Call for papers: Special Issue on Contact Electrification in Tribology
Contributions are invited for a Special Issue exploring advances in contact electrification and tribo-electrostatic charging.
The IOM3 journal Tribology - Materials, Surfaces & Interfaces, published by Sage, is curating a dedicated Special Issue on the topic of contact electrification in tribology.
This special issue seeks contributions that advance the fundamental understanding and practical application of tribo-electrostatic charging from a tribological perspective. The field of tribo-electrostatics is characterised by the study of interfacial electric charge transfer, arising solely through the physical contact and subsequent separation of media. Whilst the most dramatic natural manifestations of triboelectric charging are observed as lightning in particulate and liquid-spray systems such as volcanic ash clouds, sandstorms, and thunderstorms; tribo-electrostatic charging also has a significant impact on many key industry sectors through unwanted electrostatic discharge events, particulate agglomeration, and electrostatic interference.
The field has also received recent attention from the wider STEM community through the conceptualisation of triboelectric nano-generators (TENGs), which utilise a combination of tribo-electrostatic charging and electrostatic induction to generate useful power from otherwise wasted mechanical energy. Despite this recent increase in research activity, a consensus is yet to be reached regarding the fundamental mechanisms of charge transfer across a wide range of environments & applications. Tribological research is therefore uniquely positioned to elucidate these mechanisms and their underlying contributions to the behaviour of mechanical systems.
This special issue aims to bring together experimental, theoretical, and computational studies addressing both the mitigation and exploitation of tribo-electrostatic charging. Topics of interest include mechanisms of charge transfer, the role of surface chemistry and topography, environmental effects on charge generation and dissipation, and strategies for controlling electrostatic behaviour in practical systems. Contributions linking fundamental understanding to real-world applications are particularly encouraged.
Guest Editor
Dr. Josh Armitage
Lecturer in Surface Engineering & Tribology
Deputy Director of Postgraduate Research Studies
Institute for Functional Surfaces (iFS)
The University of Leeds
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Josh Armitage is a Lecturer in Surface Engineering & Tribology at the University of Leeds as part of the Institute of Functional Surfaces (iFS), the Bragg Centre for Materials Research, and the Material Systems for Demanding Environments research area of the Henry Royce Institute. His research specialises in electro-mechanical & mechano-chemical interfacial phenomena, including triboelectric charging and the influence of varied electronic potentials on tribological & tribo-chemical processes. Josh primarily focusses on the development & synergy of electronic characterization methodologies such as electronic impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning-tunnelling spectroscopy (STS), and induction-based measurements of electrostatic charge as part of the UKRI EPSRC Triboelectrification research project.
Timeline
- Call for papers closes: 30 Oct 2026
- Paper submission deadline: 28 Feb 2027
