SINGLE-ION CONDUCTIVITY AND CARRIER GENERATION OF POLYELECTROLYTES

Poly{sodium 2-[omega-methacryloyl oligo(oxyethylene)] ethylsulfonate}s were synthesized as a single-Na+-ion conductor. Salt content, glass t ransition temperature (T-g) and the length of oligo(oxyethylene) side- chain in the polyelectrolytes highly influence isothermal conductivity , among which the T-g has proven to have much effect on the conductivi ty. The highest conductivity of 3.5 X 10(-6) S/cm at 25 degrees C was obtained for the polyelectrolyte with the number of oxyethylene units of 14, which has a lowest T-g of -43 degrees C. Isothermal transient i onic current technique was used to evaluate the mobility of carrier io ns. The conductivity, mobility and the number of carrier ions were stu died as a function of the ambient temperatures, and the results reveal curved Arrhenius plots. The number of carrier ions was found to incre ase with the elevated temperature. Thus, it might be reasoned that the temperature affects ionic conductivity of the polyelectrolytes by mea ns of changing segmental motion and the number of carrier ions.