Synthesis of high molecular weight polyoxyethylene with a quaternary catalyst and study of its conductive blends with poly(2-vinyl pyridine)

✍ Scribed by Hong-Quan Xie; Ji-Hong Zhang; Min-Hui Cui; Dong Xie

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 226 KB
• Volume: 105
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-8995
• DOI: 10.1002/app.26065

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

High molecular weight polyoxyethylene (PEO) was synthesized by using a quaternary catalyst composed of triisobutyl aluminum, phosphoric acid, water, and N,N‐dimethylaniline (DMA). Optimum synthesis conditions and some properties of the product were studied. This catalyst showed high activity and the molecular weight of the polyoxyethylene obtained can approach one million. The activity of polymerization mainly depends upon the composition of catalyst. The optimum composition is as follows: i‐Bu~3~Al:H~3~PO~4~:H~2~O:DMA = 1 : 0.17 : 0.17 : 0.10–0.15 (molar ratio).The active centers of the catalyst was thus proposed. The high molecular weight PEO synthesized by this catalyst was blended with poly(2‐vinyl pyridine) (PVP) and then doped with LiClO~4~ and TCNQ to obtain a conductive elastomeric material. Ionic, electronic, and mixed (ionic–electronic) conductivities of blends were investigated. At a Li/EO molar ratio of 0.1 and a TCNQ/VP molar ratio of 0.5, the mixed conductivity of the blend of PEO/PVP/LiCIO~4~/TCNQ is higher than the sum of ionic conductivity of PEO/PVP/LiCIO~4~ and electronic conductivity of PEO/PVP/TCNQ, when the weight ratio of PEO to PVP is 6/4 or 5/5. It can reach 4 × 10^−6^ S/cm at room temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis, and the appearance of the blend showed that both TCNQ and LiClO~4~ can complex with PEO and PVP, thus enhancing the compatibility between PEO and PVP. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007