Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Vol.111, No.48, 13483-13490, 2007
Ion conduction and polymer dynamics of poly(2-vinylpyridine)-lithium perchlorate mixtures
Ion conduction and polymer dynamics of homogeneous mixtures of poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VPy) with 0.1 to 10 mol % lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) were investigated using broadband dielectric spectroscopy. Interpretation of the relaxation behavior was assisted by findings from differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, and wide-angle and small-angle X-ray scattering experiments. Five dielectric relaxations were observed: a local beta-process in the glassy state, a segmental relaxation, a slow segmental process, an ion-mode relaxation, and electrode polarization. The local P2VPy beta-relaxation was strongly suppressed with increasing LiCiO(4) content arising from the formation of transient crosslinks, which lead to a subsequent decrease in the number of free pyridine groups and/or a reduction in the local free volume in the presence of LiClO4. Ion conduction at low LiClO4 concentrations (<10 mol %) is governed by the diffusion of anions through the matrix, which is strongly coupled with the segmental relaxation. At relatively high LiClO4 concentration (10 mol %), partial decoupling between ion motion and the segmental relaxation was observed, leading to increased conductivity.