Spin-probe ESR studies on nanocomposite polymer electrolytes

Abstract

The possibility of using spin-probe electron spin resonance (ESR) as a tool to study glass transition temperature, T _g, of polymer electrolytes is explored in 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPOL)-doped composite polymer electrolyte (PEG)₄₆LiClO₄ dispersed with nanoparticles of hydrotalcite. The T _g is estimated from the measured values of T _50G, the temperature at which the extrema separation 2A _zz of the broad powder spectrum decreases to 50 G. In another method, the correlation time T_c for the spin probe dynamics was determined by computer simulation of the ESR spectra and T _g has been identified as the temperature at which T_c begins to show temperature dependence. While both methods give values of T _g close to those obtained from differential scanning calorimetry, it is concluded that more work is required to establish spin-probe ESR as a reliable technique for the determination of T _g.