Molecular mobility and protonic conductivity studies in telechelics based on poly(ethylene oxide) capped with hydroxyl groups at both ends

Model functionalized telechelics based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) capped with OH− groups, with protons (H+) in the terminals have been prepared and the effects of structure on molecular mobility and protonic conductivity have been investigated. Molecular mobility and protonic conductivity were measured by means of broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS, 10−2–109 Hz) and of thermally stimulated depolarisation currents techniques (TSDC, 77–300 K). The features of α relaxation, associated to the glass transition, and of dc conductivity σdc, determined from ac conductivity (σac(f)) plots, were analysed in detail. Protonic conductivity was found to be governed by the motion of the polymeric chains.