Aggregational processes of low molecular weight polyethylene-b-polyethylene oxide diblock copolymer probed by electrical impedance spectroscopy

In this paper, we analyze the use of electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to investigate the aggregational processes of low molecular weight polyethylene-b-polyethylene oxide copolymer (PE-b-PEO (50% PEO)) induced by concentration. The real and imaginary part of impedance have been compared to theoretical results based on equivalent circuits, providing information pertaining to the properties of the bulk and contributions due to the interactions at the electrolyte/electrode interface. The bulk resistance is used as a convenient tool for identifying structures such as spheres (S), hexagonally packed cylinders (HPC) and lamellar phases. To characterize the transition mechanisms involved in micellization we applied the Phillips criteria, associating the maximum change in the gradient of bulk resistance with the formation of micelles. The transition from micelles to HPC structures is characterized from the minimum in the bulk resistance, while the electrical signature relative to the formation of lamellar structures is characterized by the decrease in the diffusion (reduction in the polarization effects) and the inversion in the slope of bulk resistance as a function of copolymer concentration. Thus, the EIS may be defined as a convenient tool for characterizing the conformation and phase transitions in amphiphilic block copolymers.