Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2004

Publication Title

Journal of Applied Physics

Volume

96

Issue

7

Pages

3617-3625

DOI

10.1063/1.1789274

Abstract

Analysis of the electrical double layer at the electrode-water interface for voltages close to the breakdown point has been carried out based on a static, Monte Carlo approach. It is shown that strong dipole realignment, ion-ion correlation, and finite-size effects can greatly modify the electric fields and local permittivity (hence, leading to optical structure) at the electrode interface. Dramatic enhancements of Schottky injection, providing a source for electronic controlled breakdown, are possible. It is also shown that large pressures associated with the Maxwell stress tensor would be created at the electrode boundaries. Our results depend on the ionic density, and are in keeping with recent observations. A simple, perturbative analysis shows that high field regions with a sharp variation in permittivity can potentially be critical spots for instability initiation. This suggests that the use of polished electrodes, or composite materials, or alternative nonpolar liquids might help enhance high-voltage operation.

Comments

This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and AIP Publishing. This article appeared in Journal of Applied Physics 96 (7) 3617-3625 and may be found at https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1789274.

Original Publication Citation

Joshi, R. P., Qian, J., Schoenbach, K. H., & Schamiloglu, E. (2004). Microscopic analysis for water stressed by high electric fields in the prebreakdown regime. Journal of Applied Physics, 96(7), 3617-3625. doi:10.1063/1.1789274

ORCID

0000-0001-7867-7773 (Schoenbach)

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