Investigations on the effect of chitin Nanofiber in PMMA Based solid polymer electrolyte systems

Abstract

Polymer electrolyte membranes find application in a variety of fields such as battery systems, fuel cells, sensors and other electrochemical devices. In this paper we have done some investigations on the effect of chitin nanofiber (CNF) in PMMA based solid polymer electrolyte systems. CNF was synthesized from shrimp cell chitin by stepwise purification and acid hydrolysis method. PMMA based electrolyte films containing different concentrations of lithium salt and CNFs as filler were prepared by hot-press membrane technique. Crystalline nature and phase changes in polymer electrolytes were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Thermal behavior of the polymer electrolyte systems was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Ionic conductivities of the electrolytes have been determined using a.c. impedance analysis in the temperature range between 303 and 393K. The temperature-dependent ionic conductivity plots seemed to obey the VTF relation. Dielectric relaxation studies of the polymer electrolyte have been done and the results are discussed.