Incorporation of NH4Br in PVA-chitosan blend-based polymer electrolyte and its effect on the conductivity and other electrical properties

Polymer electrolyte system based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-chitosan blend doped with ammonium bromide (NH4Br) has been prepared by solution cast method. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis confirms the complexation between salt and polymer host. The highest ionic conductivity obtained at room temperature is (7.68 +/- 1.24) x 10(-4) S cm(-1) for the sample comprising of 30 wt% NH4Br. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns reveal that PVA-chitosan with 30 wt% NH4Br exhibits the most amorphous structure. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) reveals that the electrolytes are stable until similar to 260 A degrees C. The conductivity variation can also be explained by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) study. Dielectric properties of the electrolytes follow non-Debye behavior. The conduction mechanism of the highest conducting electrolyte can be represented by the correlated barrier hopping (CBH) model. From linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) result, the highest conducting electrolyte is electrochemically stable at 1.57 V.