Preparation of metal-polymer composite membranes with conductance asymmetry

The structure and electrochemical properties of a poly(ethylene terephthalate) track membrane, one side of which was coated with thin aluminum layers by thermal vacuum evaporation, have been investigated. It has been found that the deposition of the aluminum layer on the surface leads to the creation of metal-polymer composite membranes that exhibit in electrolyte solutions conductance asymmetry, the rectification effect similar to the p - n junction in semiconductors. This is due to a change in pore geometry of the composite membranes and to the existence in pores of the interface between the original membrane and the aluminum layer, which bear oppositely charged functional groups on their surface in aqueous solutions. Information on ion transport in the membranes has been obtained by impedance spectroscopy.