Influence of counteranion and humidity on the thermal, mechanical and conductive properties of covalently crosslinked ionenes

Thiol-ene photopolymerization was used to generate a series of covalently crosslinked, imidazolium-containing ionene networks. A variety counteranions were chosen so as investigate the influence size and basicity on thermal, mechanical conductive properties resulting Anhydrous conductivities at 20 °C found be order 10−6 10−10 S/cm correlated some degree with Tg; however, Tg-normalization curves indicated that this relationship between polymer structure conductivity more complex. VFT fitting, along free ion concentration mobility data, investigated in provide additional insight. Also interest study humidity ionic conductivity. Hydrophilic networks anions such [Cl], [NO3] or [OMs] exhibit 3- 5-orders magnitude enhancement (up 10−3 S/cm) when relative increased 70% while hydrophobic ([PF6] [NTf2]) not influenced. Further experimentation (water uptake, DSC) observed enhancements likely due combination plasticization water-assisted transport.