Microphase-Separated Structures and Lithium Ion Conductivity of Side-Chain Liquid Crystalline Polymer Thin Films with Different Out-of-Plane Orientation Properties

Abstract

Side-chain liquid crystalline (SCLC) block copolymers (BCPs) with poly(oligoethylene glycol methacrylate) block (PMEO) were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The out-of-plane orientation of the LC phase and microphase-separated PMEO cylinders in thin films was evaluated by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and grazing incidence X-ray scattering measurement. Lithium-ion-loaded BCP thin films were prepared by mixing the BCPs with a certain concentration of LiCF3SO3 in tetrahydrofuran and subsequent spin-casting. Lithium ion conductivity in the thin films with different orientations of PMEO cylinder domains was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements under different temperatures.