Method for charging particles suspended in gases

摘要

The invention concerns a method and apparatus for electrically charging particles of liquid or solid matter suspended in gases, especially in air. The particle carrying gas is irradiated with ultraviolet light having an energy below the threshold for ionization of the gas, but above the photoelectric threshold of the particles. The actual charging occurs by photoemission of electrons from the particles. The photoelectrons or negative small ions are removed from the neighborhood of the positively charged particles by diffusion to a charge absorbing surface. The photoelectric charging method and apparatus of the present invention are highly effective, particularly for very small particles and yields chemical information on the particles and their surface.