Electrochemical characterization and transport phenomena of polystyrene based barium–magnesium phosphate composite membrane

Abstract

The polystyrene based barium–magnesium (BMP) composite membrane was prepared by sol–gel method. The physico-chemical characterization of the BMP composite membrane was established by XRD, FTIR and simultaneous SEM studies. The membrane was found to be crystalline in nature with uniform arrangement of particles indicating no sign of visible cracks. Membrane potential is a measurable and important parameter to characterize the charge property of the membrane. Membrane potentials have been measured across the polystyrene based barium–magnesium (BMP) composite membrane separating various 1:1 electrolytes at different concentrations and followed the order KCl < NaCl < LiCl. The membrane was found to be cation-selective. Membrane potentials have been used to calculate transport number, mobility ratio, distribution coefficient, charge effectiveness, and also the fixed charge density which is a central parameter governing the membrane phenomena by utilizing Teorell, Meyer, and Sievers method. The order of surface charge density for uni-univalent electrolytes solution was found to be LiCl < NaCl < KCl.

Keywords

• XRD
• FTIR
• SEM
• Membrane potential
• Fixed charge density