This research aimed to modify the Nias' cacao pod husk cellulose by using Microwave-assisted Organic Synthesis (MAOS) method to produce carboxymethyl cellulose and its application as lithium-ion batteries' biopolymer electrolyte membrane. There were two main stages of modification of Nias' cacao pod husk cellulose i. e. cellulose alkalization and cellulose carboxymethylation process (etherification stage). Lithium-ion batteries' biopolymer electrolyte membrane was fabricated through the casting solution technique, where the blend of Methylcellulose/Carboxymethyl cellulose (MC/CMC) (80/20) (w/w) was complexed to 10 % (w/w) of lithium perchlorate. The determinations of functional groups, molec-ular structure, crystallinities, and thermal stability were conducted using Fourier Transform Infrared, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, X-Ray Diffraction, and Thermogravimetry Analysis, respectively. The lithium-ion biopolymer electrolyte of the 10 % lithium perchlorate-complexed MC/CMC (80/20) blend shows ionic conductivity, tensile strength/elongation at break, thermal stability are 5.91 × 10 À 3 S cm À 1 , 30.69 MPa/31.83 %, and 279.40-341.05 °C. Based on the results, the prepared biopolymer electrolyte of 10 % lithium perchlorate-complexed MC/CMC (80/20) fulfills the separator (solid electrolyte) requirement for lithium-ion battery application.

In this study, cellulose and cellulose nanofibers (CNF) were extracted and prepared from cassava peels (CPs). The method of the cellulose extraction was performed by alkali treatment followed by a bleaching process. The CNF were prepared by mechanical disruption procedure (homogenization and ultrasonication), and the results were compared with a common acid hydrolysis procedure. The resulting cellulose and CNF from both procedures were then analyzed using FTIR, SEM, TEM, XRD, and TGA. The results show that cellulose and CNF were successfully prepared from both procedures. The physical properties of the produced CNF were different; however, they had similar chemical properties.

This work aims to study the influences of 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium acetate, [EMIm]Ac ionic liquid incorporation with various weight percentage to the characteristics of biopolymer blend electrolytes (BBEs) based on methyl cellulose/carboxymethyl cellulose (MC/CMC) (50/50) blend, i.e., the ionic conductivities, crystallinities, mechanical properties, surface morphology, and thermal stability. [EMIm]Ac ionic liquid is synthesized using a metathesis reaction between [EMIm]Br and CH3COOK in methanol solvent, while the BBEs preparation is conducted using casting solution technique. The functional groups and molecular structure of BBEs samples are confirmed by using Fourier transform infra red (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonce (NMR), while the characteristics of ionic conductivities, mechanical properties, crystallinities, surface morphology, and stability thermal are conducted using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, tensile tester, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetry analysis/differential thermogravimetry (TGA/DTG). The [EMIm]Ac ionic liquid incorporation greatly affects the characteristics of BBEs with optimum condition at the 15% [EMIm]Ac ionic liquid incorporation with a value of 1.53 × 10−2 S cm−1, 20.83 MPa/21.57%, and 217.24–356.34 ℃ for ionic conductivity, tensile strength/elongation at break, and decomposition temperature, respectively. The optimum condition from this study fulfills the standard minimum requirement for a lithium‐ion battery separator.