PVA-Starch-Based Biodegradable Polymer Electrolytes for Electrochemical Devices

Abstract

Photovoltaic and electrochemical devices have been vital for the past two decades. These devices are capable of solving the coming energy crisis. One of the essential components of these devices is electrolytes. These electrolytes have been replaced in the past few decades by solid polymer electrolytes. The specialty of these solid polymer electrolytes is that they can be grown in a thin film and are also leak-proof. We have used biodegradable polymers like PVA, starch, and some novel salts. These polymer-based thin films were fabricated using standard solution-cast techniques with different wt% of slats in a PVA-Starch-based polymer system. The impedance spectroscopy was performed to analyze the electrical properties of thin films. The highest conductivity of the system was obtained at 20wy% of salt. The conductivity values increase from 1.46 × 10−6 S/cm to 2.69 × 10−6 S/cm. Furthermore, the concentration and mobility of charge carriers were calculated to explain the change in the conductivity pattern. This calculation was done with the Trukhan model. It is observed that the conductivity pattern follows the mobility of charge carriers.