Charging Organic Liquids by Static Charge

Abstract

Aqueous liquids can be charged effectively by a number of methods for many important applications. Organic liquids, however, cannot be charged effectively by existing methods due to their low conductivities, especially the insulating nonpolar organic liquids; hence, there has not been any significant application developed based on charged organic liquids. This study describes an effective fundamental strategy for charging organic liquids, including nonpolar organic liquids: static charge is simply mixed into the liquid. Analyses suggested that the charged species are molecular ions that reside in the bulk of the liquid after charging. This method is simple and general, and the amount and polarity of charge can be flexibly tunable. The effectiveness of this method gives rise to opportunities for the development of novel applications. Charged organic droplets are manipulated for the first time by an electric field for controlling organic reactions. Particles with charge embedded in their bulk matrices are fabricated for the first time (i.e., via polymerizing the liquid monomers mixed with static charge). The charge in this novel class of bulk-charged particles is stable and permanent, especially when compared to the typical surface-charged particles. Simultaneous bulk-charged and bulk-magnetic particles are fabricated for the first time via simply mixing both the static charge and magnetic nanoparticles into the liquid monomers. These highly versatile particles are responsive to both electric and magnetic fields for practical applications.

Electricity Generation and Self-Powered Sensing Enabled by Dynamic Electric Double Layer at Hydrogel–Dielectric Elastomer Interfaces

“…18,24 It can be explained schematically as Figure 2a. Despite the dispute on charge transfer mechanism in contact electrification, 27,28 we adopted an electron transfer mechanism to explain this result, since the electrified charge quantity is high when using the hydrogel with deionized water. As suggested previously, 5,24,38 the electron transfers between water molecule and the PTFE contribute to the electrified charges.…”

“…The wide investigations of these dynamic EDL-based electricity generators also draw interest to the mechanism on the origin of surface charges at the liquid/solid interfaces. Even though the Gouy–Chapman–Stern model has been well-established to theoretically describe the structure and the potential drop of the EDL, the origin of the surface charges is still not clearly and comprehensively understood. , Recent studies have found that the contact electrification involved with the electron transfer process at the liquid/solid interfaces contributes to the formation of charged solid surfaces, different from various traditional mechanisms such as ionization, dissolution, or ion adsorption of the solid surfaces. ,,,, Then, Wang’s hybrid EDL model was proposed to describe the two-step formation process of the EDL, based on contact electrification and subsequent electrostatic counterion adsorption. , It is nevertheless noted that there is still argument about the charge transfer mechanism of contact electrification at the solid–liquid interfaces. , …”

“…20,26 It is nevertheless noted that there is still argument about the charge transfer mechanism of contact electrification at the solid−liquid interfaces. 27,28 Despite this progress, study is still rare for utilizing hydrogel electrolyte to construct dynamic EDL. The hydrogel is in solid form, which will certainly extend the applications of these electricity generation devices.…”

Balancing charge dissipation and generation: mechanisms and strategies for achieving steady-state charge of contact electrification at interfaces of matter

“…For some combinations of liquids and charged surfaces (e.g., toluene and PTFE), the transfer was almost complete (i.e., all the static charge on the surface readily transferred to the liquid). 124 However, this direct transfer of charge from the charged surface to the liquid does not always happen. Examples include when the amount of charge on the surface is low or when other materials are used.…”

Post-Synthesis Boron Doping of Silicon Quantum Dots via Hydrosilsesquioxane-Capped Thermal Diffusion

“…In-synthesis doping incorporates dopant atoms into QDs during their formation and is typically achieved using chemical vapor deposition, 39,[42][43][44][45][46][47] plasma synthesis, 37 laser ablation, 48-50 and co-sputtering. [51][52][53][54][55][56][57] Defining the location of the dopant within QDs while using these methods is non-trivial because it strongly depends upon reaction conditions, as well as the material properties of the Si host and chosen dopant. 58 A common challenge known as "self-purification" arises for small (i.e., d < 6 nm) strongly confined QDs that expels dopants to the QD surface during in-synthesis doping.…”