[Polaron mechanism of ion transport through membranes]

A complex formed by an ion together with polar molecules of water concentrated around the ion inside the membrane is regarded as a polariton. The electric field strength inside the polariton has been calculated and used for estimating polariton free energy for different values of water concentration inside the membrane. The estimations indicate that the polariton mechanism of ionic transport is responsible for background conductivity of BLM. It is shown that free energy of the polariton is proportional of Z3/2, Z being the charge of the ion. In the case of "bold" ion this dependence is characterized by factor Z2. It is suggested that the through pores are formed in the process of an electrical breakdown of BLM also via polariton mechanism of ionic transport.