Surfaces modification of methylcellulose: Cobalt nitrate polymer electrolyte by sulfurated hydrogen gas treatment

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article discusses the surface modification of methylcellulose:nitrate cobalt [MC:Co(NO3)2] through the sulfurated hydrogen (H2S) gas treatment. Solution cast technique has been used to fabricate MC:Co(NO3)2‐based solid polymer electrolytes. The results achieved for structural, morphological and optical properties indicate that H2S gas treatment is crucial for modification of polymer electrolytes to polymer composites. The morphological appearance revealed that the H2S gas treatment produced cobalt sulfide (CoS) nanoparticles on the surface of the films. The results of X‐ray diffraction indicate the disruption of the crystalline phase of the MC polymer upon addition of various amounts of Co(NO3)2 salt. The optical absorption spectra of the electrolyte samples shifted to higher wavelengths with increasing the cobalt nitrate salt concentration. The optical band gap of MC incorporated with 40 wt % Co(NO3)2 concentration was 4.69 and reduced to 4.52 eV after H2S surface treatment. The linear relationship between the refractive index and salt concentration supports the uniform distribution of the developed nanoparticles appeared in STM images. The significant change in intensity and position of Fourier transform infrared transmittance bands is an evidence for the formation of charge transfer complex between the added salt and the MC host polymer. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46676.