Journal of Materials Science, Vol.48, No.17, 5756-5767, 2013
Tailoring the conductivity of PEO-based electrolytes for temperature-sensitive printed electronics
This study reports an approach to tailoring the temperature-sensitive conductivity behavior of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based polymer electrolytes to match a concrete hardening model, for use in temperature-sensitive organic electronics. Plasticized PEO/MX (M = Li, Na; X = TFSI, Tf) polymer electrolytes were designed to fit a specific temperature-sensitive behavior of the ionic conductivity within a temperature range of 20-60 A degrees C. Polymer electrolytes with varying concentrations of plasticizing solvents (propylene carbonate and ethylene carbonate; PC and EC) and short-chain polyether homologs such as poly(ethylene glycol)-dimethyl ether were produced. Some of the investigated electrolytes displayed useful and stable temperature-sensitive conductivity for applications in process monitoring or quality control of temperature-sensitive products; the best being either a 40:60 PEO:PEGDME blend by w/w containing NaCF3SO3 at a Na:O ratio 1:10 and with 10 wt% PC or PEO with LiTFSI or NaTFSI at a salt:O ratio 1:25 and 30 wt% PC. Analysis of variance indicates the adequacy of temperature-sensitive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) electrochromic monitoring devices based on these electrolytes relative to a standard model for the concrete hardening process.