SUPRAMOLECULAR ORDER IN NEW POLYMER ELECTROLYTES

The structure and conductivity of crystalline, semicrystalline and amo rphous complexes of poly(ethylene oxide) with sodium and lithium salts is briefly reviewed and the rationale for synthesizing low-dimensiona l, organized polyether complexes is discussed. New polymer electrolyte s derived from: [GRAPHICS] where R is a long alkyl side-chain (princip ally -C16H33 and n = 5) forming both two-component complexes with lith ium salts and three-component systems incorporating RX, where R is a l ong alkyl chain --C16H33 or -C12H25 and X is -C2H5, -OH, and several e thers. Conductivities increase steeply with alkyl melting (33-43 degre es C) and at a transition occurring at 60-70 degrees C. Conductivities 10(-3)-10(-2)S cm(-1) over the range 60-100 degrees C are observed in the most highly organized systems. Langmuir-Blodgett films of the com plexes (20 molecular layers) are readily deposited. They show temperat ure-independence of conductivity over the range 10 degrees C to about 90 degrees C. (C) 1998 Society of Chemical Industry.