Nanomaterials (Feb 2022)

Hybrid Polyethylene Glycol/Sodium Metaphosphate Composites Prepared via Coacervation

  • Bruno Poletto Rodrigues,
  • Guilherme Nunes Braga Maurício de Macedo,
  • Yang Xia,
  • Andrea Balducci,
  • Lothar Wondraczek

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12030528
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 3
p. 528

Abstract

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We report on the fabrication and characterization of homogeneous, monophasic sodium metaphosphate and polyethylene glycol hybrid composites achieved via coacervation in aqueous solution. After separation and drying, an amorphous plastic solid is formed, composed mostly of hydrated sodium phosphate moieties amalgamated with polyethylene glycol chains. These composites are largely X-ray amorphous and can contain up to 8 weight percent of polymer. Impedance spectroscopic measurements reveal DC conductivity values of 12 μS/m at room temperature, an enhancement of three orders of magnitude when compared to glassy sodium metaphosphate, and the presence of the polyethylene glycol is reflected in the equivalent circuit and ionic hopping analyses.

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