrical Double Layer

In the region where two bulk phases meet, an intricate electric charge distribution arises due to charge transfer, ion adsorption, molecular orientation, and charge distortion. This complex distribution is commonly referred to as the electrical double layer.When a solid electrode interfaces with ions in an electrolyte solution, the speed of electron transfer dictates the rates of oxidation and reduction. The electrode acquires a charge through the escape of atoms into the solution as cations or...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Investigating the familiarity effect in texture segmentation by means of event-related brain potentials.

Vision research·2017
Same author

Highly compact fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer: A new instrument design.

The Review of scientific instruments·2016
Same author

Development of a precision nanoindentation platform.

The Review of scientific instruments·2013
Same author

The consequences of genetic variation in sex peptide expression levels for egg laying and retention in females.

Heredity·2012
Same author

Electron transport in gold nanowires: stable 1-, 2- and 3-dimensional atomic structures and noninteger conduction states.

Physical review letters·2011
Same author

DDT resistance, epistasis and male fitness in flies.

Journal of evolutionary biology·2011
Same journal

Erratum for the Research Article "Detecting supramolecular organic nanoparticles during heat wave".

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Local signals, systemic decline.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

The mechanics of liver regeneration.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Computing in a memory with physics.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Retraction.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Making time.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Concurrent Quantitative Conductivity and Mechanical Properties Measurements of Organic Photovoltaic Materials using AFM
08:59

Concurrent Quantitative Conductivity and Mechanical Properties Measurements of Organic Photovoltaic Materials using AFM

Published on: January 23, 2013

Contact electrification and adhesion between dissimilar materials.

R G Horn, D T Smith

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |April 17, 1992
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Simple contact between mica and silica insulators causes spontaneous electrical charge transfer, creating strong attraction. This phenomenon, crucial for understanding static electricity, results in significant surface charge densities and separation work comparable to material fracture energies.

    More Related Videos

    Ohmic Contact Fabrication Using a Focused-ion Beam Technique and Electrical Characterization for Layer Semiconductor Nanostructures
    08:12

    Ohmic Contact Fabrication Using a Focused-ion Beam Technique and Electrical Characterization for Layer Semiconductor Nanostructures

    Published on: December 5, 2015

    Application of a Coupling Agent to Improve the Dielectric Properties of Polymer-Based Nanocomposites
    06:34

    Application of a Coupling Agent to Improve the Dielectric Properties of Polymer-Based Nanocomposites

    Published on: September 19, 2020

    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

    Concurrent Quantitative Conductivity and Mechanical Properties Measurements of Organic Photovoltaic Materials using AFM
    08:59

    Concurrent Quantitative Conductivity and Mechanical Properties Measurements of Organic Photovoltaic Materials using AFM

    Published on: January 23, 2013

    Ohmic Contact Fabrication Using a Focused-ion Beam Technique and Electrical Characterization for Layer Semiconductor Nanostructures
    08:12

    Ohmic Contact Fabrication Using a Focused-ion Beam Technique and Electrical Characterization for Layer Semiconductor Nanostructures

    Published on: December 5, 2015

    Application of a Coupling Agent to Improve the Dielectric Properties of Polymer-Based Nanocomposites
    06:34

    Application of a Coupling Agent to Improve the Dielectric Properties of Polymer-Based Nanocomposites

    Published on: September 19, 2020

    Area of Science:

    • Surface Science
    • Triboelectricity
    • Electrostatics

    Background:

    • Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of charge transfer between insulators is essential for various technological applications.
    • Previous research has explored contact electrification, but precise measurements of charge density and separation energy remain critical.
    • Static electrical phenomena are ubiquitous, yet the detailed processes governing charge separation require further elucidation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To quantitatively measure surface force and surface charge density resulting from the contact of smooth insulating materials.
    • To investigate the energy required for separating surfaces charged by spontaneous electrical transfer.
    • To gain insight into charge separation mechanisms by observing gas discharges during surface separation.

    Main Methods:

    • Simultaneous measurement of surface forces and surface charges.
    • Utilizing smooth mica and silica surfaces in contact within a dry nitrogen environment.
    • Observing partial gas discharges at a separation distance of approximately 1 micrometer.

    Main Results:

    • Demonstrated spontaneous electrical charge transfer between mica and silica upon simple, nonsliding contact.
    • Measured significant surface charge densities ranging from 5 to 20 millicoulombs per square meter post-contact.
    • Determined the work required for surface separation to be 6 to 9 joules per square meter, comparable to fracture energies.

    Conclusions:

    • Simple contact between dissimilar insulators can lead to substantial charge transfer and strong attractive forces.
    • The observed charge densities and separation energies highlight the significant energetic consequences of contact electrification.
    • Gas discharge observations provide valuable insights into the fundamental processes of charge separation in static electrical phenomena.