Influence of Electric Field during the Chemical Synthesis of Polyaniline on the Surface of Heterogeneous Sulfonated Cation-Exchange Membranes on the Their Structure and Properties

Abstract

The influence of electric field in the chemical synthesis of polyaniline on the surface of sulfonated cation-exchange membranes on their structure and properties has been investigated. By using standard contact porosimetry, it has been found that surface modification of heterogeneous membranes with polyaniline, both in static conditions and in an external electric field, does not significantly affect the distribution of water over the effective pore radii and binding energies. It has been shown that the structural heterogeneity of the ion-exchange membrane, rather than the aniline polymerization conditions, has a more significant effect on the morphology of the polyaniline layer on its surface and, hence, on the electrotransport properties. A decrease in the electrical conductivity of the composites obtained with an increase in the quantity of electricity passed during the synthesis of polyaniline on their surface has been revealed. Based on the analysis of the current–voltage characteristics of the samples and their electrical conductivity, the conditions for obtaining materials with the most pronounced asymmetry of the electrotransport properties have been determined.