Effect of Electric Field on Ion Transport in Nanoporous Membranes with Conductive Surface

Abstract

The effect of an external electric field on the ionic conductivity and selective properties of ceramic membranes based on alumina nanofibers coated with a conductive carbon layer has been studied. It has been shown that the membranes are ideally polarizable in the polarizing voltage range of −500 to +500 mV and, therefore, can be used for implementing switchable ionic selectivity. Experiments have revealed that the membrane resistance decreases with a change in the applied potential from 0 to ±500 mV. It has been shown that the membrane selectivity can be switched from anion to cation by varying the external potential. The surface charge density of the membranes has been determined in terms of the Teorell–Meyer–Sievers model according to the experimental measurements of the membrane potential.