Studies on the thermal behavior of CS:LiTFSI:[Amim] Cl polymer electrolytes exerted by different [Amim] Cl content

The principle motivation of this research work is to develop environmental-friendly polymer electrolytes utilizing corn starch (CS), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) and 1-allyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride ([Amim] Cl) by solution casting technique. The highest ionic conductivity value was achieved for the composition CS:LiTFSI:[Amim] Cl (14 wt. %:6 wt. %:80 wt. %) which exhibits the ionic conductivity value of 5.68 x 10(-2) S cm(-1) at 40 degrees C with the activation energy of 4.86 kJ mol(-1). This sample possess high concentration of amorphous phase coupled with greater presence of conducting cations (lithium, Li+ and imidazolium, [Amim](+)) as depicted by the dielectric loss tangent plot. The conductivity-temperature plots were found to obey Arrhenius rule in which the conductivity mechanism is thermally assisted. The melting temperature of polymer electrolyte decreases with increase in [Amim] Cl content. This is attributed to the good miscibility of [Amim] Cl in CS:LiTFSI matrix inducing structural disorderliness. Reference to the TGA results it is found that the addition of [Amim] Cl diminishes the heat-resistivity whereas enhancement in the thermal stability occurred at the initial addition and declines with further doping of [Amim] Cl. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.