New polyphosphazene-clay and cryptand-clay intercalates

Poly(bis-methoxyethoxyethoxy phosphazene) (MEEP) and cryptand[2.2.2] (crypt) have been intercalated separately into sodium exchanged montmorillonite (Na-mont), and impedance spectroscopy indicates that ionic conductivities of the resulting nanocomposites (log sigma = -7.6 (Omega . cm)(-1) for MEEP/Na-mont and log sigma = -8.1 (Omega . cm)(-1) at 100 degrees C) are enhanced by several orders of magnitude over the parent Na-mont. Intercalation is demonstrated by powder x-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy. Na-23 and Si-29 MAS NMR spectra give evidence that the interlayer Na+ are solvated by the intercalated ethers. FTIR spectroscopy, C-13 NMR spectroscopy and H-1 NMR spectroscopy indicate that cryptand intercalates preferentially to MEEP when a mixture of the two is stirred with Na-Mont.