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Ion Transfer During Ionomer Contact Electrification: Binding Affinity Controls Charging
John R Hoffman1, Stefan A Freunberger1, Scott Waitukaitis1
1Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|July 21, 2026
Summary
Binding affinity between mobile ions and ionomers controls charge transfer. Higher ion binding affinity leads to less charge transfer, clarifying the mechanism in ionomeric materials and contact electrification.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Surface Science
Background:
- Contact electrification is common, but charge carriers are often unknown.
- Ionomers, polymers with mobile ions, suggest ion transfer during contact.
- The mechanism of ion transfer in ionomers is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the factors governing charge transfer in ionomers.
- To demonstrate the role of binding affinity in ion transfer during contact electrification.
- To elucidate the mechanism of charge transfer in ionomeric materials.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized ionomers with varying mobile ions via ion exchange.
- Studied charge transfer by contacting ionomers with neutral surfaces.
- Analyzed ion transfer using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).
Main Results:
- Charge transfer strongly depends on the binding affinity between mobile ions and the ionomer.
- Higher binding affinity of mobile cations in anionic ionomers resulted in less charge transfer.
- A clear, albeit weaker, dependence was observed for cationic ionomers, correlating with anion hydration free energy.
Conclusions:
- Binding affinity is a key factor controlling charge transfer in ionomers.
- Confirmed ion transfer as the mechanism for charge generation in ionomers.
- Findings provide insights into contact electrification and ionomeric material behavior.
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