The Coexistence of Conductivity and Persistent Electrical Polarization in Polyelectrolyte Membranes

Persistent electrical polarization (heterocharged electret formation) and electrical conduction have been found to be compatible in polymer membranes consisting of mixtures of sodium polystyrenesulfonate and various polar polymer matrices. This compatibility is apparently the result of the fact that the mechanisms for these two phenomena are quite different. While the mechanism for conduction is probably electronic in this system, the persistent polarization is probably the result of microscopic displacement of some sodium ions from their fixed sulfonate sites and stabilization of these ions in new sites by interaction with surrounding molecules.