Impact of the Sequence Control and Phase Separation on the Properties of Single-Ion Conducting Block Copolymers

Block copolymers with an AB-block, consisting of a random copolymer of an anionic monomer bearing Li+ and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate, and a C-block based on poly(2-indanyl methacrylate), were synthesized by the RAFT-polymerization technique. The variation in molecular weights (62–71 kDa) and mass ratio between the ionic (AB) and neutral (C) blocks (MAB/MC = 1.92–2.18) allowed to obtain the copolymers that combine ionic conductivity of up to 6×10–7 S/cm (25 °C) and enhanced mechanical (viscoelastic) properties. This combination was gained owing to microphase separation caused by the incompatibility of AB and C blocks. The AFM study indicated the formation of lamellar structures.