Contaminant absorption and conductivity in polymer electrolyte membranes

Impedance studies exhibited a loss of conductivity, while an increase in ion absorption into the membrane was observed, when membranes were soaked in solutions of higher contaminant concentration. In this study, the capacity for ion absorption into the membranes was determined and the extent of membrane contamination was compared and correlated with the loss in conductivity of the membrane for different levels of contamination.