%0 Journal Article
%K polymerization
%K crystallization
%K copolymer electrolytes
%K gas separation
%K ethers
%K crystallinity
%K film lithium batteries
%K side-chains
%K electrolyte membranes
%K solid-state
%A Gao Liu
%A Melanie T Reinhout
%A Brian Mainguy
%A Gregory L Baker
%B Macromolecules
%D 2006
%G eng
%P 4726-4734
%T Synthesis, structure, and ionic conductivity of self-assembled amphiphilic poly(methacrylate) comb polymers
%V 39
%3 <p>liu group</p>
%8 07/2006
%X <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>