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Water dissociation phenomena in a bipolar membrane

The configurations and theoretical voltage analysis

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Abstract

The models were established for the theoretical current-voltage characteristics in water dissociation process on a bipolar membrane. Particular attention was given to the transport of the water ions and electrolyte ions as well as the membrane physical structure and configuration. The factors on the water splitting process were adequately analysed based on the derived theoretical current-voltage characteristics and several good suggestions were proposed for decreasing the work voltage in practical operations. In addition, the model can give a reasonable explanation for the catalytic effect of some chemicals, such as amphiprotic hydroxide compounds, weak polymeric acids and bases, etc. It is shown that the catalyst may be responsible for the increase in dissociation rate constant of water and therefore enhance the water dissociation. The guidelines for choosing a proper catalyst were also proposed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China

    Tongwen Xu & Weihua Yang

  2. The State Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials for Adsorption and Separation, Nankai University, 300071, Tianjin, China

    Binglin He

Authors
  1. Tongwen Xu
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  2. Weihua Yang
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  3. Binglin He
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Additional information

Project supported by the Youth Foundation of USTC[1999], the Foundation of the State Kay Lab. of Func. Poly. Materials for Adsor. & Sep., Nankai Univ. [1998], the Foundation of Post-doctoral of China (No. 1996(2)) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grand No. 2997604).

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Xu, T., Yang, W. & He, B. Water dissociation phenomena in a bipolar membrane. Sc. China Ser. B-Chem. 42, 589–598 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02874323

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02874323

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