@article{27548,
  keywords = {polymerization, crystallization, copolymer electrolytes, gas separation, ethers, crystallinity, film lithium batteries, side-chains, electrolyte membranes, solid-state},
  author = {Gao Liu and Melanie T Reinhout and Brian Mainguy and Gregory L Baker},
  title = {Synthesis, structure, and ionic conductivity of self-assembled amphiphilic poly(methacrylate) comb polymers},
  abstract = {<p>Methacrylate comb polymers were synthesized that have amphiphilic teeth of ethylene glycol oligomers capped with alkyl groups. Both segments are of exact length to promote self-organization and crystallization. The atactic methacrylate backbone plus close proximity to the polymer backbone inhibits crystallization of the oligoethyelene oxide segments, but the terminal alkyl segments readily crystallize. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry were used to characterize polymer side chain crystallization and its evolution as a function of the length of the amphiphilic teeth. An analysis of the d spacings places the oligoethylene glycol segment and the first eight carbon atoms of the alkyl chain in an amorphous phase. An similar to 1 angstrom/carbon atom increase in the d spacing is consistent with the crystalline segments being tilted relative to the polymer backbone. When the number of carbon atoms in alkyl segments is &gt;= 14, addition of LiClO4 yields an ionic conducting ethylene oxide phase with retention of the alkyl crystallization. These novel polymer electrolytes use crystallization as a structural element to maintain dimensional stability.</p>},
  year = {2006},
  journal = {Macromolecules},
  volume = {39},
  number = {14},
  pages = {4726-4734},
  month = {07/2006},
  language = {eng},
}