FTIR study of ion dissociation in PMMA based gel electrolytes containing ammonium triflate: Role of dielectric constant of solvent

The effect of dielectric constant of solvent on the presence of ion aggregates/undissociated salt and their dissociation with the addition of polymer has been studied by FTIR for polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) based gel electrolytes containing ammonium triflate (NH₄CF₃SO₃). Salt is fully dissociated in electrolytes containing dimethylacetamide (DMA)—a high dielectric constant solvent and some ion aggregates are also present whereas in electrolytes containing diethylcarbonate (DEC)—a low dielectric constant solvent, some undissociated salt is present. The conductivity behaviour of polymer gel electrolytes has been found to depend upon the dielectric constant of the solvent used. PMMA plays the role of a stiffener in electrolytes containing DMA and results in a small decrease in conductivity whereas in electrolytes containing DEC, the addition of PMMA results in an increase in conductivity which has been explained to be due to an increase in free ion concentration by the dissociation of undissociated salt and ion aggregates. The presence of free ions, ion aggregates, undissociated salt has also been examined by FTIR spectroscopy.