Ionic conductivity in solid, crosslinked dimethylsiloxane-ethylene oxide copolymer networks containing sodium

Abstract

The preparation of an ion‐conducting elastomeric solid based on a dimethylsiloxane‐ethylene oxide copolymer complexed with a sodium salt is described. ²³Na nuclear magnetic resonance measurements reveal the presence of both bound and mobile sodium species throughout the temperature range −120 to 100 °C. Electrical conductivity measurements over a similar temperature range are found to be consistent with the configurational entropy model for transport, with a T₀ parameter about 50 °C below the ‘‘central’’ glass transition temperature T_g.