Theoretical analysis of the Rose-Fowler-Vaisberg model

Results of numerical calculations based on the Rose-Fowler-Vaisberg model of radiation-induced conductivity in a case polymer upon long (10⁴ s) irradiation at doses of 5 × 10⁵–10⁷ Gy are reported. Two irradiation modes were considered: (1) preliminary irradiation and irradiation repeated at variable times after the end of the first irradiation and (2) probing the virgin and irradiated polymer with a standard pulse of ionizing radiation. It was shown that the properties of radiation-induced conductivity, such as its overshoot kinetics, a considerable difference between current transients for the initial and the repeated irradiation, extremely long annealing times of dose effects, and the absence of a steady state, are naturally explained in terms of this model (with allowance for the generation of radiation-induced traps as regards the last property). The Rose-Fowler-Vaisberg theory should be considered at present a well-approved semiempirical model of radiation-induced conductivity in polymers.     

Properties of a nanocomposite polymer electrolyte from an amorphous comb-branch polymer and nanoparticles

Three fully amorphous comb-branch polymers based on poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) as a backbone and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether of different molecular weights as side chains were synthesized. SiO₂ nanoparticles of various contents and the salt LiCF₃SO₃ were added to these comb-branch polymers to obtain nanocomposite polymer electrolytes. The thermal and transport properties of the samples have been characterized. The maximum conductivity of 2.8×10^–4 S cm^–1 is obtained at 28 °C. In the system the longer side chain of the comb-branch polymer electrolyte increases in ionic conductivity after the addition of nanoparticles. To account for the role of the ceramic fillers in the nanocomposite polymer electrolyte, a model based on a fully amorphous comb-branch polymer matrix in enhancing transport properties of Li⁺ ions is proposed.     

Effect of preliminary electron-beam irradiation on hole transport in molecularly doped polycarbonate

The effect of preliminary electron-beam irradiation on hole transport in a molecularly doped polymer was studied with the use of the time-of-flight technique in the radiation-induced mode. Specimens that exhibit a plateau on their time-of-flight curves were selected for the study, since they suggest the occurrence of quasi-equilibrium transport in the system according to the conventional point of view. In the extremely small signal mode, current transients in the case of bulk irradiation have a form corresponding to dispersive, rather than Gaussian, transport, although hole movement is observed in the presence of charged sites (trapped electrons). On passing to the moderately large signal mode (preirradiation to a dose of up to 5 Gy), the current transients undergo noticeable changes, which might be mistakenly interpreted as evidence for the influence of charged sites on hole transport in accordance with the predictions of the dipolar glass theory. In actuality, these changes are due to the effect of a space charge field and the hole mobility remains almost unchanged in this case. The appearance of the plateau on the current transients is an artifact of the procedure, and the hole transport is dispersive.     

Analysis of the Reversible Character of Radiation-Induced Conductivity in Polymers

The results of numerical simulation of the rise and decay of transient current in a virgin specimen of a model polymer upon continuous irradiation and in the irradiated specimen after its holding for a certain time are presented. The dependence of the annealing effect on the rest time was examined in detail. It was shown that long times are required for significant annealing, which strongly increase with a decrease in the disorder parameter (for example, from 4 × 10³ s at = 0.5 to 10⁷ s at = 0.3). An analysis of irradiation in the intermittent mode showed that this technique does not provide any new information as compared with the classical continuous irradiation (contrary to the opinion existing in the literature) but predictably complicates the interpretation of experimental data; however, it may be successfully used to measure the time-average current.     

Swift heavy ion induced modification in dielectric and microhardness properties of polymer composites

Polymer composites with different concentrations of organometallics (ferric oxalate) dispersed PMMA were prepared. PMMA was synthesized by solution polymerization technique. These films were irradiated with 120 MeV Ni¹⁰⁺ ions in the fluence range 10¹¹-5 × 10¹² ions/cm². The radiation induced modifications in dielectric properties, microhardness, structural changes and surface morphology of polymer composite films have been investigated at different concentrations of filler and ion-fluences. It was observed that electrical conductivity and hardness of the films increase with the concentration of the filler and also with the fluence. The dielectric constant (?) obeys the Universal law given by ?αfⁿ⁻¹. The dielectric constant/loss is observed to change significantly due to irradiation. This suggests that ion beam irradiation promotes the metal to polymer bonding and convert polymeric structure into hydrogen depleted carbon network. This makes the composites more conductive and harder. Surface morphology of the films has been studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The average surface roughness is observed to increase after irradiation as revealed by AFM studies. The SEM images show the blisters type of phenomenon on the surface due to ion beam irradiation.     

An unsteady state method for the measurement of polymer thermal diffusivity: I. Development of a cell

In this work the development of a cell able to determine the thermal diffusivity of polymers in their fused or solid state, using an unsteady state technique, is presented. In this case a step down perturbation method was used because of its easy experimental setup. For each experimental run a temperature step down perturbation of 10 °C was applied, and the temperature evolution with time and position were registered and saved. Thermal diffusivities were then determined by regression using those data and a simple analytical model. The polymers used to test the cell were high density polyethylene and polypropylene (PP). For the first polymer, the thermal diffusivity was found to be 2.05×10⁻⁷ m²/s, which compare satisfactorily with a value of 1.97×10⁻⁷ m²/s calculated from reported values of density, heat capacity and heat conductivity. For the PP the value was found to be 7.08×10⁻⁷ m²/s with a positive deviation of 5.05% when compared with a computed value of 6.74×10⁻⁷ m²/s. Taking into account experimental errors, and the natural variations between different stocks of materials, the observed differences are acceptable.     

Active layer of fuel cell electrode with polymer electrolyte: Modeling of support grains, calculation of overall cathode characteristics

The active layer of the cathode of a fuel cell with polymer electrolyte (Nafion) is considered. The optimum carbon support structure is constructed using computer simulation: its carbon “skeleton” possesses the maximum outer surface area and provides electronic conductivity of the grains, support cubes, along the three coordinate axes. Nafion is absent in the support grain, so that the grain is capable of participating only in the transport of oxygen molecules, it possesses no proton conductivity. An estimate of all parameters of an optimum support grain is provided; in particular, the value of the effective Knudsen diffusion coefficient of oxygen is established. After this, effective proton conductivity and effective Knudsen diffusion coefficient are calculated already on the whole active layer scale, according to the model of equally sized cube grains of three types. In conclusion, the overall current in the active layer of a cathode with a polymer electrolyte was calculated for the percolation cluster consisting only of Nafion grains and the Knudsen diffusion of oxygen created only by a combined gas percolation cluster consisting of void grains and all support grains. The overall current value for t = 80°C and pressure of p* = 101 kPa proved to be low, hundreds of mA/cm². The current value can apparently be increased to several A/cm² if the support grains are developed that would simultaneously possess both proton conductivity and ability to sustain oxygen diffusion.     

Compositional effect of PVdF-PEMA blend gel polymer electrolytes for lithium polymer batteries

Owing to their improved mechanical properties and good polymer miscibility, the blend gel polymer electrolytes of poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF)-poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) have been prepared using solvent casting technique and characterized for their electrochemical performances. The electrolyte shows a maximum ionic conductivity of 1.5 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at 301 K for the 90:10 blend ratio of PVdF:PEMA system with good transport property. The ionic conductivity is enhanced, in accompany with improved microstructural homogeneity, at low PEMA contents, while the decreased conductivity at high contents has been attributed to increasing crystalline PEMA domains. With the optimum PVdF:PEMA ratio, the complex system was found to facile reasonable ionic transference number and exhibit superior interfacial stability with Li electrode.     

Investigations on poly(methyl methacrylate)-poly(ethylene oxide) hybrid polymer electrolytes with dioctyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate and diethyl phthalate as plasticizers

Plasticizers can be used to change the mechanical and electrical properties of polymer electrolytes by reducing the degree of crystallinity and lowering the glass transition temperature. The transport properties of gel-type ionic conducting membranes consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), LiClO₄ and dioctyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate or dimethyl phthalate (DMP) are studied. The polymer films are characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared and impedance spectroscopic studies. It is found that the addition of DMP as the plasticizer in the PEO-PMMA-LiClO₄ polymer complex favours an enhancement in ionic conductivity. The maximum conductivity value obtained for the solid polymer electrolyte film at 305 K is 3.529×10^{– 4} S cm^–1. Electronic Publication     

Ionic conductivity probed in main chain liquid crystalline azobenzene polyesters

Three main chain thermotropic liquid crystalline (LC) azobenzene polymers were synthesized using the azobenzene twin molecule (P4P) having the structure Phenylazobenzene‐tetraethyleneglycol‐Phenylazobenzene as the AA monomer and diols like diethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol (TEG), and hexaethylene glycol as the BB comonomer. Terminal ? C(O)OMe units on P4P facilitated transesterification with diols to form polyesters. All polymers exhibited stable smectic mesophases. One of the polymers, Poly(P4PTEG) was chosen to prepare composite polymer electrolytes with LiCF₃SO₃ and ionic conductivity was measured by ac impedance spectroscopy. The polymer/0.3 Li salt complex exhibited a maximum ionic conductivity in the range of 10^?5 S cm^?1 at room temperature (25 °C), which increased to 10^?4 S cm^?1 above 65 °C. The temperature dependence of ionic conductivity was compared with the phase transitions occurring in the sample and it was observed that the glass transition had a higher influence on the ionic conductivity compared to the ordered LC phase. Reversible ionic conductivity switching was observed upon irradiation of the polymer/0.3 Li salt complex with alternate UV and visible irradiation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 629–641     

The direct observation of a highly mobile positive ion in nanosecond pulse irradiated liquid cyclohexane

The electrical conductivity induced by pulse irradiation of liquid cyclohexane has been studied by means of microwave absorption. The conductivity in pure cyclohexane, due principally to the excess electron, is reduced to less than 10% of the initial value on addition of 5 × 10^?4 M of the electron scavenger SF₆. The conductivity remaining after addition of SF₆ is however more than an order of magnitude larger than expected for massive ions in cyclohexane and, since it is almost completely removed by the addition of 4 × 10^?3 M of the positive ion scavenger NH₃, is attributed mainly to the high mobility of the positive hole in this liquid. The ratio of the electron to hole mobility is determined to be 15. The mean lifetime of the hole under the present conditions is 86 ns. The rate constant for reaction of the hole with NH₃ is determined to be 1.8 × 10¹¹ M^?1 s^?1. From the conductivity remaining after removal of both the electron and the hole the sum of the mobilities of the resulting molecular ions is determined to be 8.4 × 10^?4 cm² V^?1 s^?1.     

Enhanced zinc ion transport in gel polymer electrolyte: effect of nano-sized ZnO dispersion

The effect of the dispersion of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles in the zinc ion conducting gel polymer electrolyte is studied. Changes in the morphology/structure of the gel polymer electrolyte with the introduction of ZnO particles are distinctly observed using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The nanocomposites offer ionic conductivity values of >10^?3 S cm^?1 with good thermal and electrochemical stabilities. The variation of ionic conductivity with temperature follows the Vogel–Tamman–Fulcher behavior. AC impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and transport number measurements have confirmed Zn²⁺ ion conduction in the gel nanocomposites. An electrochemical stability window from ?2.25 to 2.25 V was obtained from voltammetric studies of nanocomposite films. The cationic (i.e., Zn²⁺ ion) transport number (t ₊) has been found to be significantly enhanced up to a maximum of 0.55 for the dispersion of 10 wt.% ZnO nanoparticles, indicating substantial enhancement in Zn²⁺ ion conductivity. The gel polymer electrolyte nanocomposite films with enhanced Zn²⁺ ion conductivity are useful as separators and electrolytes in Zn rechargeable batteries and other electrochemical applications.     

Space charge influenced photocurrent transients in fluid solution

The dependence of space charge influenced current transients on the spatial distribution of photogenerated carriers in the bulk of a conductivity cell was investigated with the aim of correlating the observed time evolution of the currents with carrier properties such as mobilities and recombination constant. Approximate analytical solutions for the limiting cases of sheet and full interelectrode illumination show how experimental transients result from the competition between the dynamically interdependent processes: interionic recombination, charge carrier migration and discharge at the electrodes, and space charge buil-up. The voltage dependence of the time at which the secondary photocurrent maxima are observed yield mobilities of 2.0 × 10^?4 and 2.8 × 10^?3 cm² V^?1 s^?1 respectively for the pyrene cation and the solvated electron in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature. A bimolecular recombination rate constant of 2.3 × 10^?9 cm³ s^?1 is shown to be consistent with the space charge densities present after total separation of the positive and negative carriers for various periods of charge carrier recombination.     

Fast Li Ion Dynamics in the Solid Electrolyte Li7P3S11 as Probed by 6,7Li NMR Spin‐Lattice Relaxation

The development of safe and long‐lasting all‐solid‐state batteries with high energy density requires a thorough characterization of ion dynamics in solid electrolytes. Commonly, conductivity spectroscopy is used to study ion transport; much less frequently, however, atomic‐scale methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) are employed. Here, we studied long‐range as well as short‐range Li ion dynamics in the glass‐ceramic Li₇P₃S₁₁. Li⁺ diffusivity was probed by using a combination of different NMR techniques; the results are compared with those obtained from electrical conductivity measurements. Our NMR relaxometry data clearly reveal a very high Li⁺ diffusivity, which is reflected in a so‐called diffusion‐induced ⁶Li NMR spin‐lattice relaxation peak showing up at temperatures as low as 313 K. At this temperature, the mean residence time between two successful Li jumps is in the order of 3×10⁸ s^?1, which corresponds to a Li⁺ ion conductivity in the order of 10^?4 to 10^?3 S cm^?1. Such a value is in perfect agreement with expectations for the crystalline but metastable glass ceramic Li₇P₃S₁₁. In contrast to conductivity measurements, NMR analysis reveals a range of activation energies with values ranging from 0.17 to 0.26 eV, characterizing Li diffusivity in the bulk. In our case, through‐going Li ion transport, when probed by using macroscopic conductivity spectroscopy, however, seems to be influenced by blocking grain boundaries including, for example, amorphous regions surrounding the Li₇P₃S₁₁ crystallites. As a result of this, long‐range ion transport as seen by impedance spectroscopy is governed by an activation energy of approximately 0.38 eV. The findings emphasize how surface and grain boundary effects can drastically affect long‐range ionic conduction. If we are to succeed in solid‐state battery technology, such effects have to be brought under control by, for example, sophisticated densification or through the preparation of samples that are free of any amorphous regions that block fast ion transport.     

High ionic conductivity of all-solid polymer electrolytes based on polyorganophosphazenes

A series of all-solid polymer electrolytes were prepared by cross-linking new designed poly(organophosphazene) macromonomers. The ionic conductivities of these all-solid, dimensional steady polymer electrolytes were reported. The temperature dependence of ionic conductivity of the all-solid polymer electrolytes suggested that the ionic transport is correlated with the segmental motion of the polymer. The relationship between lithium salts content and ionic conductivity was discussed and investigated by Infrared spectrum. Furthermore, the polarity of the host materials was thought to be a key to the ionic conductivity of polymer electrolyte. The all-solid polymer electrolytes based on these poly(organophosphazenes) showed ionic conductivity of 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at room temperature.     

Inorganic–organic hybrid polymers with pendent sulfonated cyclic phosphazene side groups as potential proton conductive materials for direct methanol fuel cells

A synthetic method is described to produce a proton conductive polymer membrane with a polynorbornane backbone and inorganic–organic cyclic phosphazene pendent groups that bear sulfonic acid units. This hybrid polymer combines the inherent hydrophobicity and flexibility of the organic polymer with the tuning advantages of the cyclic phosphazene to produce a membrane with high proton conductivity and low methanol crossover at room temperature. The ion exchange capacity (IEC), the water swelling behavior of the polymer, and the effect of gamma radiation crosslinking were studied, together with the proton conductivity and methanol permeability of these materials. A typical membrane had an IEC of 0.329 mmol g⁻¹ and had water swelling of 50 wt%. The maximum proton conductivity of 1.13 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at room temperature is less than values reported for some commercially available materials such as Nafion. However the average methanol permeability was around 10⁻⁹ cm s⁻¹, which is one hundred times smaller than the value for Nafion. Thus, the new polymers are candidates for low-temperature direct methanol fuel cell membranes.     

Water sorption properties of carbonized layers produced by controlled B<Superscript>+</Superscript> bombardment of thin polyimide and polysulfone films

Thin polyimide (PI) and polyethersulfone (PES) films are widely used as functional layers for microelectronic sensors. Ion implantation modifies the layer structure and morphology of these polymers and hence results in new mechanical and optical properties. However, ion-modified layers also show a change in sensitivity to moisture uptake under specific conditions. This is important for developing humidity sensors. Therefore, the water sorption ability of such modified polymer layers is studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry under definite relative humidity conditions (1–95%). Swelling data were obtained by fitting procedures based on changes of effective layer thickness and optical constants due to water uptake. Irradiation doses from 0.5 to 5×10¹⁵ B⁺ cm^–2 at an energy of 180 keV were used for polymer modification. At irradiation doses from 0.5 to 0.7×10¹⁵ B⁺ cm^–2, the maximum out-of-plane swelling is reached. At higher doses >2×10¹⁵ B⁺ cm^–2, the swelling decreases and corresponds to values of the pure polymer layers. The wetting properties of the layer surfaces determined by contact angle measurements are important to explain this behavior.     

Effect of TiO2 nanoparticle additions on the conductivity of network polymer electrolytes for lithium power sources

Network copolymer electrolytes were synthesized from polyether (polyester) diacrylates with different structures and chain lengths of polyester diacrylate and polyethylene glycol diacrylate. The optimum matrix for ion transport in the electrolyte was formed from only one type of oligomer. The influence of TiO₂ nanopowder additions (～60 nm) on the conductivity of the copolymer electrolyte was studied. The addition of 10 wt % TiO₂ led to an increase in the conductivity by an order of magnitude at 30°C; the effective activation energy decreased by 20%. At elevated temperatures, the mobility of polymer chains increased and the contribution of TiO₂ nanoparticles in ion transport was only half of the order of magnitude of the conductivity at 100°C. The increase in the conductivity of the polymer electrolyte after the addition of TiO₂ was presumably caused by the formation of a more mobile state of the lithium ion near the nanoparticle surface, as shown by pulsed field gradient (PFG) ⁷Li NMR.     

Novel conjugated polymer containing anthracene backbone: Addition polymer of 9, 10-diethynylanthracene with 9, 10-anthracenedithiol and its properties

9,10-Diethynylanthracene was prepared by the alkaline hydrolysis of 9,10-bis (trimethylsilylethynyl) anthracene. Another new monomer of 9, 10-anthracenedithiol was prepared by the reduction of anthracene polydisulfide. A crystalline conjugated polymer of 9,10-diethynylanthracene with 9,10-anthracenedithiol was synthesized in a THF solution at 50°C by UV irradiation or by using radical initiators. The molecular weight (M?_n) of the insoluble polymer in THF is about 20000–30000 and the soluble is about 4000. From the sulfur content and IR spectrum of the insoluble polymer, it is realized that the obtained polymer has the alternating structure consisting of 9,10-diethynylanthracene and 9,10-anthracenedithiol units. X-ray pattern indicated that the polymer has a layer structure. The conductivity of the undoped polymer was about 10^?11S/cm, but enhanced up to 10^?6 S/cm by doping with iodine. The enhancement of the conductivity seems to be the existence of the CT complex among the polymer backbone and iodine or iodine anion.     

Using a fuel cell to study fluoride-based electrolytes

Fluoride-based electrolytes in fuel cell applications show a high proton conductivity, and also oxygen ion conductivity in some cases, and a variable stoichiometry in different gas atmospheres/environments. Fuel cell (FC) devices using these fluoride-based materials as electrolytes were studied to characterise their electrical properties when run. The results obtained from the measurements correspond directly to proton and oxygen ion transport in the FC process. A high proton conductivity value, e.g., 10⁻² S cm⁻¹, for temperatures above 700°C, corresponds to a FC performance with a current density larger than several hundred mA cm⁻², and a peak power density of more than 100 mW cm⁻².