Influence of cryptands and crown ethers on ion transport and vibrational spectra of polymer-salt complexes

Complex impedance data demonstrate that addition of 2.2.2-cryptand increases the conductivity of NaSO{sub 3}CH{sub 3} in amorphous poly(ethylene oxide) (aPEO) but decreases that of NaSO{sub 3}CF{sub 3} in a PEO. Vibrational spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction measurements indicate that the influence of 2.2.2-cryptand is to dissolve crystallites of NaSO{sub 3}CH{sub 3} into the polymer phase. The decrease in conductivity for NaSO{sub 3}CF{sub 3}-aPEO upon addition of 2.2.2-cryptand correlates with the precipitation of a crystalline phase, presumably (Na:2.2.2)(SO{sub 3}CF{sub 3}).