Utilisation of corn starch in production of 'green' polymer electrolytes

'Green' polymer electrolytes were fabricated from corn starch (CS), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) and 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [Amim] Cl by solution casting method. This communication covers the influence of different proportions of [Amim] Cl concentration in plasticising the CS: LiTFSI matrix in term of the degree of co-ordination, ionic conductivity and relative viscosity. The possible dipole-dipole interaction between the chemical constituents was confirmed based on the Fourier transform infrared analysis. The highest ionic conductivity of 4.18 x 10(-4) S m(-1) was achieved at room temperature for the composition of CS : LiTFSI : [Amim] Cl (14 wt-% : 6 wt-% : 80 wt-%). The incorporation of environmental-friendly [Amim] Cl in the polymer electrolyte is significantly important in improving the ionic conductivity by increasing the amorphous morphology that consequently improves the ion transport mechanism. The highest conducting sample possesses the lowest relative viscosity with the value of 3.98 attributed to the greater structural disorderliness.