MESOGENIC STRUCTURES AND CHARGE-TRANSFER REACTIONS IN POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE) COMPLEXES

After discussion of a schematic model for the crystalline phases of some poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-Na** plus complexes with organic anions, three types of material are discussed. Complexes of sodium salts of organic acids substituted by hydrophobic groups are deposited from methanol as macrodomains of uniaxially oriented material; these rearrange to microdomain morphologies on heating above ca. 60 degree C. Similar anions substituted by polar groups form spherulitic complexes or they rearrange thermotropically to microdomain structures.