Frictional electrification between flat surfaces of polymers and of Langmuir–Blodgett layers

A friction apparatus was constructed for measuring the frictional electrification due to reciprocating friction between flat materials such as polymer films or LB layers deposited on flat substrates. The apparatus is equipped with four electrodes by which it is possible to measure generation and decay processes of charges on both surfaces simultaneously. The frictional electrification of LB layers is useful for constructing a frictional electrification series of atomic groups that elucidates the effect of surface conditions of molecular aggregates like polymers and that is useful for designing a new type of antistatic material.