Ion content and molecular weight have been shown to affect the
23Na NMR spectra of
monodisperse sodium-neutralized sulfonated polystyrene ionomers
(MNaSPS). A new NMR peak at −2.7
ppm appears at ionization levels above 1.2% and molecular weights of a
least 35 000; this peak is not
present in polydisperse NaSPS. The fraction of NMR intensity due
to this peak is relatively constant
above M
n ∼ 100 000. It is proposed that
this peak is due to a distorted version of an isolated site.
Along
with the new −2.7 ppm peak, the monodisperse materials also have far
fewer isolated ions than the
corresponding polydisperse ionomers. It is possible that the
greater chain uniformity of the monodisperse
ionomers eliminates plasticization of the aggregates by the low
molecular weight components and steric
hindrances from the high molecular weight components and permits more
complete aggregation of the
ionic groups. The new NMR peak can be removed by casting from a
cosolvent of THF/water, but not by
casting from THF/methanol. Blending of two or more monodisperse
materials in solution followed by
annealing resulted in an NMR spectrum similar to that of a polydisperse
material; however, the behavior
of the blend without annealing did not replicate that of polydisperse
NaSPS.