Solid state NMR studies of syndiotactic polystyrene/ethylbenzene and poly(ethylene oxide)/LiCF3SO3 molecular complexes

Solvent dynamics and polymer-solvent interactions in syndiotactic (s) polystyrene (PS)/ethylbenzene (PhEt) clathrates, as well as polymer-salt interactions in the poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/LiCF₃SO₃ complex, were characterized by solid state ¹H and ¹³C NMR. ¹H static and ¹H MAS NMR spectra have shown that PhEt molecules in s-PS clathrates retain relatively large, but spatially anisotropic mobility. ¹³C CP/MAS (cross polarization/magic angle spinning) spectra and CP dynamics measured for s-PS-dg/PhEt system indicate that at least a part of PhEt molecules are intercalated between phenyl rings of s-PS. ¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectra show that PEO carbons in complex with LiCF₃SO₃ are more shielded in comparison to neat crystalline PEO. The results (distances) obtained from CP dynamics are in agreement with the published crystal structure of the PEO/LiCF₃SO₃ complex. ¹³C spin-lattice relaxation time measurements have shown that the mobility of PEO in the complex is lower than that in neat crystalline PEO.