Voltammetry and Conductivity of a Polyether‐Pyridinium Room Temperature Molten Salt Electrolyte and of Its Polymer Electrolyte Solutions in Polydimethylsiloxane

Abstract

This report describes the synthesis, microelectrode voltammetry, and ionic conductivity of a new room temperature molten salt N‐(methoxy(ethoxy)2ethyl)pyridinium p‐toluenesulfonate (abbreviated as ) and of its solution in a hydroxy‐terminated polydimethylsiloxane. Both ionically conductive liquids exhibit voltammetric potential windows of about 1.5 V. The negative potential limit is determined by the reduction of the pyridinium species, with subsequent radical coupling to form a voltammetrically observed viologen dimer. The estimated diffusivities of the species, of a diethyleneglycol‐tailed ferrocene redox solute studied, and by application of Nernst‐Einstein relation to the ionic charge carriers, all lie in the to range. Viscosities and glass transition thermal observations are reported as is the fit of the temperature dependencies of ionic conductivity in and in mixtures to Vogel‐Tamman‐Fulcher predictions.