Ion Transport in Cryptand and Crown Ether Lithium Salt Complexes

Amorphous solid electrolytes were formed by the interaction of cryptands or crown ethers with a lithium salt, LiCF3SO2N(CH2)3OCH3, when the cavity size of the macrocycle does not match the diameter of the lithium cation. With the exception of Li⊂18-C-6(CF3SO2)2N (the mathematical symbol of inclusion, ⊂, is used to indicate Li+ included in 18-C-6), the complexes of Li(CF3SO2)2N with cryptand and crown ethers do not form amorphous electrolytes. Complexes of LiCF3SO2N(CH2)3OCH3 and Li(CF3SO2)2N were examined by thermal, spectroscopic, and conductivity methods to determine the role of the anion on ionic glass formation.