Study of the Phase States of Water Close to Na- fion Interface

Experimental measurements of electrostatic potential and the bulk concentration of bisulfite anions in water close to Nafion (a proton - exchange membrane) interface have revealed jump - like changes of these characteristics at a distance of approximately 150 µm from the interface. Furthermore, the temperature behavior of the bisulfite anion concentration exhibits a sort of hysteresis loop, which can be regarded as a manifestation of multistability in the system. Additionally, it is experimentally shown that in the vicinity of Nafion interface the refractive index of water grows approximately by a factor of 1.1 as compared with the value in bulk water. The obtained results can be interpreted as evidence of the formation of a new phase in water adjacent to Nafion interface.