Synthesis and proton conductivity of anhydrous dendritic electrolytes

Water soluble PEG cored dendritic hexa-acid which comprises peripheral carboxylic acidic groups were prepared via nucleophilic substitution reactions. Novel anhydrous proton conducting electrolytes were prepared by incorporation of the heterocyclic protogenic solvent imidazole (Im) into PEG cored dendritic hexa acid, (PEG-HA), at several molar ratios of Im to-COOH units of PEG-HA. The complexation of PEG-HA and Im was illustrated by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The materials are thermally stable up to 150 °C as evidenced by thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results verified that the organic electrolytes are homogeneous and amorphous. The proton conductivities were characterized by means of AC impedance spectroscopy and a maximum conductivity of 1 × 10⁻³ S/cm was measured at 120 °C in the anhydrous state.