Near-surface structure of Nafion in deuterated water

The swelling of a polymer ion-exchange membrane Nafion in water with various heavy isotope contents (D2O) was studied by photoluminescent UV spectroscopy. The photoluminescence arises because of the presence of sulfonic groups attached to the ends of the perfluorovinyl ether groups that form the tetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) backbone of Nafion. The width of the colloidal region, which is formed near the membrane surface as a result of the outgrowth of Nafion microfibers toward the bulk liquid, varies non-monotonically with D2O content, displaying a narrow maximum in the low concentration region. A significant insight into the unexpected isotopic effects revealed in swelling Nafion in deuterated water is provided. Mainly, the polymer swelling is very sensitive to small changes (on the order of several tens of parts per million) in the content of deuterium, which, for instance, can help in understanding the isotopic effects in living tissues. © 2018 Author(s).

Authors
Bunkin N.F.1 , Shkirin A.V.2, 3 , Kozlov V.A. 1 , Ninham B.W.4 , Uspenskaya E.V. 5 , Gudkov S.V.2, 6, 7
Journal
The Journal of Chemical Physics
Number of issue
16
Language
English
Status
Published
Link
External link
DOI
10.1063/1.5042065
Number
164901
Volume
149
Year
2018
Organizations
  • 1 Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Second Baumanskaya Str. 5, Moscow, 105005, Russian Federation
  • 2 Prokhorov General Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova Str. 38, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
  • 3 National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Kashirskoe Sh. 31, Moscow, 115409, Russian Federation
  • 4 Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
  • 5 RUDN University, Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 6, Moscow, 117198, Russian Federation
  • 6 Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod, Gagarina Ave., 23, Nizhni Novgorod, 603950, Russian Federation
  • 7 Moscow Regional Research and Clinical Institute (MONIKI), Shchepkina Str. 61/2, Moscow, 129110, Russian Federation
Keywords
Ion exchange; Ion exchange membranes; Ultraviolet spectroscopy; Deuterated water; Isotopic effects; Living tissues; Low concentrations; Membrane surface; Parts per millions; Polymer swelling; Tetrafluoroethylene; Deuterium
Date of creation
04.02.2019
Date of change
04.02.2019
Short link
https://repository.rudn.ru/en/records/article/record/36278/
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