Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Additive Manufacturing-Enabled Low-Cost Particle Detector
Published on: March 24, 2023
[Design and experiment of a needle-to-cylinder electrode structure realizing the negative DC glow discharge in
Abstract:
A new needle-to-cylinder electrode structure was designed to realize the stable glow discharge in ambient air. The stainless steel needle tip with diameter 56.4 microm and the copper cylinder with diameter 4mm were chosen as the cathode and the anode respectively, which were kept parallel by accurate mechanical structure. In the condition that the distance between the needle and the cylinder is 2 mm, the ballasting resistor is 10 M(omega), the discharge resistor is 10 M(omega), the testing resistor is 1 k(omega), and the discharge voltage is -2 740 V, without air flow in ambient air and at room temperature, the stable glow discharge between the needle and the cylinder was realized. Three different discharge modes can be observed: corona discharge, glow discharge and spark, which were verified by the discharge waveform stored in the oscilloscope, and the discharge pictures were recorded by digital camera. The needle-to-cylinder electrode structure is easy to fabricate by the MEMS technology, which can be used as the ion source of the portable analyzing instruments.
Related Concept Videos
Van de Graaff Generator
Van de Graaff uses both smooth and pointed surfaces, conductors, and insulators to generate large static charges and, hence, large voltages. A substantial excess charge can be deposited on the sphere because it moves...
Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Principle
The ions and electrons produced interact with the fluctuating magnetic field created by a water-cooled...
Gas Chromatography: Types of Detectors-II
Design Example: Automobile Ignition System
One can generate a large voltage using a car battery of 12 volts with the help of inductors. Inductors are known for opposing...
DC Battery

