Current Oscillations in Solid Polystyrene and Polystyrene Solutions

Abstract

Application of a dc voltage across a plate of polystyrene gives rise to oscillatory currents which reach considerably high negative values. The dependence of current intensity (maximum, minimum, and plateau values) on various parameters (voltage, dimensions of samples and electrodes, nature of dissolved solute, etc., as well as repetitive use) is treated. The pattern of oscillation is found to depend on all these parameters, too. The length of the oscillation period decreases very quickly with increasing voltage. It depends also very strongly on the nature and pressure of the surrounding gas.