Electrochemical behavior of α-Keggin-type nanoparticles, Co(en)₃(PMo₁₂O₄₀), in polyethylene glycol

Abstract.

The electrochemical behavior of α-Keggin-type nanoparticles, Co(en)₃(PMo₁₂O₄₀) (abbreviated as PMo₁₂-Co), have been studied in poly(ethylene glycol) for four different molecular weights (PEG, average MW 400, 600, 1000, and 2000 g mol^–1) and containing LiClO₄ (O/Li=100/1) supporting electrolyte. The diffusion coefficients of the PMo₁₂-Co nanoparticles were determined using a microelectrode by chronoamperometry for PEG of different molecular weights that were used to describe the diffusion behavior of PMo₁₂-Co nanoparticles in different phase states. Moreover, the conductivity of the composite system increases upon addition of PMo₁₂-Co nanoparticles, which was measured by an a.c. impedance technique. FT-IR spectra and DSC were used to follow the interactions of PEG-LiClO₄-PMo₁₂-Co, and well described the reason that the PMo₁₂-Co nanoparticles could promote the conductivity of the PEG-LiClO₄-PMo₁₂-Co system.