Formation of highly resistive SiO2 nanoparticle layers from the aerosol by electrostatic precipitation at 200 °C: observations on back corona and nanoparticle layer structure

Abstract In this study, a flame-generated nm-range SiO₂ aerosol (approx. 170 nm median aggregate diameter) is fed into an electrostatic precipitator with an operating temperature of 200 °C. While a highly porous layer of SiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) is deposited by electrostatic precipitation, a decrease of current uptake is observed initially, indicating exceptionally high values of the electric field within the layer (> 100 kV/mm) and of the layer resistivity (> 10¹³ Ω∙cm). Later a strong (13- to 17-fold) increase of current uptake is observed. Aerosol charge measurements show that charges of opposite polarity are emitted from the NP layer. Investigation of the NP layer by SEM shows that charge-emitting structures with a polarity-dependent morphology develop on an originally homogeneous NP layer. Based on the experimental evidence, the mechanisms of charge emission and structure formation are discussed. Charge emission from the precipitated dust layer is known as back corona in the field of electrostatic precipitation. It appears that the mechanisms of back corona observed with SiO₂ NP layers are quite distinct from those observed with µm-range particles. While gas discharges inside the NP layer are suppressed due to small pore size, back corona inside the NP layers is apparently initiated by thermionic field emission of free electrons and secondary electron multiplication within the NP layer.