SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF IONICALLY CONDUCTING ALKOXY ETHER ALKOXY MIXED-SUBSTITUENT POLY(ORGANOPHOSPHAZENES) AND THEIR USE AS SOLID SOLVENTS FOR IONIC-CONDUCTION

A series of mixed-substituent poly(organophosphazenes) with the genera l structure {NP[OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OCH3](x)[O(CH2)(y)CH3](2-x)}(n), where x = 1 and y = 2-9 was synthesized. These polymers are candidates for us e as solid polymeric, ionic conduction media. The polymers were charac terized by H-1, C-13, and P-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy , gel permeation chromatography, elemental microanalysis, infrared spe ctroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The polymers were co mplexed with LiSO3CF3 and ambient temperature (25 degrees C) ionic con ductivity studies were performed with the use of complex impedance ana lysis. The effect of changes in the length of the alkyl component of t he alkoxy groups on conductivity was examined. A maximum conductivity as a function of the concentration of lithium triflate was found for e ach system. The conductivity decreased with an increase in the alkyl g roup side-chain length. These polymers were compared to the polyphosph azene single-substituent polymer [NP(OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OCH3)(2)](n), as we ll as to the n-alkyloxy single-substituent polymers {NP[O(CH2)(x)CH3]( 2)}(n), where x = 2-9.