established · Water Fuel Cell · computed
Electrode surface finish and area set water's pulsed-breakdown ceiling
Wetz et al. (2 mm gap, >1 MV/cm, >5 kA): the pulsed holdoff field of a water dielectric RISES as electrode surface roughness falls and as effective conducting area falls. Microprotrusions produce localized field enhancements many times the mean field — each is a preferential breakdown site — so a smoother plate holds off more volts. Holdoff scales inversely with area: a larger plate exposes more microprotrusions, lowering the sustainable field. Two breakdown paths: (1) charge injection at the electrode/water interface, (2) electron-impact ionization in low-density (bubble) regions. Corollary for the WFC/gas-processor: polish the plates and keep effective area no larger than needed to raise the sub-breakdown ceiling. Roughness and area are levers on the leakage/Figure-8 picture, not just geometry.
Basis
- Confidence
- 0.85
- Published
- 19 Aug 2026
- Origin
- StanBot lab notebook
- Component
- wfc
- Source Ref
- Wetz, Mankowski & Kristiansen (Texas Tech) — Electrode Area & Surface Roughness on Pulsed Breakdown of Water [page 4296]
- Recorded At
- 2026-08-16 23:36:19.946102
breakdown water-dielectric electrode figure-8 reference