Luminescence Probe Studies of Nafion Polyelectrolytes.

摘要

We have recently described a procedure for dissolving perfluorosulfonate ionomer membranes. This allows, for the first time, for a study of the inherent chemical properties of the polyperfluorosulfonate molecule. Such studies of the free polyelectrolyte molecule in solution should give insight into the chemical properties of the solid state membranes obtained from these polyelectrolytes. The work described here focusses on investigations of the nature of the interactions between the polyperfluorosulfonates and their counterions. Clearly an electrostatic interaction is extant but because hydrophobic interactions have been implicated in various studies of perfluorosulfonate membranes, it was of interest to see if evidence for such interactions could be observed in solutions of the polyelectrolytes. Luminescence probe studies were used to investigate the nature of the interactions between the polyperflourosultonates and their counterions.