Poly[(methylene oxide) oligo(ethylene oxide)] vs. poly(ethylene oxide) as hosts for neodymium compounds

In view of the residual crystallinity in PEO found to limit the solubility of some Nd3+-compounds, amorphous PEO (aPEO) was synthesized for exploration as an alternative host. Complexation, solubility limit, morphology, and response to moisture absorption in the doped systems were investigated using FTIR, DSC, TGA, and WAXD techniques. Representing a perturbation to the structural regularity present in PEO, aPEO was found to present lower solubilities for dopants (Nd(act)3 and Nd(acac)3, both characterized by a weak Nd3+–ether oxygen interaction. On the other hand, no difference in solubility was observed for dopant Nd(NO3)3, characterized by a strong Nd3+–ether oxygen interaction. Laser interferometry was employed to assess film homogeneity of the Nd(NO3)3-doped systems across a 20-mm diameter, and the measured peak-to-valley distortion values were observed to be encouraging for practical applications. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.