Effect on ionic conductivity with modification of polymethylmethacrylate in poly(ethylene oxide)-layered silicate nanocomposites (PLSN)

The polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites (PLSN) are prepared by the polymer (polyethylene oxide (PEO) or PEO-polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)) melt intercalation in layered silicate. Experimental results show that polymers can intercalate in silicate interlayer by melt intercalation and thus ionic conduction can be improved. The modification of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) can enhance the ionic conductivity at room temperature and decrease the apparent conductive activation energy in PLSN, which reach 1.2×10−4 S cm−1 and 0.14 eV, respectively. The nanocomposites exhibit better ionic conduction at high temperature. The modification of PMMA can be used to improve ionic conductivity for PLSN.