Dielectric Dispersion of Water in the Frequency Range from 10 mHz to 30 MHz

• Published in: The journal of physical chemistry. B 2010-03, Vol.114 (10), p.3467-3471
• Main Authors: Batalioto, F, Duarte, A. R, Barbero, G, Neto, A. M. F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: B: Macromolecules, Soft Matter
• ISSN: 1520-6106; 1520-5207
• DOI: 10.1021/jp910114y

We investigate the dielectric dispersion of water, specially in the low-frequency range, by using the impedance spectroscopy technique. The frequency dependencies of the real R and imaginary χ parts of the impedance could not be explained by means of the usual description of the dielectric properties of the water as an insulating liquid containing ions. This is due to the incomplete knowledge of the parameters entering in the fundamental equations describing the evolution of the system, and on the mechanisms regulating the exchange of charge of the cell with the external circuit. We propose a simple description of our experimental data based on the model of Debye, by invoking a dc conductivity of the cell, related to the nonblocking character of the electrodes. A discussion on the electric circuits able to simulate the cell under investigation, based on bulk and surface elements, is also reported. We find that the simple circuit formed by a series of two parallels of resistance and capacitance is able to reproduce the experimental data concerning the real and imaginary part of the electrical impedance of the cell for frequency larger than 1 Hz. According to this description, one of the parallels takes into account the electrical properties of interface between the electrode and water, and the other of the bulk. For frequency lower than 1 Hz, a good agreement with the experimental data is obtained by simulating the electrical properties of the interface by means of the constant phase element.