Origin of near constant loss (NCL) in ion conducting polymer blends

We report a novel observation pertaining to scaling behavior and near constant loss response in ion conducting polymer blends. This type of response evidenced by linear plot of conductivity spectrum at high frequency has rarely been reported for polymer blends. It is noted that at a fixed cation concentration in the polymer blends high frequency dielectric loss remains constant irrespective of temperature confirming near constant loss (NCL). However the onset of such response is prominent in sub-ambient temperature limit vis-à-vis ambient condition. It is also noted that low temperature NCL response depends on cation loading in the polymer blend matrix. These results, reported for the first time for an ion conducting polymer blend has been explained using Kramer-Kröinig (KK) and Haveriliak Negami (HN) equation.