Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Determination of Molar Masses of Polymers II01:27

Determination of Molar Masses of Polymers II

Polymer samples typically consist of macromolecular chains with a distribution of lengths, resulting in a range of molar masses rather than a single discrete value. Conventional descriptors such as the number-average molar mass and weight-average molar mass quantify this distribution but do not fully capture polymer behavior in solution..The viscosity-average molar mass provides a more realistic description of polymer behavior in solution because it accounts for the enhanced contribution of...
Determination of Molar Masses of Polymers I01:24

Determination of Molar Masses of Polymers I

Polymerization produces macromolecules with a range of chain lengths due to the random nature of molecular growth processes. As chains form and terminate at different stages, a single polymer sample contains molecules of varying sizes rather than a uniform structure. This variability is described using average molar masses and distribution-related parameters, which together provide a comprehensive understanding of polymer characteristics.The distribution of molar masses plays a critical role in...
Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers01:08

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

Step growth polymerization involves bi or multifunctional monomers. Bifunctional monomers react to form linear step growth polymers, whereas multifunctional monomers react to form non-linear or branched polymers.
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...
Debye–Huckel–Onsager Conductance Equation01:28

Debye–Huckel–Onsager Conductance Equation

The Debye-Hückel-Onsager equation is a cornerstone of physical chemistry, providing a method to determine the molar conductance (Λm) and molar conductance at infinite dilution (Λ°m) for uni-univalent electrolytes.Uni-univalent electrolytes are electrolytes that dissociate in solution to produce one cation with a +1 charge and one anion with a –1 charge per formula unit.This equation addresses two crucial phenomena: the asymmetry effect and the electrophoretic effect. According to this equation,...
Kohlraush’s Law and its Applications01:29

Kohlraush’s Law and its Applications

Kohlrausch's law explains that at infinite dilution, where dissociation is complete, each ion's contribution to the conductivity of the electrolyte is independent of the nature of other ions present in the solution. It also implies that when an electrolyte is highly diluted, the conductance of the electrolyte is the sum of the individual conductances of the ions it generates upon dissociation. The quantity of electricity an ion carries is proportional to its molar ionic conductance, which...
Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution01:10

Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution

For any given polymer, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is higher than, if not equal to, the number average molecular weight (Mn). The only situation in which the weight average molecular weight and the number average molecular weight are equal is when a polymer consists only of chains with equal molecular weight. However, this never happens in a synthetic polymer, since it is difficult to control the polymerization process up to a molecular level with accuracy to a hundred percent.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Analysis of anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer performance and its evolution over time.

iScience·2025
Same author

Liquid Sorption-Enhanced Haber-Bosch Process.

Industrial & engineering chemistry research·2025
Same author

Effect of Ionomer on CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction at Atomically Dispersed Ni─N─C Catalyst.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2025
Same author

Making hydrogen production durable.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2025
Same author

Aryl ether-free polymer electrolytes for electrochemical and energy devices.

Chemical Society reviews·2024
Same author

Comparing Ammonium and Tetraaminophosphonium Anion-Exchange Membranes Derived from Vinyl-Addition Polynorbornene Copolymers.

ACS applied energy materials·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Synthesis of Terpolymers at Mild Temperatures Using Dynamic Sulfur Bonds in Poly(S-Divinylbenzene)
09:16

Synthesis of Terpolymers at Mild Temperatures Using Dynamic Sulfur Bonds in Poly(S-Divinylbenzene)

Published on: May 20, 2019

Moving beyond mass-based parameters for conductivity analysis of sulfonated polymers.

Yu Seung Kim1, Bryan S Pivovar

  • 1Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA. yskim@lanl.gov

Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
|March 22, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Volume-based measurements are crucial for accurately comparing proton conductivity in polymer electrolytes for fuel cells. This study introduces and reviews these volume-related parameters, addressing limitations of mass-based methods.

More Related Videos

MALDI-ToF MS Method for the Characterization of Synthetic Polymers with Varying Dispersity and End Groups
06:16

MALDI-ToF MS Method for the Characterization of Synthetic Polymers with Varying Dispersity and End Groups

Published on: October 3, 2025

Solid-state Graft Copolymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery Applications
05:33

Solid-state Graft Copolymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery Applications

Published on: August 12, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 23, 2026

Synthesis of Terpolymers at Mild Temperatures Using Dynamic Sulfur Bonds in Poly(S-Divinylbenzene)
09:16

Synthesis of Terpolymers at Mild Temperatures Using Dynamic Sulfur Bonds in Poly(S-Divinylbenzene)

Published on: May 20, 2019

MALDI-ToF MS Method for the Characterization of Synthetic Polymers with Varying Dispersity and End Groups
06:16

MALDI-ToF MS Method for the Characterization of Synthetic Polymers with Varying Dispersity and End Groups

Published on: October 3, 2025

Solid-state Graft Copolymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery Applications
05:33

Solid-state Graft Copolymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery Applications

Published on: August 12, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Electrochemistry
  • Polymer Science

Background:

  • Proton conductivity in polymer electrolytes is vital for fuel cell performance.
  • Current comparisons often rely on mass-based metrics like water uptake and ion exchange capacity.
  • These mass-based methods have limitations due to polymer density variations and conduction length scales.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish and review volume-related parameters for comparing polymer electrolyte proton conductivity.
  • To address the limitations of traditional mass-based comparison methods.
  • To consider morphological effects and guide the design of next-generation fuel cell materials.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on polymer electrolyte characterization.
  • Establishment of volume-related parameters for conductivity comparison.
  • Analysis of morphological influences on proton transport.

Main Results:

  • Mass-based measurements (water uptake, ion exchange capacity) show significant limitations in correlating to proton conductivity.
  • Differences in polymer density and conduction length scales necessitate volume-based comparisons.
  • Volume-related parameters provide a more accurate basis for comparing different polymer electrolytes.

Conclusions:

  • Volume-related parameters are superior to mass-based metrics for accurate comparison of proton conductivity in polymer electrolytes.
  • Understanding these volume-dependent factors is essential for designing advanced sulfonated polymers.
  • This work informs the development of next-generation polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.