We investigate the segmental and local dynamics as well as the transport of Li(+) cations in a series of model poly(ethylene oxide)-based single-ion conductors with varying ion content, using dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. We observe a slowing down of segmental dynamics and an increase in glass transition temperature above a critical ion content, as well as the appearance of an additional relaxation process associated with rotation of ion pairs. Conductivity is strongly coupled to segmental relaxation. For a fixed segmental relaxation frequency, molar conductivity increases with increasing ion content. A physical model of electrode polarization is used to separate ionic conductivity into the contributions of mobile ion concentration and ion mobility, and a model for the conduction mechanism involving transient triple ions is proposed to rationalize the behavior of these quantities as a function of ion content and the measured dielectric constant.

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The segmental and local chain dynamics as well as the transport of Na+ and Li+ cations in a series of model poly(ethylene oxide)-based polyurethane ionomers is investigated using dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. A physical model of electrode polarization is employed to separately determine mobile ion concentration and ion mobility in these single-ion conductors. A model including unpaired ions, separated ion pairs, and contact ion pairs is used to reconcile the very small fraction of free ions obtained using the electrode polarization model with those of previous studies of ion association in polyether-based single-ion conducting and salt-containing systems.