CONDUCTIVITIES OF POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE) AND POLY(2-VINYL PYRIDINE) BLEND

Poly(ethylene oxide) (MW 20,000) and poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (MW 35,000 ) were blended with LiClO4 or KSCN through a solution blending process . When the molar ratio of ethylene oxide/Li or K is 10, the blend of p oly(ethylene oxide)(80 wt%)/poly(2-vinyl pyridine)(20 wt%) with LiClO4 or KSCN is a transparent elastomer. The ionic conductivities of these blends are 1.5 x 10(-5) and 8.8 x 10 -5 S/cm at 25 degrees C, respect ively. At 30 degrees C the poly(ethylene oxide)(80 wt%)/poly(2-vinyl p yridine)(20 wt%) blends with KSCN at an ethylene oxide/K molar ratio o f 10 exhibit an ionic conductivity value of 1.5 x 10(-4) S/cm, a high value for ionic conductive polymers. At an ethylene oxide/Li molar rat io of 15 and a 2-vinyl pyridine/TCNQ molar ratio of 2, the mixed (ioni c-electronic) conductivities of poly(ethylene oxide)(80 wt%)/poly(2-vi nyl pyridine)(20 wt%) blends are higher than either ionic or electroni c conductivities. When the molar ratio of ethylene oxide/Li and 2-viny l pyridine/TCNQ are 10 and 2, respectively, the mixed (ionic-electroni c) conductivities are intermediate between the ionic and electronic co nductivities. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) shows that LiClO 4 and TCNQ can compatibilize with the PEO/P2VP blend.