Sulfonated poly(ether ether sulfones): Characterization and study of dielectrical properties by impedance spectroscopy

In this work, three samples of sulfonated polysulfones of different sulfonation degree have been characterized, and the electrical properties of dense membranes based on them have been evaluated. The polymers were characterized spectroscopically, and by their inherent viscosity, and water absorption. Electrical characterization of membranes was carried out on dense membranes in contact with NaCl solutions, by impedance spectroscopy (IS) measurements using equivalent circuits as models. The results showed how the sulfonation clearly affected the membrane electrical characteristics, strongly reducing the membrane resistance, and also changing the type of circuit associated to the membrane, which could be related to the increase of electrolyte taken by the membrane when the sulfonation degree increased. Concentration dependence of the electrical parameters was also studied.