Theory of Thermodielectric Effect

Abstract

A theory is put forth to explain the electrical effects which accompany phase changes occurring in dielectrics and aqueous solutions. Ionic movement in the interface is treated as a transition between energy levels separated by potential barriers. The height of the barriers and the value of the energy levels are supposed to be different for positive and negative ions. Such a model results in a net current flow across the solid-liquid interface. When the interface moves during a phase change of the system, the excess electric charges thus produced constitute space charges in the solid and surface charges in the liquid. The field of the global charge distribution causes the appearance of the currents and potential differences which have been observed between the plates of a condenser containing the dielectric.