SUPRAMOLECULAR STRUCTURES OF POLY(P-PHENYLENES) WITH OXYETHYLENE SIDE-CHAINS AND THEIR MIXTURES WITH LITHIUM-SALTS

A series of poly(p-phenylenes) with linear and branched oxyethylene si de chains was synthesized. Microphase separation in the solid state ca uses polymers with linear side chains to form supramolecular structure s, which consist of main chain layers separated by an amorphous side c hain matrix. If mixed with lithium salts such as lithium triflate (LiO Tf) or lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfone)imide (LiNTf), the polymers form solid solutions. The experimental data suggest that the layered structures undergo a one-dimensional swelling in the direction perpend icular to the main chain layers when blended with LiOTf and that this salt is only incorporated into the side chain matrix. The observed mel ting point depression in polymer-LiNTf mixtures is explained by the as sumption that the salt species are incorporated both into the side cha in and the main chain microphase.