Investigating the role of polymer size on ionic conductivity in free-standing hyperbranched polyelectrolyte membranes

Polymer-based ion exchange membranes (IEMs) are utilized for many applications such as in water desalination, energy storage, fuel cells and electrophoretic drug delivery devices, exemplified by the organic electronic pump (OEIP). The bulk of current research is primarily focused on finding highly conductive stable IEM materials. Even though great progress has been made, a lack fundamental understanding how specific polymer properties affect ionic transport capabilities still remains. This leads to uncertainty proceed with synthetic approaches designing better In this study, an investigation structure-property relationship between size conductivity was performed comparing series membranes, based ionically charged hyperbranched polyglycerol different sizes. Observing increase associated increasing greater electrolyte exclusion, indicating transportation phenomenon not exclusively membrane uptake. These findings further our phenomena semi-permeable indicate strong starting point future design synthesis polymers achieve broader variety transport-based applications.