INVESTIGATION OF MIXED CATION EFFECTS IN PEO(9)ZN(1-X)CU(X)(CF3SO3)(2) POLYMER ELECTROLYTES

A series of polymer electrolytes, PEO(9)Zn(1-x)Cu(x)(CF3SO3)(2), where PEO is poly(ethylene oxide) and x varied between 0.0 and 1.0, was inv estigated by differential scanning calorimetry, complex impedance anal ysis and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The mixed cation complexes show no evidence of a crystalline phase, and a promi nent conductivity maximum occurs at the 50/50 Zn/Cu composition. The c onductivity maximum does not correspond to the sample with the lowest glass transition temperature, nor is it correlated with local Cu2+ mot ions probed by EPR. These results, along with preliminary transference number determinations, suggest that the CF3SO3- ions are the dominant charge carriers.