Where Do Negative Ions Come From?

Ionizers, or negative ion generators, produce negative ions. How?

1. Under the action of a high voltage corona discharge, an atom of oxygen in the air gains an electron, and it becomes negatively charged. This oxygen atom is now a negative ion, a very desirable condition. No positive ions are generated.

But, when an atom of oxygen loses an electron, it lacks a negative charge, and is therefore positive. This electronless atom is now a positive ion, an undesirable condition.


 

2. Ultraviolet UVC radiation @254 nM produces OH- hydroxyl ions.
   These differ from negative oxygen ions produced by a high voltage corona discharge. No positive ions are generated (contrary to what some repeat). Only negative hydroxyl ions are generated with pure ultraviolet-c rays.