IONIC-CONDUCTIVITY IN LAYER SILICATES CONTROLLED BY INTERCALATION OF MACROCYCLIC AND POLYMERIC OXYETHYLENE COMPOUNDS

This contribution concerns intercalation materials based on the formation of intracrystalline polymer-salt complexes obtained by insertion of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and crown-ether compounds in a layer silicate (montmorillonite), containing Na+ exchangeable cations in their interlayer space. Polyoxyethylene compounds (crown ethers and PEO) are able to associate interlayer cations modifying dramatically the ionic conductivity of the natural silicate. The new organo-inorganic materials exhibit a two-dimensional structure able to induce an anisotropic character in their electrical properties.