Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Electrostatic Boundary Conditions in Dielectrics

Electrostatic Boundary Conditions in Dielectrics

When an electric field passes from one homogeneous medium to another, crossing the boundary between the two mediums imparts a discontinuity in the electric field. This results in electrostatic boundary conditions that depend on the type of mediums the field propagates through.
Consider a case where both the mediums across a boundary are two different dielectric materials. Recall that the electric field and electric displacement are proportional and related through the material's permittivity.

Theory of Strong Electrolytes

Theory of Strong Electrolytes

The interionic forces of the strong electrolytes depend on the solvent's dielectric constant, which is the ability of a solvent to store electrical energy, based on its polarizability. and the solution's concentration. In high-dielectric solvents and in dilute solutions, weak electrostatic forces keep ions apart. However, in low-dielectric solvents or concentrated solutions, stronger interionic forces may cause ions to pair up as ionic doublets despite being fully ionized. The theory of strong...

The Electrical Double Layer

The Electrical Double Layer

In the region where two bulk phases meet, an intricate electric charge distribution arises due to charge transfer, ion adsorption, molecular orientation, and charge distortion. This complex distribution is commonly referred to as the electrical double layer.When a solid electrode interfaces with ions in an electrolyte solution, the speed of electron transfer dictates the rates of oxidation and reduction. The electrode acquires a charge through the escape of atoms into the solution as cations or...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Hexagonal and Lamellar Superstructure in DSPE-PEG1000 Monolayers at the Air/Water Interface.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2025

Same author

Highly Electrically Conductive PEDOT:PSS Films via Layer-By-Layer Electrostatic Self-Assembly.

ACS omega·2024

Same author

Chemo-Enzymatic Depolymerization of Functionalized Low-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2024

Same author

Influence of Surface Flows on the Shape of Fractal Domains.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2023

Same author

Seaweed and Dendritic Growth in Unsaturated Fatty Acid Monolayers.

Membranes·2022

Same author

Self-Patterning Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Films: Influence of Deposition Steps and Drying in a Vacuum.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2021

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Solid-state Graft Copolymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery Applications

Solid-state Graft Copolymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery Applications

Published on: August 12, 2013

Influence of Relative Humidities on Highly Electrically Conductive Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Films.

Muhammad Khurram¹, Sven Neuber¹, Annekatrin Sill¹

¹Institute of Physics, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Straße 6, Greifswald D-17489, Germany.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids

|April 4, 2025

Summary

Relative humidity significantly impacts ultrathin conductive films. Optimal electrical conductivity in PEDOT:PSS and carbon nanotube multilayers is achieved around 40% relative humidity, with reversible conductivity changes observed.

More Related Videos

Fabrication of Large-area Free-standing Ultrathin Polymer Films

Fabrication of Large-area Free-standing Ultrathin Polymer Films

Published on: June 3, 2015

Influence of Hybrid Perovskite Fabrication Methods on Film Formation, Electronic Structure, and Solar Cell Performance

Influence of Hybrid Perovskite Fabrication Methods on Film Formation, Electronic Structure, and Solar Cell Performance

Published on: February 27, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 11, 2026

Solid-state Graft Copolymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery Applications

Solid-state Graft Copolymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery Applications

Published on: August 12, 2013

Fabrication of Large-area Free-standing Ultrathin Polymer Films

Fabrication of Large-area Free-standing Ultrathin Polymer Films

Published on: June 3, 2015

Influence of Hybrid Perovskite Fabrication Methods on Film Formation, Electronic Structure, and Solar Cell Performance

Influence of Hybrid Perovskite Fabrication Methods on Film Formation, Electronic Structure, and Solar Cell Performance

Published on: February 27, 2017

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Nanotechnology
Physical Chemistry

Background:

Charge transport mechanisms are critical for developing ultrathin films with high electrical conductivity.
Polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) offer tunable properties for advanced material applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the influence of relative humidity (RH) on the electrical conductivity of ultrathin layer-by-layer (LbL) films.
To understand how water content in PEDOT:PSS and carbon nanotube (CNT) based PEMs affects charge transport.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of layer-by-layer (LbL) polyelectrolyte multilayers using PEDOT:PSS and CNTs.
Measurement of direct current (DC) electrical conductivity and UV/vis/IR absorption spectra at varying relative humidity levels (RH).

Main Results:

Maximum conductivity for PEDOT:PSS and CNT LbL films was observed at approximately 40% RH.
Conductivity increased by up to two orders of magnitude with increasing RH to 40%, correlating with changes in PEDOT charge.
Conductivity decreased exponentially at higher RH, suggesting tunneling transport through insulating polymers.

Conclusions:

Relative humidity is a key factor controlling the electrical conductivity of PEDOT:PSS and CNT LbL films.
The electrical conductivity of PDADMA/PEDOT:PSS LbL films can be reversibly tuned over two orders of magnitude by adjusting RH between 10% and 40%.