X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF IONIC INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SULFONATED POLYSTYRENE AND POLY(STYRENE-CO-4-VINYLPYRIDINE)

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic measurements were made on complexes obtained from sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) and poly(styrene-co-4-vinyl pyridine) (PSVP). The N1s spectrum of PSVP shows the existence of a si ngle nitrogen environment. Two different nitrogen environments are dis cernible in the N1s spectra of the complexes, indicating that some of the pyridine units have been protonated. The S2p peak of SPS in the co mplex is shifted to a lower binding energy upon complexation with PSVP , indicating the existence of sulfonate ion. About 60% of the sulfonic acid groups in the complexes is ionized. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.