LAUSR

Contact electrification has attracted interest as a mechanism for generating electrical charges on surfaces. To explore the factors contributing to electrification by droplets impacting the leaf surface, high-speed image capture and current measurements were used to quantitatively characterize the electrical response under different droplet parameters and leaf surface conditions. Upon impact and rebound from the leaf surface, neutral droplets acquire a positive charge. While this electrification phenomenon has been observed previously, there has been limited understanding of the parameters influencing the extent of droplet charging. In this study, we examine the effects of four parameters (droplet size, impact velocity, droplet ion concentration, and various leaf surfaces) on the electrical response signal. The results indicate that this electrification phenomenon is contingent upon the droplet–leaf contact area and droplet ion concentration. We propose a theoretical model based on the electric double layer to elucidate the electrification process.