Growth of carbon dendrites on cathode above liquid ethanol using surface plasma

The newly developed method presented in this paper allows growth of carbon dendrites, which exhibit glassy carbon- and pyrocarbon-like structures, using surface plasma on the cathode surface above dehydrated ethanol. The process is based on the polarization of polar organic molecules under the influence of external high electric field strength. Ethanol molecules have a dipole moment, they were aligned in the direction of the electric field, and the process of electronic/dipole-relaxation polarization started to occur in liquid ethanol. The dipole density was maximized in the cathode region located at 7–10 mm above the liquid ethanol owing to the non-uniform electric field. The electronic breakdown started in the region experiencing the maximum electric field strength. The decomposition of ethanol molecules changed the condition of the gas phase in the breakdown region a resultant current started to flow in the circuit. The growth of carbon dendrites on the Pt cathode, possible under the stability of surface plasma discharges, was characterized by formation of carbon nuclei on the cathode surface. Another advantage of the plasma surface process is that it enables growth of carbon dendrite on dielectric surfaces without increasing of plasma power generation.