Sample chamber

The dielectric measurements of polymer membranes were performed using dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (Novocontrol GmbH Concept 40 broadband dielectric spectrometer). The polymer membranes were sandwiched by two polished brass electrodes (10 mm-diameter top electrode and 30 mm-diameter bottom electrode) and a gap was controlled by a silica spacer. Samples were annealed in the Novocontrol sample chamber at 170 °C for 2 h before measurement to remove any moisture and to make good electrolyte/electrode contact. The dielectric permittivity was measured using a sinusoidal voltage with amplitude 0.1 V in a frequency range of 10⁻¹–10⁷Hz.

The dielectric permittivity spectra of the samples (the same samples employed for impedance spectroscopy measurements) were acquired using a Novocontrol GmbH Concept 40 broadband dielectric spectrometer, equipped with Novocontrol sample chamber, under a sinusoidal voltage of 0.1 V in a frequency range of 10–10⁷ Hz. The sample cell consists of two polished brass electrodes (10 mm-diameter top electrode and 30 mm diameter bottom electrode) and a silica spacer. Samples were annealed at 120 °C for 1 h prior to the measurements to achieve good contact of the sample with electrodes.