Bilkent University, Turkey
Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology


Invited Talk

Control of Static Charging by Light

Upon mechanical rubbing/contact of insulator surfaces, static electricity is generated. The electrical energy generated this way is not insignificant as it is commonly thought – kV of electrical potential is developed with a simple contact. However, the utilization of this energy is hampered because the atomic-scale mechanism of this process has remained unanswered for millennia, and the methods to ‘thame’ this energy are not yet found.

Here I will present the insulator polymer charging and its control by light. This recently discovered control method is based on fundamental chemical knowledge and uses simple chemical molecules such as organic dyes and charge-transfer complexes. The method provides wavelength control and spatial and temporal control for mitigating static charges on common polymer surfaces. This control over charge mitigation also allows the manipulation of macroscopic objects by static charging followed by light-controlled discharging. In living systems, chemical/electrical/mechanical energy conversions are used to power and control the living systems. The materials systems exhibiting life-like properties and functions surely will need efficient energy conversions. And light/charge interactions on surfaces may contribute to and be used to achieve these conversions in these systems.