What really drives chemical reactions on contact charged surfaces?

Although it is known that contact-electrified polymers can drive chemical reactions, the origin of this phenomenon remains poorly understood. To date, it has been accepted that this effect is due to excess electrons developed on negatively charged surfaces and to the subsequent transfer of these electrons to the reactants in solution. The present study demonstrates that this view is incorrect and, in reality, the reactions are driven by mechanoradicals created during polymer-polymer contact.