The ABA triblock copolymer poly(ethylene glycol) distearate (PEGD), average M
n ca. 930,
complexed with lithium and sodium perchlorates has been studied by 1H, 7Li, 13C, and 23Na solid-state
nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), SAXS, DSC, and polarized-light optical microscopy. Unlike other
solid polymer electrolytes, highly Li+-doped PEGD samples exhibit sharp 7Li NMR quadrupolar powder
patterns even at temperatures well above the melting point, indicating that this triblock copolymer is
microphase separated and the dynamics in the PEG phase are anisotropic. Measurements of the 7Li
central transition line width in highly doped samples show three distinct line narrowings, due to the
poly(ethylene glycol) glass transition (∼−20 °C), the stearate melting point of the polymer (∼35 °C), and
an order−disorder transition (∼72 °C). 23Na NMR measurements yield similar results. SAXS, DSC, and
optical microscopy with polarized light confirm the presence of a microphase-separated state up to ∼72
°C. 13C and 1H NMR show that the segmental mobility in the ordered state is reduced compared to the
isotropic melt. The results confirm the previously proposed order−disorder model to explain the dependence
of the ionic conductivity on the lithium concentration for Li+-doped PEGD samples.