(285d) Contact Electrification: The Phenomenon of Charging at Interfaces

Contact electrification is the natural phenomenon in which static charge is generated on surfaces of materials when they come into contact and are then separated. Despite being widely observed for centuries, the fundamental mechanisms that underlie the phenomenon are still incompletely understood; hence, most of our knowledge gained from research is mainly empirical. On the other hand, contact electrification is ubiquitous: charging occurs for almost all types of materials, including metals, semiconductors, inorganic materials, and polymers. Hence, it has a vast range of influences in our lives and in many types of industries. On the other hand, it also gives rise to many interesting types of applications. This presentation includes a discussion of the fundamental mechanisms (e.g., heterolytic cleavage on surfaces) related to the process of charging at both the solid-solid and solid-liquid interfaces. Because of the complexity of the phenomenon, charging of the materials to different polarities will also be discussed.