NEW POLYELECTROLYTE MATERIALS BASED ON SMECTITE POLYOXYETHYLENE INTERCALATION COMPOUNDS

The intercalation of poly(ethylene oxide), PEO, into homoionic phyllos ilicates of the smectite group (montmorillonite and hectorite) gives c omposite materials able to act as solid polyelectrolytes. The synthesi s and the structural characterization of new intercalation compounds b elonging to this class of materials have been investigated. The result ing compounds exhibit good chemical and thermal stability, preserving their ion-exchange properties. PEO intercalation produces an enhanceme nt of the electrical conductivity associated with the interlayer catio ns compared to the parent silicates. Ionic conductivity determined by impedance spectroscopy measurements of different polyoxyethylene compo unds (PEO and crown-ethers) into homoionic 2:1 charged phyllosilicates reveals that the conductivity values can be correlated with the oxyet hylene-cation strength interaction.