Structural and conductivity studies of ammonium chloride doped agar–agar biopolymer electrolytes for electrochemical devices

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics 2022-11, Vol.33 (32), p.24884-24894
• Main Authors: Selvalakshmi, S., Vanitha, D., Saranya, P., Selvasekarapandian, S., Mathavan, T., Premalatha, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ammonium chloride; Biopolymers; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chlorides; Electrode polarization; Electrolytes; Fourier transforms; Fuel cells; Hydrogen; Infrared spectroscopy; Ion currents; Materials Science; Optical and Electronic Materials; Physics; Polymers; Polyvinyl alcohol; Room temperature; Spectrum analysis; Voltammetry
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-022-09198-2

A new approach of solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) has been synthesized by agar doped with ammonium chloride and characterized by X-ray diffraction measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and impedance spectroscopy. The highest ionic conductivity value of 4 × 10 −3 S cm −1 has been achieved at room temperature for the SPE containing a concentration of 60 mol% agar with 40 mol% of NH 4 Cl. The prepared biopolymer electrolytes exhibit Arrhenius behaviour and dielectric effects of the prepared samples are studied. Wagner's polarisation technique is used to find the ionic transference number, which is 0.99. Linear sweep voltammetry is used to investigate electrochemical stability. The best conductive film is used to build a battery and a fuel cell, with output voltages of 1.89 V and 541 mV, respectively.