Synthesis and Characterization of Solid Polymer Electrolyte from N-Succinyl Chitosan and Lithium Perchlorate

Batteries are being developed to solve the global energy crisis. Using portable electronic devices, especially mobile phones and notebook computers, has been increasing, and leading to a strong need of their power-sources. However, secondary batteries using a liquid electrolyte have weaknesses, such as prone to leakage and difficulty of packing. Solid polymer electrolyte is a solution to the existing problems. The objective of this research is to prepare an environmental-friendly and cheap material as the solid polymer electrolyte. In the present study, the effect of succinyl group on to polymer electrolyte membrane which synthesized from chitosan and lithium perchlorate salts was investigated. The N-succinyl chitosan was obtained by reacting chitosan with succinic anhydride. Solid polymer electrolyte membranes were derived from N-succinyl chitosan with different ratios of lithium perchlorate. The degree of deacetylation of chitosan was determined by FTIR analysis. Synthesis of N-succinyl chitosan has been successfully carried out, which is indicated by the characteristic peaks at wavenumbers of 1640 cm-1 and 1560 cm-1 correspond to -C=O stretching and -NH bending of succinyl groups on FTIR spectrum of N-succinyl chitosan. Modification of chitosan by the addition of succinyl group increases the membrane ionic conductivity values. A N-succinyl chitosan membrane contained 10% (w/w) lithium perchlorate showed conductivity of 8.01×10-3 S.cm-1. This solid polymer electrolyte membrane was suggested to have one potential used for polymer electrolyte in lithium battery applications.