Y. J. Liu, J. Schindler, D. DeGroot
Feb 14, 1996
Citations
1
Influential Citations
109
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Quality indicators
Journal
Chemistry of Materials
Abstract
The intercalation of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in layered V2O5 xerogel and the structural and physicochemical characterization of the products is reported. The synthesis of PEO/V2O5 nanocomposites is achieved by simply mixing aqueous solutions of PEO with aqueous V2O5 gels followed by slow water evaporation. Several different phases of PEO/V2O5 composites can be obtained by varying the component ratios. The interlayer distance of (PEO)xV2O5·nH2O varies from 13.2 A, at x = 0.5, to 16.8 A at x = 1.0, to 17.6 A at 1 < x < 3, and to 18.3 A at x ≥ 3. One-dimensional electron density calculations based on X-ray diffraction data (perpendicular to layers) show that the composites contain a monolayer of PEO molecules when x < 1 and a bilayer when x ≥ 1. The data suggest that the PEO chains are arranged side-by-side in a fully extended conformation between the layers forming corrugated mono- or bilayers. The (PEO)xV2O5·nH2O intercalation compounds are water swellable and light-sensitive. UV irradiation causes dram...