Ionically conducting and photoresponsive liquid crystalline terpolymers: Towards multifunctional polymer electrolytes

• Published in: European Polymer Journal
• Main Author: Vanti L.; Mohd Alauddin S.; Zaton D.; Aripin N.F.K.; Giacinti-Baschetti M.; Imrie C.T.; Ribes-Greus A.; Martinez-Felipe A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2018
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85052900014&doi=10.1016%2fj.eurpolymj.2018.08.033&partnerID=40&md5=1e9e6497790c50533c22222244816c9a

We have prepared a series of new ionically conducting polymer electrolytes consisting of side-chain liquid crystal terpolymers with mesogenic azobenzenes, sulfonic acid groups and methyl methacrylate. The poly[10-(4-methoxyazobenzene -4′-oxy)decyl methacrylate]-co-poly[2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid]-co-poly[methyl methacrylate]s, 10-MeOAzB/AMPS/MMA terpolymers, were synthesised by a one-pot conventional radical polymerisation. All samples were characterised by NMR, GPC/SEC, FT-IR, POM, XRD, DSC, UV–visible spectrophotometry and EIS. The terpolymers have light responsive properties, and exhibit liquid crystallinity over a wide range of compositions. Above a certain threshold of AMPS content, the 10-MeOAzB/AMPS/MMA terpolymers exhibit ionic conductivities in the 10−8–10−4 S·cm−1 range, with signs of decoupling of ionic mobility from segmental motions of the polymer. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd