The Basics of Air Ionization for High-Technology …

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A I R I O N I Z A T I O N

The Basics of Air Ionization
for High-Technology
Manufacturing Applications

A R N O L D S T E I N M A N

Several techniques for changing the ambient air’s burden of ions are effective
for controlling static charge on insulating materials.

Controlling static charge is essential for maximizing

yield, quality, and profit in high-technology industry.
Such control enhances semiconductor production and
has become a necessity in the manufacture of hard disk drives
and flat-panel displays (FPDs). Failure to control static charge
leads to product losses from static-attracted particle contam-
ination and from electrostatic discharge (ESD).

Control programs to assist in mitigating static-charge prob-
lems are available from several sources, among them the ESD
Association and Semiconductor Equipment and Materials
International.1,2 The primary method employed for dealing
with both conductive and static-dissipative objects—
including people—is direct connection to ground to dissipate
the static charge.

But products and work areas both may contain materials
that are insulators. When these insulators are part of the prod-
uct itself, they cannot be eliminated. For example, high-
technology manufacturing makes use of oxide-coated silicon
wafers, epoxy-packaged semiconductor devices, insulation on
component leads, glass epoxy printed circuit boards, and glass
panels for FPDs. In addition, materials such as Teflon, quartz,
and many plastics necessary for resisting high temperatures or
chemicals or providing cleanroom compatibility are insulators.
Grounding has no effect on the levels of static charge on in-
sulators. The only practical method for neutralizing static
charge on most insulators is air ionization.3,4

The use of air ionizers is recommended in most published
static-control programs, but those documents contain little
explanation of the physics of the air ionization process or of
the effects of using ionizers in the manufacturing environ-
ment. Because marshalling air ions for static-control pur-
poses is important in many industries, this article attempts
to fill in the missing information for users of air ionization
technology.

Air Ions Defined

The word ion, derived from a Greek verb suggesting motion,
has the sense of “a traveler.” The term was first used to de-
scribe the effects observed when electrical currents were passed
through various solutions; molecules in the solutions would
dissociate and migrate—that is, travel—to electrodes of op-
posite polarity. A theory advanced by the Swedish researcher
The only practical method
for neutralizing static
charge on most insulators
is air ionization.

S. A. Arrhenius that the migrating ions were electrically
charged atoms was substantiated by the later discovery of the
electron and its nature.

Ions are defined as atoms or molecules that have lost or
gained electrons. (Electrons are the only easily available charge
carriers.) When an atom or molecule has an equal number of
electrons and protons it is electrically balanced, or neutral. If
an electron is lost, the atom or molecule becomes positively
charged and is a positive ion. Gaining an electron makes it a
negative ion.

What is called an air ion, or a charged air molecule, is real-
ly no such thing. Air is a mixture of gases, including nitrogen,
oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other trace gases,
any one or more of which may be ionized. Sometimes a di-
atomic gas molecule, such as nitrogen or oxygen, will gain or
lose the electron. Sometimes it will be a more complex gas
such as carbon dioxide. In any case, when molecules of one
or more of the gases in air gain or lose electrons, the result
is conventionally called air ions. Air ions differ from ions in

A i r I o n i z a t i o n

solution in that energy is needed for their formation.

conductivity due to the positive ions.

In normal, unfiltered air, air ions are molecular clusters
consisting of about 10 neutral gas molecules around a charged
oxygen, water, or nitrogen molecule. These are called small
air ions. Small air ions are relatively mobile and soon en-
counter ions of the opposite polarity or a grounded surface,
at which point they lose their charge and become neutral
molecules again. Small air ions have a life span of a few seconds
to a few minutes in clean air.

Under the right conditions, these ions attach to particles or
other large molecular clusters in the air, resulting in large air
ions. The relative proportion of small and large air ions pres-
ent generally depends on the cleanliness of the air. Large
quantities of particulate matter or aerosols in the air lead to
a depletion of small air ions.

However, any discussion of neutralizing static charge on in-
sulators in a static-control program, as here, will deal primar-
ily with the production and effects of small air ions.

Air Conductivity and Charge Neutralization

If an ion is exposed to an electric field, it will move at a
speed dependent on the magnitude of the field and in a di-
rection dependent on both the direction of the field and the
polarity of the ion (either of which may be positive or nega-
tive). The motion of ions in an electric field constitutes an
electric current whose density depends on the number of ions
in the air and the rate at which they move away from or toward
the source of the electric field. The relationship between the
current density and the electric field is known as the conduc-
tivity of the air. This conductivity may vary with the polarity.
If an object is charged, an electric field is established around
it. The field strength will vary from point to point but is always
proportional to the charge. If the object is surrounded by air
ions of both polarities, a current carried by the ions of polar-
ity opposite to its charge will flow toward the object. This neu-
tralization current is proportional both to the charge on the
object and to the relevant conductivity of the surrounding air.
Stated simply, a charged object attracts ions of the opposite
polarity.

An ion exposed to an electric field E will move with an

average drift velocity v proportional to E, that is,

v = kE,

(1)

where k is the mobility of the ion.

Small air ions have mobilities in the range of 1.0–2.0
cm2/V•s (centimeter2 per volt-second). This means that a small
air ion moves at a velocity of about 1 cm/sec when it is exposed
to an electric field strength of 1 V/cm. It can be shown exper-
imentally that the mobility of negative ions is approximately
15% higher than the mobility of positive ions.

If the air has a concentration n of positive ions with the
mobility k and charge e, an electric field E will cause an elec-
tric current to flow in the direction of E with the density j.

j = enkE = λE

(2)

The constant λ, which is equivalent to enk, is called the
positive conductivity of the air or, more precisely, the polar

Negative ions will move in the opposite direction of the
field. However, Equation 2 can still be used to calculate current
density from negative ions when e is taken as the numerical
value of the ion charge.

If a body is given a charge q of either positive or negative
polarity, an electric field is established around the body.
If the body is surrounded by air containing air ions of both
polarities, opposite-polarity air ions will flow toward it and
ions of the same polarity away from it. While the field will vary
from point to point in space, it is always proportional to q.
The movement of charge is an electric current. The current
toward the body, carried by ions of polarity opposite to that
of q and known as the neutralization current, is proportional
to the charge and to the relevant opposite conductivity of
the surrounding air.

If the air conductivity does not change, then the relative
rate of charge neutralization is constant, and the charge will
decay exponentially with a time constant τ that depends on the
air conductivity. In other words, given an initial charge q0, the
charge remaining at a later time is given by

where the time constant τ is equal to the permittivity of the air
ε0 divided by the air conductivity, λ.

q = q0

–t/τ,

τ = ε0/λ;

thus, referring to Equation 3,

q = q0

–t(enk/ε0),

(3)

(4)

(5)

making the rate of charge neutralization proportional to the
ion concentration.

Practically, it is difficult to maintain constant air conduc-
tivity. Many factors cause variations in the rate of charge decay
These factors include airborne-particle concentrations, de-
pletion of ions in the vicinity of a charged object, the inho-
mogeneity of ionized air, and nonuniform electric fields due
to irregularities in the charged object or nearby objects. Mak-
ing corrections for all deviations from the simple case in order
to calculate the time constant is an impractical approach. It is
generally more reasonable to measure the neutralizing prop-
erties of an ionizer experimentally.

Natural Air Ions

Ions are present naturally in the air, with positive ions usu-
ally exceeding negative ions by a ratio of 1.2:1. Typically, clean
outdoor air contains 2000–3000 ions per cubic centimeter.
Inside a building with natural ventilation, the number
drops below 500/cm3, and in most buildings with ducted air-
conditioning systems, air ion levels above 100/cm3 are rare.

These natural air ions are formed primarily by the decay of
trace radioactive elements in the air, ground, or building ma-
terials. Other sources include the triboelectric charging caused
by waterfalls or ocean waves (mostly small negative ions),
lightning storms (temporary increases), and, in the upper
atmosphere, the passage of cosmic rays and solar radiation.

hind a positive ion and, when captured, creates a negative ion.
This is advantageous in certain applications involving ex-
tremely ESD-sensitive components. Equal numbers of positive
and negative ions means that the ionizer is always balanced to
0 V and neutralizes everything in the work area to zero.

Alpha ionization is used commercially for applications in-
volving explosive or flammable environments, or in applica-
tions requiring precise balance of ionization. The process is
expensive because alpha ionizers lose half their strength every
143 days (the half-life of a radioactive source). Usually they
must be replaced annually. Although alpha ionizers have more
than a 25-year record of safety, they are subject to government
regulation. Anything radioactive makes people nervous. For
these reasons, alpha ionization use is not as widespread as that
of corona ionization.

Corona Ionization. Corona ionizers use strong electric
fields created by applying high voltage to a sharp ionizing
point to move the electrons. Due to the decay of trace ra-
dioactive elements in soil and air, a few free electrons are al-
ways present in the atmosphere. Creation of a high positive
electric field accelerates these electrons toward the ionizing
point. They collide with air molecules and knock out more
electrons on the way, leaving behind many molecules that have
lost electrons and become positive ions in a high positive elec-
tric field. This field repels them from the ionizing point, pre-
sumably toward the area where they are needed for charge
neutralization. Similarly, a negative electric field sends free
electrons away from the ionizer point into collisions with gas
molecules that generate more free electrons that are captured
by neutral gas molecules near the ionizing point. The negative
ions created are repelled by the negative electric field.5

Corona ionization generally does not provide the intrinsic
balance of ion polarities that alpha ionization does. Methods
do exist, however, to ensure that closely matched quantities of
positive and negative ions are delivered to the work area despite
differences in ion mobilities and ion production rates for each
polarity. Also, some ionizers include monitoring and feedback
capabilities to provide adequate long-term stability of the ion
balance in the work area. Ion balance is important because an
imbalance in the ionizer can induce voltages on isolated con-
ductors, an outcome just the opposite of that for which the
ionizer’s use is intended.

The Ionization Standard. Ionizer balance, or offset voltage,

Figure 2. In alpha ionization, polonium 10 collides with air
molecules and knocks out electrons.

Figure 1. Neutralizing a surface through bipolar air ionization.

In clean air, ions last no longer than a few minutes, the rate
of depletion depending on various factors. The higher the ion
density, the more likely an ion of one polarity will find one of
the opposite polarity. When this happens, charges are ex-
changed in a process known as recombination, and the result
is two neutral molecules. Recombination also occurs when
ions contact grounded surfaces. Thus, ions used for static neu-
tralization must be produced in a way that minimizes inter-
action between ions of opposite polarity and must be isolat-
ed from large grounded objects.

Also, large air ions, when they form, move much more slow-
ly than small air ions. The value of k becomes smaller (see
Equation 2). Large air ions have much less effect on air
conductivity and are not of interest for purposes of charge
neutralization.

Small air ions can be removed from air by the electrostatic
fields that emanate from statically charged surfaces. An elec-
trostatic field interacts with the charged air molecules,
attracting air ions of polarity opposite to the charge that cre-
ated the field (see Figure 1). Ions are drawn to the opposite-
polarity surface charge until that charge is neutralized and the
electrostatic field it created ceases to exist. This important
phenomenon is the basis for using air ions for static control.
However, natural sources of air ionization produce insuffi-
cient quantities of ions of both polarities to control static
charge effectively. Much higher ion concentrations are need-
ed for area static neutralization, typically 100,000 to 1 million
ions per cubic centimeter of air.

Air Ionization

Creating air ions artificially requires adding electrons to
or removing them from the gas molecules in the air. Two
basic methods are used to achieve this: alpha ionization and
corona ionization.

Alpha Ionization. Alpha ionizers utilize a nuclear source,
polonium 210, which is an alpha particle emitter. The alpha
particle, a helium nucleus, collides with air molecules, knock-
ing out electrons over a travel distance of about 3 cm. Gas
molecules that lose electrons become positive ions. The
dislodged electrons do not exist freely for very long before
they are captured by neutral gas molecules, forming negative
ions (see Figure 2).

Alpha ionizers always produce balanced quantities of pos-
itive and negative ions. Each electron knocked out leaves be-

A i r I o n i z a t i o n

is measured with a charged-plate monitor (CPM) using pro-
cedures defined in the ESD Association’s standard on air ion-
ization.3 ANSI ESD STM3.1 is the only ionization standard
recognized worldwide and has been referenced in many in-
ternational static-control standards. As a standard test method,
it defines only an instrument and test methodology for com-
paring either different systems or the same system over time;
it does not specify required performance because of the vari-
ety of conditions under which air ionization is employed.
To solve the static-charge problem, discharge times should al-
ways be specified by the end-user.

Selecting a Method. The ESD sensitivity of the product
being protected generally determines the type of ionization
that is best to use. The more sensitive the product, the more
precise must be the ionizer’s ability to maintain balance and

Few human technological
activities lead to an
increase in air ionization.
Most cause depletion.

long-term stability in ion production. However, problems such
as particle attraction to charged surfaces and ESD-related
equipment difficulties can be solved by almost any commer-
cially available air ionizer. Solving these problems does not
require ionizer balance to better than a few hundred volts, as
measured with the CPM.

Selecting an ionizer may involve consideration of several
other issues as well. These include available airflow, distance
from the ionizer to the work area, and the cleanroom com-
patibility of the ionizer.

Types of Corona Ionizers

Several methods of corona ionization are available to create
and deliver bipolar ionized air to the work area. These meth-
ods differ mainly in whether high-voltage ac, dc, or pulsed dc
current is used to create ions.

Ac Ionization. In alternating-current technology, high volt-
age is applied to a number of closely spaced emitter points
that cycle negative and positive at the line frequency of 50 or
60 Hz. Ionization efficiency is low because the points remain
above the ionization threshold voltage for each polarity only
a small percentage of the time.

Ac technology is widely used in ionization bars that control
static charge on low- and medium-speed moving material
webs. It is used also with ionizing blowers and blowoff gun
devices. In electronics manufacturing, ac ionizers are common-
ly employed to protect components during assembly. Because
of their dependence on the power line, with its often unbal-
anced and noisy characteristics, ac ionizers are rarely used
in applications requiring precision balance (within ±15 V).
And because of the high ion currents necessary to make up for
high levels of ion recombination, particle levels associated
with ac ionizers usually make them unsuitable for cleanroom
applications.

Steady-State Dc Ionization. High voltage of both polarities
is continuously applied to pairs of positive and negative emit-

ter points in standard direct-current technology; thus, the ef-
ficiency of ion production is better than that of ac ionizers.
Because lower operating currents can be used, steady-state dc
ionizers are more applicable to cleanroom use. The availabili-
ty of separate positive and negative high-voltage supplies makes
it possible to employ various schemes for monitoring and feed-
back control of ion balance to better than ±5 V. Steady-state dc
ionizers can be used in high-airflow rooms and in high-speed
web applications. This technology is also applied in ionizing
blowers, ionizing bars, and blowoff gun devices. In addition, it
has wide application for controlling static charge in room sys-
tems, on work surfaces and flow hoods, and in equipment at the
point of use.

Pulsed Dc Ionization. Positive and negative high-voltage
currents to the emitter points are alternately turned on and off
in pulsed systems, creating clouds of positive and negative
ions that mix together in the work area. The result is a dramatic
lowering of the recombination rate. This allows ionizers to be
placed on the ceilings of rooms 5 m high or higher.

Pulsed dc ionizers are used in rooms with low airflow and
are the most common type of ionizer employed in cleanrooms
and laminar-flow hoods. The advantage of this type of ioniz-
er is its flexibility and versatility, as cycle timing can be adjusted
to the specific airflow conditions. Since the polarity of the
ionizer output varies with the cycle timing, a voltage swing
is produced that must be limited in order to protect ESD-
sensitive devices.5

The Effect of Air Ions on People

Whenever something is to be added to the air people
breathe, the natural response is to ask what effects it may have.
Since the 18th century, scientists have been pursuing this ques-
tion with respect to what are now called charged air molecules.
Research on the effects of air ions on all sorts of biological
systems conducted through the 20th century found that these
included the killing of microorganisms, the stimulation of
plant growth, and the shift of chemical levels in the blood and
brains of animals. Both adding ions to the normal environ-
ment and removing them affected biological systems.

Investigations into the effects of air ions on human beings
have followed from the anecdotal evidence that naturally
occurring air ions do affect human activity. Certain hot dry
winds, for example, cause a shift in the balance of positive to
negative air ions, to which increases in illness and the alteration
of mood have been attributed.

Despite an absence of true double-blind clinical trials,
several conclusions regarding the effects of small air ions on
people have been reached. One is that not all people notice
or react to changes in the level of air ions. More important,
for those who are affected, a decrease in the air ion level is
more significant than an increase or a shift in the ratio of pos-
itive to negative ions.

Few human technological activities lead to an increase in air
ions. Most activities cause depletion. Industrial air pollution,
stray electrical fields, and ventilation ducts are some factors
that effectively strip air ions from the environment. Such ion
depletion can cause sleepiness, attention deficit, discomfort,
and headaches, effects that artificially increasing air ion levels
has been reported to reverse. Ion generators have been used to

mitigate these problems. However, there is no general agree-
ment that employing these devices to restore or increase en-
vironmental levels of air ions has beneficial health effects.
Studies have shown, on the other hand, that for certain tasks,
worker performance improves in an ionized environment,
particularly relative to an ion-depleted work area. People
whose performance or moods are affected by ion levels seem
to prefer a negatively ionized environment.

One thing is common to all studies of the effects of air ions
on people: no researcher has reported any adverse effects from
even high concentrations of balanced or monopolar negative
ionization.

Conclusion

Air ions have other uses besides the neutralization of static
charge. Among these are paint spraying, bag filling, and sur-
face coating. Also, electrostatic precipitation, which involves
using a monopolar ionizer to generate many charged large air
ions of one polarity that are drawn by electrostatic forces to
oppositely charged collection plates or grounded surfaces, re-
moves particles from industrial, office, and home air. Designed
for industrial process pollution control, this air-cleaning tech-
nology, and all air ionization techniques, may have the addi-
tional effect of reducing respiratory problems in workers and
instilling in them a greater sense of well-being. Anecdotal
evidence suggests as much.

Air ionization is already important for delivering static con-

trol in high-technology manufacturing, but researchers around
the world are continuing to investigate new applications for air
ionization in both industrial processes and biological systems.
Innovative uses for nanotechnology, biotechnology, and other
life science applications are being developed.

References

1. ANSI/ESD S20.20–1999, “Development of an Electrostatic Dis-
charge Program for the Protection of Electrical and Electronic
Parts, Assemblies and Equipment” (Rome, NY: ESD Association,
1999).

2. SEMI E78-1105, “Guide to Assess and Control Electrostatic Dis-
charge (ESD) and Electrostatic Attraction (ESA) in Semiconductor
Equipment” (San Jose: Semiconductor Equipment and Materials
International, 2002).

3. ANSI/ESD STM3.1–2005, “Ionization” (Rome, NY: ESD Associa-

tion, 2005).

4. AJ Steinman, “Preventing Electrostatic Problems in Semiconduc-
tor Manufacturing,” Compliance Engineering 21, no. 1 (2004):
89–93.

5. A Steinman, “Air Ionization: Issues and Answers” (tutorial pre-
sented at the 27th Annual EOS/ESD Symposium, Anaheim, CA,
September 11–16, 2005).

Arnold Steinman is chief technology officer for MKS, Ion Systems
(Alameda, CA). He can be reached at 510-217-0615 or via e-mail
at asteinman@ion.com. n

Reprinted from Compliance Engineering, 2006 Annual Reference Guide • Copyright © 2006 Canon Communications LLC