Electron transport in fast dielectric liquids at high applied electric fields

Abstract

The drift velocity, w, of excess electrons as a function of the applied uniform electric field, E, in liquid 2,2-dimethylpropane (TMC), tetramethylsilane (TMS), tetramethylgermanium (TMG), tetramethyltin (TMT), and 2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane (TMP), as well as in mixtures of TMS with TMP (mole ratio M=1.31/1) and n-pentane (M=102/1, 17/1, and 5.6/1), has been measured for E-values up to approximately 10/sup 5/ V-cm/sup -1/. The thermal electron mobility in the above liquids is 71.5, 119.3, 114.7, 85.7, 31.8, 39.1, 118, 85, and 47.6 cm/sup 2/ s/sup -1/ V/sup -1/, respectively. Electrical breakdown in TMS, TMP, and the mixtures occurred at E>16/sup 5/ V-cm/sup -1/. In TMT it occurred at rather low fields (E not=7.5*10/sup 4/ V-cm/sup -1/), and it led to significant decomposition of the liquid and deposition of tin on the cell walls and the electrodes. In TMC and TMG no breakdown occurred up to the highest field reached.<>