Trapping and scattering effect of charge carriers on impulse breakdown characteristics of nano-fluids

Propylene carbonate (PC)-based nano-fluids (NFs), containing only 2 ppm TiO2 nano-particles, exhibit more than 60% higher negative impulse breakdown voltage than that of base liquid. It is found that the resistance of the test gap containing PC remains basically invariable when subjected to high amplitude voltage before the development of electrical breakdown. However, for the NF case, the resistance increases by a factor. Moreover, compared with PC, the streamers in NFs are more complex branched. These experimental results indicate that the charge carriers in NFs can be effectively captured and scattered by nano-particles, which is verified by means of the thermally stimulated current method.