The ability to investigate a polymeric material’s response to an electric field with subnanometer resolution should lead to a deeper understanding of how nanoscale interactions contribute to the electromechanical response. This talk will highlight the use of in situ neutron reflectometry measurements collected under applied electric fields and complementary coarse grained molecular dynamics simulations to provide nanoscale resolution of polymer and counter-anion motion in thin films.  A sample environment chamber capable of applying an electric field and directly heating the sample was designed to facilitate in situ neutron reflectivity measurements.   The model diblock copolymer system was comprised of a cationic imidazolium block and a deuterated styrene block.    The effect of applied field, added ionic liquid, and temperature where investigated and the relative contributions of each block to the film’s structure was observed and analyzed. The results highlight the potential of in situ techniques that can achieve nanoscale resolution for investigating the electromechanical response of polymeric systems in thin film geometries. These findings have exciting applications in the development of energy storage systems as well as the fabrication of actuating devices, where counter ion size and its polarizability can be used to tune electromechanical properties.<br/>

Neutron reflectivity studies of ionic copolymer films under applied electric fields

2019 Fall National Meeting

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