Advanced Faraday cage measurements of charge and open-circuit voltage using water dielectrics

Distilled water, tap water, Sargasso Sea water and 0.9% NaCl solution contained in a Nalgene 30ml polyallomer centrifuge tube are found to maintain distinct negative non-zero equilibrium charges as measured within a grounded patented Faraday cage. Here, the Faraday cage is composed of two identical in-line hollow, gold-plated Faraday cup electrodes which enclose the sample that moves between them during each measurement under computer control. Charge measurements using various electrometers were conducted to rule out the possibility of false instrument readings due to input offset voltage and other experimental effects. Charge, voltage and capacitance are presented as a function of the water dielectric temperature. r 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.