ISSN:
1089-7690
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
In the present study of ion conducting polymers we demonstrate how light scattering can be used to obtain information about the elastic properties and the local intrachain mobility, which are essential characteristics of a high performance polymeric solid electrolyte. Brillouin scattering has been applied in studies of sodium triflate (NaCF3SO3)–poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) complexes of concentrations O:M=5:1, 8:1, and 16:1, where O:M is the backbone oxygen to sodium ratio. From the spectra sound velocity and absorption data were obtained. The acoustic data reveal structural relaxation processes associated with local translational (and orientational) intrachain motions of the polymer segments. The characteristic relaxations times τ were determined and found to be strongly dependent on the concentration of the dopant salt. This is because the dissociated ions act both as crosslinks betwen polymer chain segments and as "free'' ions available for conduction. Therefore, as the concentration of dissociated ions increases the intrachain mobility is slowed down (τ increases) due to increased crosslinking. The effect is demonstrated in the hypersonic velocity dispersion curve and in the absorption peak which both shift to higher temperatures with increasing salt concentration. The shift correlates with the increase in the glass transition temperature as salt is added to the polymer. It also correlates, at least at low salt concentrations, with the concentration of dissocated ions and with the conductivity. It can be concluded that the motions of free ions responsible for charge transport are strongly coupled to the intrachain motions of the polymer.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.457171
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