The effect of adsorbed gases on the surface conductivity of quartz

Abstract

The surface conductivity of fused quartz has been examined. An exponential conductivity dependence upon vapor pressure is found for the highly polar water vapor and ammonia gases, whereas the nonpolar gas of carbon dioxide has no measurable effect. The results are in agreement with an electronic conduction model based on the lowering of the charge carrier activation energy by the presence of an adsorbed polar layer.