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Quantifying electron-transfer in liquid-solid contact electrification and the formation of electric double-layer
Shiquan Lin1,2, Liang Xu1,2, Aurelia Chi Wang3
1Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100083, PR China.
Nature Communications
|January 23, 2020
Summary
Contact electrification (CE) involves both electron and ion transfer between liquids and solids. Factors like solution solutes, pH, and surface hydrophilicity influence this charge transfer ratio.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Surface Science
- Materials Science
Background:
- Contact electrification (CE) is a long-known phenomenon, yet charge carrier mechanisms in liquid-solid interactions remain unclear.
- Understanding liquid-solid CE is crucial for various applications, including energy harvesting and sensing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate charge carrier mechanisms and transfer in liquid-solid contact electrification.
- To analyze the decay of charges on solid surfaces post liquid-solid CE under varying thermal conditions.
- To differentiate between electron and ion transfer contributions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the theory of electron thermionic emission to distinguish electron transfer from ion transfer.
- Studied charge decay on solid surfaces after liquid-solid CE at different temperatures.
- Varied solution parameters (solutes, pH) and solid surface properties (hydrophilicity).
Main Results:
- Confirmed the presence of both electron and ion transfer in liquid-solid CE.
- Demonstrated that solution solutes, pH, and solid hydrophilicity modulate the electron-to-ion transfer ratio.
- Observed distinct charge decay behaviors under different thermal conditions.
Conclusions:
- Proposed a two-step model for electron and/or ion transfer in liquid-solid CE.
- Provided evidence for the formation of an electric double-layer at the liquid-solid interface.
- Highlighted the significant role of solution chemistry and surface properties in governing CE mechanisms.
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