Liquid-crystalline behavior and ion transport properties of block-structured molecules containing a perfluorinated ethylene oxide moiety complexed with a lithium salt

The liquid-crystalline behavior of fluorinated block-structured molecules and the ion transport properties of their complexes with a Li salt have been examined. The block-structured molecules comprise a perfluorinated oligo (ethylene oxide) moiety containing a terminal methyl carbonate or a terminal hydroxyl group and an octadecyl moiety. These molecules exhibit highly ordered smectic phases. The fluorinated molecule with a terminal methyl carbonate possesses an isotropization temperature lower than that of the analogous non-fluorinated molecule. The fluorinated molecule complexed with a Li salt shows ionic conductivities on the order of 10−6 S cm−1 in the smectic phase formed at ambient temperature, while conductivities on the order of 10−5 S cm−1 are observed in the isotropic phase.