Using induced charge detection to quantify the net charge of microdroplets within a quadrupole electrodynamic trap

Precise and accurate charge measurements on microdroplets are essential for understanding the role of charge in modulating microdroplet chemistry, including reaction kinetics, ion distribution, and interfacial dynamics. Despite the availability of various charge measurement techniques, existing contactless techniques either lack the sensitivity to accurately detect charges with ∼1 fC precision or lack the ability to measure charge on micron-sized particles, leaving a significant gap in the field. Here, a new technique is presented to directly measure the net charge of microdroplets exiting a quadrupole electrodynamic trap (QET) using induced charge detection. With this method, the charge droplets induce on a cylindrical electrode (Qinduced) is detected using a homebuilt charge sensitive pre-amplifier (CSP). The long time constant of the CSP (1.02 ± 0.01 s−1) facilitates accurate measurement of Qinduced on slow-moving microdroplets that interact with the detection electrode for up to 100s of ms. The new charge detection method is validated by comparing Qinduced with the charge of droplets measured using a Faraday cup (QFaraday cup) for roughly 2900 droplets with different net charges, sizes, and velocities. Regardless of droplet properties, Qinduced closely correlates with QFaraday cup with absolute differences averaging <5 fC (i.e., 1% accuracy). While the charge detection system is coupled to a QET, it could easily be adapted for other droplet-based measurements (e.g., droplet train experiments). Ultimately, the induced charge detection system presented here will support future studies exploring how charge influences the physical and chemical processing of microdroplets, such as understanding how charge can drive accelerated chemistry in microdroplets.