The influence of polymer state on the electrical properties of polymer/layered-silicate nanocomposites

Polymer/layered-silicate nanocomposites (PLSN) are prepared by polymer melt intercalation in layered silicate. The influence of polymer state on the electrical properties is analyzed. The experimental results show that poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) can intercalate into the silicate interlayer in the molten state, which leads to the addition of the repeated distance of silicate. The polymer structure in the interlayer is similar to that of a PEO melt. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) can dissolve in molten PEO and intercalate into silicate interlayer together with PEO chains. The modification of PMMA in PLSN further enhances the random arrangement of the PEO chains, which are inclined to a random amorphous state. This random amorphous state is beneficial to the ionic transport in the interlayer, which can remarkably enhance the ionic conductivities at room temperature and decrease the apparent conducting activation energies in PLSN.