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No Time for Surface Charge: How Bulk Conductivity Hides Charge Patterns from Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy in Contact-Electrified Surfaces

Felix Pertl1,*, Isaac C. D. Lenton1, Tobias Cramer2, and Scott Waitukaitis1

  • *Contact author: felix.pertl@ist.ac.at
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Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 146202 – Published 30 September, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/lcsm-xxty

Abstract

Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) is widely used in stationary and dynamic studies of contact electrification. An obvious question that connects these two has been overlooked: when are charge dynamics too fast for stationary studies to be meaningful? Using a rapid transfer system to quickly perform KPFM after contact, we find the dynamics are too fast in all but the best insulators. Our data further suggest that dynamics are caused by bulk as opposed to surface conductivity, and that charge-transfer heterogeneity is less prevalent than previously suggested.

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synopsis

Charge Transfer Happens Too Fast to See

Published 30 September, 2025

A new experiment on static electricity casts doubt on previous ones.

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Supplemental Material

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 146202– Published 30 September, 2025
  • Received 19 February 2025
  • Accepted 12 August 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

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