The dust layer formed by charged particles deposition significantly limit the collection efficiency and stable application of electrostatic precipitators (ESPs). However, the deposition characteristics and re-entrainment mechanism of charged particles in electric field still remain unclear. In this study, a transparent ESP was designed to investigate the dynamic process of charged particle deposition, clustering and gas breakdown in electric field. The results showed that deposited particles will aggregate and gradually grow in chains in high-voltage electric field. The length of chain agglomerates can exceed 10 mm. And interelectrode gas breakdown could suddenly occur, which significantly changed the particle charging characteristics and increased particle emission at the outlet. In addition, a perforated plate was proposed to inhibit the gas breakdown and particle re-entrainment. The mass concentrations of particle re-entrainment decreased by 85.2 % and 79.1 % for the spike electrode and the arista electrode at the applied voltage of 30 kV, respectively.