Dielectric Properties of Hydrated Perfluorosulfonic acid membranes

Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy is employed to investigate the link between hydrated morphology, local water dynamics and charge transport in a series of commercially available Perfluorosulfonic Acid (PFSA) membranes of different equivalent weights and hydration levels[1-2]. Different experimental set-ups are used to determine dielectric properties of both dry and hydrated membranes in a wide frequency range spanning more than 11 orders of magnitude. The dielectric spectra are dominated by long-range proton conduction on the low frequency regime and local water dynamics at higher frequencies.  The results are discussed within the framework of recent studies of charge transport in nano-confined membranes.

References

1. K.-D. Kreuer, M. Schuster, B. Obliers, O. Diat, U. Traub, A. Fuchs, U. Klock, S. J. Paddison and J. Maier, J. Power Sources, 178, 499 (2008).

2. G. A. Giffin, G. M. Haugen, S. J. Hamrock, and V.D. Noto, Journal of the American Chemical Society,  135 (2), 822-834 (2013).