Dielectric Properties of Polymer Electrolyte Membranes Measured by Two-Port Transmission Line Technique

The microwave dielectric properties of perfluorosulfonic acid membranes are characterized by a two-port transmission line technique. Two dielectric relaxation modes are observed in the microwave region (0.045–26 GHz) at 25°C. The higher frequency process observed is identified as the cooperative relaxation of bulk-like water, whose amount was found to increase linearly with water content in the polymer. The lower-frequency process, characterized by longer relaxation times (20-70 picoseconds), is attributed to water molecules that are loosely bound to sulfonate groups. The loosely bound water amount was found to increase with hydration level at low water content, and levels-off at higher water contents. Flemion SH150, which has an equivalent weight of 909 g/equiv, displays higher dielectric strengths for both of these water modes compared to Nafion 117 (equivalent weight of 1100 g/equiv).