Kinetics of contact electrification between metals and polymers

Kinetics of charge transfer between metals and polymers was studied using an analytical rolling-sphere tool. The rates of charge transfer were related to the area of contact between contacting surfaces and the tunneling current between them. The derived rate equations accounted for the experimentally observed sigmoidal charging curves. Furthermore, for a model system of steel spheres rolling on modified polystyrene supports, it was shown that the magnitudes of separated charges can be varied by adjusting the polymer's surface properties and/or ambient conditions.