Study on novel biopolymer electrolyte Moringa oleifera gum with ammonium nitrate

A new class of environmental friendly bio-based electrolytes has been synthesized from natural tree gum of Moringa oleifera by solution casting technique. An ionic salt of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) of varying compositions from 0.2 to 0.6 wt % has been used as an additive to optimize the ionic conductivity of Moringa gum (MG) based biopolymer membranes. X-ray diffractograms affirm the enhancement in amorphous nature of the membranes with the addition of salt, and the high degree of amorphous nature is exhibited by the composition of MG (1 g) with 0.5 wt % NH4NO3. Complex formation between MG and salt has been studied by Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR). Thermal behavioural study by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) authenticates the flexibility of the prepared MG-based membrane with NH4NO3 by low glass transition temperature. The obtained solid polymer electrolyte MG (1 g) with 0.5 wt % NH4NO3 achieved an ionic conductivity as high as 2.66 x 10(-3 )S cm(-1) at room temperature and the high ionic transference number of 0.98 is observed for the same. Primary proton cell has been fabricated with the optimum conducting polymer membrane (with a configuration Zn: ZnSO4.7H(2)O:C|| MG :0.5 wt % NH4NO(3) Membrane || PbO2: V2O5 ) exhibits an open cell potential of 2.19 V and 1.88 V when shunted through the load resistance of 100 K omega. Natural tree gum of Moringa oleifera as an electrolyte in the primary proton cell has provided a considerable open cell potential of 2.19 V which authenticates the utility of MG as a successful electrolytic material.

Automated summary

A new class of environmentally friendly bio-based electrolytes has been synthesized from natural tree gum, with ionic salt as an additive to optimize ionic conductivity. The addition of salt enhances the amorphous nature of the membranes, with the composition of MG and 0.5 wt % NH4NO3 showing the highest degree of amorphous nature. The obtained solid polymer electrolyte achieves high ionic conductivity and a high ionic transference number, demonstrating the potential utility of natural tree gum as a successful electrolytic material.