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RESEARCH PRODUCT

How does a transition zone affect the electric field enhanced water dissociation in bipolar membranes?

subject

description

The changes in the electric field in the space charge regions and the corresponding effect on the water dissociation rate when a transition zone exists between the layers of a bipolar membrane are theoretically studied. A quasi-equilibrium approach based on the Poisson-Boltzmann equation for the space charge interfacial regions is used. The transition zone acts to decrease significantly the water dissociation rate. However, for realistic values of the thickness δ of the transition zone and provided that the ohmic drop over δ be small, this decrease in the dissociation rate is not very dependent on δ. The results obtained give theoretical support to some recent experimental findings.