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Title: Coil Dimensions of Poly(ethylene oxide) in an Ionic Liquid by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering

Journal Article · · Macromolecules

In this work, the infinite dilution radii of gyration (Rg,0) for five different molecular weights (10–250 kg/mol) of perdeuterated poly(ethylene oxide) (d-PEO) have been determined at 80 °C in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM][BF4]) using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The results establish the dependence of Rg,0 on polymer molecular weight as Rg,0 ~ Mw0.55. An excluded volume exponent of ν ≈ 0.55 indicates that [BMIM][BF4] is a moderately good solvent and that PEO remains a flexible random coil in this ionic liquid. These results clarify the uncertainty surrounding PEO coil dimensions in this ionic liquid, as computer simulations at various levels of complexity have led to conflicting results, and prior experimental results also do not present a completely consistent picture.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Science Foundation (NSF); Northwestern University; E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co.; The Dow Chemical Company; USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357; 0960140
OSTI ID:
1422229
Journal Information:
Macromolecules, Vol. 50, Issue 21; ISSN 0024-9297
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 23 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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