X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON-SPECTROSCOPY STUDIES ON POLY-(ETHYLENE OXIDE) WITH SODIUM TRIFLATE

Poly(ethylene oxide) films with different concentrations of sodium tri flate were prepared by the usual solvent casting process in anhydrous conditions. Structural characteristics for each salt concentration wer e identified using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for the firs t time. Further, thermal and x-ray diffraction techniques were used to characterize the crystalline and amorphous phases and to correlate th ese data with the results obtained with x-ray photoelectron spectrosco py. The interaction between poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and sodium trif late in the concentration range of n = 128, 64, 32 16, 8, and 4 in the general formula (PEO)(n)-NaCF3SO3 is described. The XPS-studies revea l a characteristic interaction of the -C-C-O- chain of PEO with the ca tions of NaCF3SO3 for each salt concentration. The interaction results in a rearrangement of the -C-C-O- chain which is strongest in PEO(16) NaCF(3)SO(3).