Transport Properties of Chitosan/Peo Blend Based Proton Conducting Polymer Electrolyte

Abstract

The polymer electrolytes were prepared using the solution cast technique. The polymer host consisted of chitosan and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). Ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO 3 ) was added to the blend solution to provide the charge carriers for ionic conduction. The sample containing 40 wt.% NH4NO 3 exhibited a conductivity value of 5.83 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 373 K. Conductivity-temperature relationship for all samples obeyed Arrhenius rule and the activation energy of each samples were obtained. The sample containing 40 wt.% NH 4 NO 3 showed the lowest activation energy at 0.29 eV. The conductivity variation for the prepared electrolyte system was explained using the Rice and Roth model. Sample with 40 wt. % NH 4 NO 3 exhibited the highest number density and mobility of charge carriers with values of 1.39 × 1020 cm -3 and 4.60 × 10 -6 cm 2 V -1 s -1 respectively. The increase in conductivity was attributed to the increase in the number density and mobility of charge carriers.