Electrophoretic deposition fundamentals, mechanisms and examples with an in depth examination of the ion depletion effect /

by Van Tassel, Jonathan J.

The research and analysis for this thesis have been directed toward two major goals: to better understand the process of electrophoretic deposition (EPD) and to demonstrate its utility. This is also the order in which these two topics are addressed in the writing of this thesis. In order to define the limits of the problem, the first chapter is devoted to a description and definition of what is, and is not, EPD. Here EPD is defined as consisting of three steps. The first is the creation of a charge balanced suspension of electrostatically charged particles in a solvent where some mechanism acts to keep the particles from floccing together during the time necessary to perform EPD. The second step is to create and maintain a DC electric field within the bulk of the solvent causing the electrostatically charged particles to move by electrophoresis toward an electrode. The final step is then to induce a change the nature of the suspension next to the electrode so that particles come into contact with each other and form a rigid deposition.