Conductivity and structural properties of plasticized chitosan-g-PMMA-ammonium triflate polymer electrolyte.

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPE) are known as a potential material as a medium for ion transport process. In the latest study, Ch-g-PMMA was produced by using gamma irradiation grafting method toward chitosan (Ch) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). The grafted polymer (Ch-g-PMMA), ammonium triflate (NH4Tf) and ethylene carbonate (EC) were then used in the preparation process of the solid polymer electrolytes (SPE) and the gel polymer electrolyte (GPE). All samples were prepared via solution casting. The complex impedance plot was used in the conductivity calculation for all samples. The SPE film containing 40 wt% NH4Tf in Ch-g-PMMA shows the highest conductivity at 1.03×10-04 Scm-1 at ambient temperature. The improvement of conductivity can be observed up to 2.57×10-04 Scm-1 when 40 wt% EC was introduced to the Ch-g-PMMA system. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra proved that the PMMA was successfully grafted onto the chitosan backbone. X-ray diffractogram (XRD) pattern justified that the amorphous phase of the sample leads to arise in ionic conductivity. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies show that the plasticized sample has lower value of glass transition (Tg) compared to the plasticizer-free sample due to the lubricant effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]