| Abstract: | Latex films composed of fused polybutadiene (PB) and poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) particles that contain no ionic, hydroxyl, or amino groups were swelled with lithium salt solutions to yield new polymer electrolyte materials. The latex particle consists of a nonpolar, rubbery core that contains the PB component and a polar, glassy shell that contains the PVP component. The particle core-shell morphology was retained in the solid state, after the latex dispersion medium was removed and the films dried at high temperatures, due to the high Tg of the PVP shell. The films swelled when immersed in lithium salt solutions, and ionic conductivity of swollen films was greater than 10-3 S/cm. Swelling and ionic conduction occurred only in the polar PVP component. Extraction of PVP occurred with extended swelling. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
