Influence of Plasticizer Type on the Properties of Polymer Electrolytes Based on Chitosan

Abstract

Polymer electrolytes were obtained by the casting technique from a solution containing chitosan, hydrochloric acid, and plasticizer such as glycerol, ethylene glycol, and sorbitol. The transparent membranes with good ionic conductivity properties were characterized by impedance and UV-vis spectroscopies, thermal analysis (DSC), and X-ray diffraction. The best ionic conductivity values of 9.5 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) at room temperature and 2.5 x 10(-3) S cm(-1) at 80 degrees C were obtained for the sample containing 59 wt% of glycerol and an equimolar amount of HCl with respect to NH2 groups in chitosan. The temperature dependence of the ionic conductivity exhibits an Arrhenius behavior with activation energy of 16.6 kJ mol(-1). The thermal analysis indicates that both glass transition temperature (-87 degrees C) and crystallinity are low for this electrolyte. The samples with 13 wt% of LiCF3SO3 showed that the ionic conductivity values of 2.2 x 10(-5) S cm(-1) at room temperature and 4 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) at 80 degrees C are predominantly amorphous and showed a low glass transition temperature of about -73 degrees C.

Investigation of polymer electrolyte based on agar and ionic liquids

“…During the last decades different systems have been extensively studied and most of them were based on poly(ethylene oxide) [2]. More recently new types of electrolytes based on natural polymers (like cellulose derivatives, chitosan, starch or natural rubber) have been proposed due to their biodegradability, low production cost, good physical and chemical properties and good performance as SPEs (solvent-free polymer electrolytes) [3][4][5]. Among these there is agar, which is an heterogeneous mixture of agaropectin and agarose [6].…”

Perspectives for solid biopolymer electrolytes in dye sensitized solar cell and battery application

“…Most of SPEs are based on hydroxethyl cellulose [231], starch [232], chitosan [233][234][235], agar-agar [236], pectin [237], and gelatin [238] etc., wherein the ionic conductivity has been reported in the order of 10 À 4 S/cm at room temperature.…”

A novel gel polymer electrolyte cell for in-situ application of corrosion electrochemical techniques

“…lead-acid batteries [14] or lithium batteries [15,16]), electrochromic devices [17,18], fuel cells [19], supercapacitors [20], sensors and actuators [21], an dye-sensitized solar cells [13,22].Several polymeric materials have been studied as PE, such as poly(ethylene oxide), polyacrlylates or polymethacrylates [15,16] or silicates [14]. Natural polymers such as starch [23], chitosan [24], gelatin [25], pectin [26]or agar [17,18]have been used as gel polymer electrolyte (G-PE). Those natural substances have the advantage of being innocuous to the people and the environment, biodegradable and usually inexpensive.…”