Radiation modification of (PEO)8ZnCl2 polyelectrolyte and nanocomposite

(PEO)8ZnCl2 polyelectrolytes and nanocomposites were prepared using PEO γ-irradiated to selected doses and TiO2 nanograins and were studied by impedance spectroscopy, DSC, optical microscopy and FTIR. Room-temperature conductivity increase up to two orders of magnitude was achieved. The crystallinity significantly decreased with radiation dose increase due to crosslinking of PEO. Addition of nanograins caused an increase in conductivity to a significantly larger extent than can be ascribed to crystallinity, possibly because of interactions of anion with nanograins.