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Uncovering a Hidden Source of Electricity

Prevalence of static charge has scientists mulling over how to capture this potential energy source

The conventional view of contact electrification — when static charge is transferred between two surfaces — is that one surface is positively charged, and the other is negative. However, research shows that both surfaces possess a mosaic of positive and negative regions. This discovery could have implications for energy production.

What do freshly laundered towels and lightning strikes have in common? Both are examples of static electricity; in Science, researchers illustrate how static electricity could be a viable alternative energy source. Their study shows static charges are dense, with 100 times more static charge on a surface than previously measured. Also, the static is not distributed uniformly. Conventional wisdom says when dealing with static electricity, one surface develops a uniform positive charge and the other a uniform negative charge. The researchers used an advanced microscope technique to zoom in on statically charged polymer surfaces and found the charge actually forms a mosaic pattern. Discovering these details about static charge mosaics could have implications for energy production worldwide. The work was done by the Non-Equilibrium Research Center, led by Northwestern University.

Reference:

Baytekin HT, AZ Patashinski, M Branicki, B Baytekin, S Soh, and BA Grzybowski. 2011. “The Mosaic of Surface Charge in Contact Electrification.” Science 333(6040): 308-312. DOI:10.1126/science.1201512.