Wide-frequency-range dielectric response of polystyrene latex dispersions

In this work we analyze the dielectric properties of dilute colloidal suspensions of nonconducting spherical particles with a thin electrical double layer from experimental data obtained by performing impedance spectroscopy experiments over a broad frequency range, from 20 Hz to 1 GHz. The electrode polarization correction was made by fitting a circuit model in the complex impedance plane (impedance spectrum) using a constant phase angle (CPA) element to fit the electrode polarization in series with the sample impedance. This simple procedure is found to be effective in eliminating the electrode contribution. The dielectric response shows two different dispersions, the alpha relaxation (counterion relaxation) that occurs at low kilohertz frequencies, and the delta relaxation (Maxwell-Wagner effect) found in the MHz range. These are reasonably well fitted over a broad frequency range by the theoretical expressions given by a simplified standard model (not including anomalous conduction) and a generalized model (including anomalous conduction) for the low-frequency dispersion, plus Maxwell-Wagner-O'Konski theory for the delta relaxation in the mid-frequency range. An analysis was also made of the need to include, for these latices, the effects of ion mobility in the Stern layer in order for the values of the zeta-potential obtained from electrophoretic and dielectric data to be compatible with each other.