APPLICATION OF THE BENDLER-SHLESINGER GENERALIZATION OF THE VOGEL EQUATION TO ION-CONDUCTING POLYMERS

Previously published audio frequency electrical conductivity results for ion-conducting polymers have been reanalyzed in terms of the Bendler-Shlesinger (BENSH) generalization of the Vogel equation. The materials studied include poly(propylene oxide) (PPO), amorphous poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(dimethylsiloxane-ethylene oxide) (PDMS-EO), and polyphosphazene (MEEP) -based material. The BENSH equation provides a better fit of both vacuum and high-pressure data for PPO and PDMS-EO than does the Vogel equation. For MEEP, for which the data are of a lower accuracy, and PEO, for which the data are over a narrower range of temperatures, the Vogel equation provides a better fit. However, for the most reliable data, a systematic difference between the VTF equation and the data is found, while the BENSH equation fits all portions of the data equally well. It is concluded that the BENSH equation, and hence the defect-diffusion model, provides an excellent description of the electrical conductivity for ion-conducting polymers.