Radiotracer method for simultaneous measurement of cation, anion and water transport through ion-exchange membranes

A radiotracer method has been developed to characterize new fuel-cell membrane materials having high ionic conductance. Three radiotracers were employed simultaneously in cell studies and measured by a combination of liquid-scintillation and γ-ray counting. This new method has been shown capable of measuring equilibrium concentrations and transport rates of sodium cations (representing counterions), chlorine anions (representing coions) and water molecules in ion-exchange membranes.