Transport and spectroscopic studies of natural and synthetic polymer based nano composite electrolytes

Abstract

Natural polymers have also been used as passive components i.e. as electrode binder in storage systems. The investigation of natural polymers as active components in energy storage devices is suppressed and need to explore further. The diversification in chemical structure of natural polymers is helpful in studying these materials using a variety of combinations with salts, fillers and solvents etc. The present research work deals with the preparation and analysis of GPEs based on natural polymers namely xanthan gum (XG), gum tragacanth (GT) and gum acacia (GA). PVA being a synthetic polymer has been implemented in GA based gel structure in order to get stabilize gel matrix with the addition of 0.01 M of NaOH. The hydrogels thus composed were characterized via ionic conductivity study, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, pH studies, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), swelling studies and antibacterial study. The studies are useful in future perspective for the use of these materials for various applications especially in solid state ionics. newline