Slide electrification of drops at low velocities

Abstract

Slide electrification of drops is mostly investigated on tilted plate setups. Hence, the drop charging at low sliding velocity remains unclear. We overcome the limitations by developing an electro drop friction force instrument (eDoFFI). Using eDoFFI, we investigate slide electrification at the onset of drop sliding and at low sliding velocities ≤ 1 cm s⁻¹. The novelty of eDoFFI is the simultaneous measurements of the drop discharging current and the friction force acting on the drop. The eDoFFI tool facilitates control on drop length and width using differently shaped rings. Hereby, slide electrification experiments with the defined drop length-to-width ratios >1 and <1 are realized. We find that width of the drop is the main geometrical parameter which determines drop discharging current and charge separation. We combine Kawasaki–Furmidge friction force equation with our finding on drop discharging current. This combination facilitates the direct measurement of surface charge density (σ) deposited behind the drop. We calculate σ ≈ 45 μC m⁻² on Trichloro(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl)silane (PFOTS) and ≈20 μC m⁻² on Trichloro(octyl)silane (OTS) coated glass surfaces. We find that the charge separation by moving drops is independent of sliding velocity ≤ 1 cm s⁻¹. The reverse sliding of drop along the same scanline facilitates calculation of the surface neutralization time constant. The eDoFFI links two scientific communities: one which focuses on the friction forces and one which focuses on the slide electrification of drops.