Molecular mobility and protonic conductivity studies in telechelics based on poly(ethylene oxide) capped with hydroxyl groups at both ends

Model functionalized telechelics based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) capped with OH- groups. with protons (H+) in the terminals have been prepared and the effects of structure on molecular mobility and protonic conductivity h ave been investigated. Molecular mobility and protonic conductivity were me asured by means of broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS, 10(-2 )-10(9) Hz) and of thermally stimulated depolarisation currents techniques (TSDC, 77-300 K). The features of alpha relaxation, associated to the glass transition, and of dc conductivity sigma (dc), determined from ac conducti vity (alpha (ac)(f)) plots. were analysed in detail. Protonic conductivity was found to be governed by the motion of the polymeric chains. (C) 2001 Pu blished by Elsevier Science B.V.