The influence of the amorphous polymer on conductivity, morphologies and thermal properties of polyether-based blends with addition of inorganic salt

Abstract

Thermodynamic control of the dispersion of lithium (Li) salt in different phases of semicrystalline/amorphous polymer blends is elucidated in this study. Solid polymer electrolytes of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), epoxidized natural rubber (ENR), random copolymer of poly(acrylate) (PAc) and as well as polymer blends of PEO with ENR and PAc doped with various concentrations of Li salt were studied. The salt concentrations (CLi) of solid polymer electrolytes vary between CLi = 0.02 and 0.15. The influence of the ENR or PAc on the properties of PEO after addition of Li salt is discussed. Blends of PEO/ENR and PEO/PAc are immiscible by elucidation of the glass transition temperature (Tg) as well as the morphological analyses. PEO, ENR and PAc possess oxygen in their respective chemical structures, which may be able to coordinate with the Li salt added. Non uniformity of Li salt concentration in different phases of the blends is highlighted for both systems. The conductivity of PEO/ENR and PEO/PAc blends doped with Li salt is primarily governed by PEO. The results for Tg suggest that higher solubility of Li salt in PEO as compared to ENR in the former case and restricted ion transport in the glassy PAc (with Tg≈30°C after addition of Li salt in the latter system. These may be the attributing factors for the enhancement of conductivity of the doped-PEO/ENR blends as compared to that of the doped-PEO/PAc blends. This suggests that PEO exhibits greater extent of complexation with LiClO4 as compared to that of the ENR and PAc as supported by Fourier-transform infra-red (FTIR) studies.