Characterisation of cation exchange membrane in hydro-organic media by electrochemistry and Raman spectroscopy

Abstract

The physicochemical characterisation of a CMX membrane in hydro-organic media was undertaken. N-Methylformamide (NMF) and five other solvents with various relative permittivities were investigated. The water content, electrical resistance and transport numbers allowed us to compare the mobility of protons and sodium ions through the membrane as a function of the nature and amount of the organic solvent in the equilibrating solution. Moreover, Raman spectroscopy proved to be a powerful tool to investigate the solvent sorption within the membrane material.