Understanding the Ion Conductivity of Self-standing Poly-[Ethylene oxide] Composite Films through Non Fickian Diffusion Mediated Water Uptake Phenomena

Abstract

Abstract Understanding the mechanism towards interaction of water with polymer composite is of significance in the arena of solid-state device application, biomaterial science etc. A systematic research work is presented on the swelling behaviour and its influence towards the ionic conduction of Polyethylene oxide (PEO) -salt films. The influence of salts (viz. NH4I and KBr termed as PSN- & PSK-series) on the diffusion trait of polymer is analysed using non-Fickian python programming. The presence of ions and its polarizability behaviour influences the aqueous equilibration, number density of bounded and free water molecules along with the extent of cross linkage. The contribution of osmotic pressure tends to balance the dynamic non-covalent interactions thereby enhancing the diffusion driven ionic conduction (10-3 S.cm-1) process of PSK-films. Non Fickian diffusion is also found to accelerate the ionic conduction of PSK-series to 10-2 S.cm-1. The dielectric relaxation and long-term endurance (18500 h) establish the stability and applicability of such functionalized films as ionic electrolytes, membranes etc.