Polymer electrolytes based on lithium sulfonate derived from perfluorovinyl ethers; single ion conductors

A new lithium perfluoroakylsulfonate has been synthesized from a commercial perfluorovinylether fitted with a fluorosulfonyl group. By making use of t he vinylether group, this species was incorporated into polyurethane networ ks based either on a poly(ethylene oxide)glycol or on a tri-arm star-poly(e thylene oxide)triol. The results, in terms of ionic conductivities, thermal behaviour and different domains of rigidity (solid-state H-1 NMR), are rep orted for these single cation conductor polymer electrolytes. When compared to the polymer electrolytes where the same but untethered lithium perfluor oakylsulfonate is dissolved in the same initial networks, a loss of conduct ivity is observed despite the higher mobility of the ionomers. This loss co rresponds to the conductivity attributed to the anionic species. The higher mobility of the ionomeric electrolytes is to be related to the quasi absen ce of physical crosslinks. (C) 2000 Society of Chemical Industry.