established · computed
Stainless beats brass, negative polarity holds ~5% more, electrodes inject metal ions even in ns pulses
Veda Prakash et al. (IPR; H2O vs D2O, 300 kV Tesla pulser, 3 mm hemispheres): (a) STAINLESS STEEL electrodes give higher voltage-withstand than brass — brass injects Cu+Zn into the water (emission spectra confirm), SS injects Fe but less — so SS holds off better. Vindicates Stan's stainless choice. (b) NEGATIVE polarity gives ~5% higher breakdown voltage and longer holding time than positive. (c) Even nanosecond discharges inject metal ions from the electrodes; post-treated conductivity RISES (more for brass, more for positive polarity). That conductivity creep is exactly the mechanism that grows Faradaic amp-leakage over a cell's life. (d) Aside: heavy water (D2O) breaks down at LOWER voltage than H2O, opposite to naive expectation.
Source: G. Veda Prakash et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 87, 015115 (2016) — DI water vs heavy water breakdown [page 4297]
Basis
- Confidence
- 0.85
- Recorded
- Published
- 19 Aug 2026
- Component
- wfc
- Source Ref
- G. Veda Prakash et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 87, 015115 (2016) — DI water vs heavy water breakdown [page 4297]
- Notebook Id
- 1652
- Source Page Id
- 4297
breakdown electrode-material polarity amp-leakage stainless reference