Synthesis of polymer electrolytes based on poly[2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethyl glycidyl ether] and their high ionic conductivity

Network polymer electrolytes based on poly[2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethyl glycidyl ether] (PME2GE) were synthesized and characterized. The effects of crosslinking density, the introduction of ethylene oxide (EO) unit into the main chain by copolymerization, and the electrolyte (LiClO 4 ) concentration on the ionic conductivity were explored. The random copolymer system improved the conductivity considerably compared with the polymer electrolytes previously obtained for network polymer systems and exhibited a high ionic conductivity of 10 −4 S/cm at 40°C and 10 −5 S/cm at 10°C, and even 3 X 10 −7 S/cm at −20°C with optimization of the copolymer composition, the crosslinking density and the amount of LiClO 4 . The optimum composition was EO/ME2GE = 70/30 in molar ratio. The most preferable ratio of LiClO 4 to etheric oxygen was in the range of 0.02–0.03.