Dielectric relaxation of electrolyte solutions using terahertz transmission spectroscopy

We use terahertz (THz) transmission spectroscopy to obtain the frequency dependent complex dielectric constants of water, methanol, and propylene carbonate, and solutions of lithium salts in these solvents. The behavior of the pure solvents is modeled with either two (water) or three (methanol and propylene carbonate) Debye relaxations. We discuss the effects of ionic solvation on the relaxation behavior of the solvents in terms of modifications to the values of the Debye parameters of the pure solvents. In this way we obtain estimates for numbers of irrotationally bound solvent molecules, the numbers of bonds broken or formed, and the effects of ions on the higher-frequency relaxations. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.