THE USE OF THERMAL TECHNIQUES IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE PHASE-DIAGRAM OF LANTHANIDE SALT BASED POLYMER ELECTROLYTES

Differential thermal analysis, optical microscopy and ionic conductivi ty studies have been carried out on polymer electrolyte films prepared by deposition of solutions of neodymium trifluoromethanesulphonate an d poly(ethylene oxide). A wide range of electrolyte concentrations wer e examined and a partial pseudo-equilibrium phase diagram of the syste m was determined. From the results obtained it is evident that the pre sence of relatively high concentrations of ionic guest species in the polymer host results in an inhibition of the growth of crystalline mat erial (polymer spherulites or a polymer-salt coordination complex).