About impedance spectra and dynamics of charge carriers in neat poly(ethylene oxide) structures

Impedance spectra of linear and cross-linked poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) are analyzed in a wide range of temperature. Dielectric responses differ at low and high temperature due to tendency of PEO to crystallization below melting temperature. Extent of crystallization depends on cross-linking density. The network in PEO with high cross-linking density is rigid and morphology transition shifts to very low temperature. Debye-like relaxation appears at low temperature similar as in ionic liquids. Onset of polarization relaxation shifts to higher temperature with increasing mesh size that is coupling of electric and structural relaxation appears. This is also nicely reflected by scaled conductivity. It demonstrates that the structure in cross-linked systems is a superposition of chemical and physical networks. They relax separately at low temperature and frequency under condition of sufficient rigidity.