Aerosol Electrometer

An aerosol electrometer is a cornerstone instrument for charge-based aerosol characterization. By measuring the tiny electrical currents carried by charged particles, it provides insight into total number concentration and charge distributions when paired with controlled charging and classification. This capability is essential for refining nanoparticle generation, validating mobility sizing systems, and studying processes where electrical properties influence particle behavior.

Key advantages:

• High sensitivity and low noise: Capture picoamp-level signals with stability that supports long runs and nuanced experiments.
• Fast response: Track transients in dynamic processes such as engine start-up events or rapid generator changes.
• Flexible integration: Use analog and digital outputs to connect with classifiers, ionizers, diluters, and data acquisition systems.
• Method support: Pair with differential mobility analyzers for mobility-resolved measurements or use as a transfer standard in comparative studies.

Typical applications:

• Particle charging efficiency and charge distribution analysis.
• Nanoparticle number concentration measurement in research setups.
• Engine and combustion studies where particle charge impacts deposition or sampling.
• Filter and media testing that examines charge-related capture mechanisms.
• Instrument development and verification, including CPC and SMPS method support.

Selection considerations:

• Required current range and expected concentration levels.
• Baseline stability over the duration of your experiments.
• Compatibility with existing classifiers, ionizers, and dilution stages.
• Data logging, synchronization options, and software compatibility for multi-instrument setups.

Aerosol electrometers help R&D teams quantify what is often invisible — electrical signatures that correlate with particle presence and behavior. The result is a more complete understanding of aerosol dynamics that can inform instrument design, materials research, and method development.