Electrodynamics of monohydric alcohols from broadband dielectric spectroscopy

This paper presents dielectric permittivity spectra of monohydric alcohols reconstructed in the frequency range of 500 Hz to 10 THz. The widely acknowledged method of dielectric spectroscopy has been employed, revealing the molecular dynamics of monohydric alcohols and their solutions in water by means of interpretation of results of ultra-broadband spectra measurements. Model spectra are presented using sums of Debye functions. The paper identifies Debye relaxation parameters in various frequency ranges and provides analysis of spectra patterns based on temperature and concentration. The study demonstrates exponential dependence on reciprocal temperature for each of the approximation parameters and their respective activation energies. Dynamic permittivity model was employed in analysis of alcohol spectra for the first time, making it possible to track physical processes with different timing taking place in tested media. The study identifies fields of high and low frequency permittivity without dispersion, analyzing permittivity patterns based on temperature. Comparison of the observed values of activation energies of high and low frequency permittivity indicates that they have the same order. Basic principles of the probability theory and mathematical statistics, numerical approximation and optimization of functions have been used in analysis of results of the study.