Evaluation of the performance of a soft X-ray charger for the bipolar charging of nanoparticles

• The particle charge distribution by a soft X-ray charger agreed with the theory.
• In the charger, the nanoparticle generation and losses were not problematic.
• The soft X-ray charger could be used as a neutralizer for an SMPS system.

The use of soft X-rays in a neutralizer represents an alternative technique that could replace conventional radioactive sources. In this study, we evaluated the charging characteristics of a soft X-ray aerosol neutralizer. In addition, the results from the evaluation of the soft X-ray charger were compared with results obtained using a neutralizer incorporating an 241Am radioactive source. The tandem differential mobility analyzer technique was used previously to determine the size-dependent positive, negative, and neutral charge fractions of a soft X-ray neutralizer. This technique was used to show that the neutral fractions obtained using the soft X-ray charger agreed well with the predictions of bipolar diffusion charging theory, and that the soft X-ray charger could be used as a neutralizer for a scanning mobility particle sizer system.

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