Preparation and characterization of shrimp shell waste derived carboxymethyl chitosan solid polymer electrolyte membrane

Lithium-ion batteries are one of the most promising energy storage systems. However, the utilization of liquid electrolytes remains subject to some drawbacks, i.e., volatile, corrosive, and leakage. The solid-state-polymer-based electrolyte can be one promising material to solve those problems. Solid polymer electrolytes have high flexibility and good interface stability, which can overcome the unsafety of liquid electrolytes. This work aimed to prepare a solid polymer electrolyte based on a carboxymethyl chitosan complexed with lithium perchlorate (LiClO4). CMCh was synthesized by carboxymethylation of chitosan obtain from the shrimp shell biomass with monochloroacetic acid in the presence of an alkaline catalyst. The solution-casting technique was used to prepare the solid polymer electrolyte with varying percentages of LiClO4 salt. The solid polymer electrolyte with a composition of CMCh-15% LiClO4 was selected as the optimum condition with ionic conductivity; tensile strength/elongation at break and initial thermal decomposition were 1.05 x 10(-3) S cm(-1), 16.24 MPa, 52.30%, and 197-252 degrees C, respectively. Based on the results, the solid polymer electrolyte of carboxymethyl chitosan with 15% LiClO4 has the potential to be applied as a separator and also an electrolyte for polymer Li-ion battery.