A compact device for simultaneous dielectric spectroscopy and microgravimetric analysis under controlled humidity

Water plays a key role in the functioning of natural and synthetic molecular systems. Despite several hydration studies, different techniques are employed individually for monitoring different physical features such as kinetics, dynamics, and absorption. This study describes a compact hydration cell that enables simultaneous dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) and mass loss/uptake measurements in thin organic layers under controlled humidity conditions and in a wide temperature range. This approach enabled us to correlate the physical quantities obtained during the same experiment by complementary techniques. To demonstrate the performance of this device, a 200 nm thick poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) layer was measured at various relative humidity levels (0%-75%), temperatures (25-75 °C), and frequencies (DRS: 0.1 Hz-1 MHz) to study how hydration and dehydration processes affect its molecular dynamics. The results show the capability of this setup to study the changes in the PMMA film regarding the kinetics and molecular dynamics upon variation of the water content.