Electrostatic Charge on Smartphone Surfaces

Abstract

Abstract Mobile phones, tablets, and capacitive touchscreens, in general, are ubiquitous in modern society. In this study, the electrostatic charge present near the capacitive touchscreen surfaces was investigated. Results from a Faraday pail experiment indicate that smartphones present an electrostatic charge due to charging and that the magnitude of this charge can vary due to adding additional materials, such as those used as common screen protectors, or by triboelectric events, such as rubbing against another material, as is the case when removing a phone from a pants pocket, for example. Furthermore, this charge increases with lower ambient relative humidity. Understanding these electrostatic charge behaviors may prove useful in minimizing the possibility of either attracting or dispersing unwanted electrically charged particles, such as dust, viruses, or contaminated aerosols, especially in indoor environments with low relative humidity (RH < 40%).