Discontinuous Changes in Ionic Conductivity of a Block Copolymer Electrolyte through the Order-Disorder Transition

Simultaneous small angle X-ray scattering and ionic conductivity measurements of a block copolymer electrolyte as it transitions from an ordered lamellar structure to a disordered phase reveal a discontinuous increase in conductivity at the phase transition. A simple framework for understanding this result is presented, incorporating both morphology factor corrections that account for constraints imposed by the geometry of the conducting phase and `vehicular' transport of coupled polymer chains and ions.