PEO/Starch-nanocrystals based Solid Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Magnesium - Ion Conducting Applications

The pursuit of significant improvements in the field of flexible electronic devices necessitate for the development of advanced technologies for flexible batteries in order to meet the requirements of next generation devices with required safety attributes [1]. Currently, there is a continuous increase of publications on the fabrication of novel solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) membranes for their effective utilization in super capacitors, fuel cells, energy storage devices and dye sensitized solar cells [2]. In our study we will present PEO/SNCs (Starch-nanocrystals) based nanocomposite electrolyte membrane complexed with MgBr2 salt (15 wt.%) and fabricated by following conventional solution casting technique. The effect of incorporation of salt ions on microstructural properties of host matrix of ‘PEO/SNCs’ were investigated by means of XRD, FTIR, DSC studies. The modifications in nature of diffraction peaks and vibrational modes of nanocomposites reveled the formation of strong hydrogen bondings and cross links between SNCs and salt ions. A decrease of melting and glass trasnition temperatures of host matrix was noticed as a result of salt doping. The complex electrochemical impedance measurements were carriedout in the applied frequency range of 0.1 Hz - 1 MHz and in the temperature range of 303 K - 373 K. The ‘PEO/SNCs’ composite complexed with 15 wt.% salt was demonstred room temperature ionic conducvity of 7.8 x 10-8 S/cm.