Electrical properties of bilayer lipid membranes containing iodine and iodide, investigated by cyclic voltammetry

Abstract The conduction properties of lecithin bilayer membranes in iodine-containing solutions are examined from a potentiodynamic experimental approach. Voltammetric data obtained by using a variety of forms (derived from charge-transfer type interactions) of iodide implicate the triiodide ion as the charge carrier accounting for the diffusion-limited voltammetric response whereas the charge transport of iodide seems to be limited by transmembrane diffusion. The data are used to support one of the many proposed mechanisms for conductance of iodide in membranes.