Effect of NaClO4 Dopant on Chemical Bond and Ionic Conductivity of Benzoyl Kappa-carrageenan Gel Biopolymer Electrolyte

Abstract Gel biopolymer electrolytes based on benzoyl kappa-carrageenan (Bz-κcar) as polymer host and sodium perchlorate (NaClO 4 ) as dopant was successfully produced. The concentration of NaClO 4 was varied from 0.5 to 3.0 wt.% in order to investigate its effects on the chemical bonds and the ionic conductivities (σ) of the electrolytes. Characterizations were performed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and electrochemical impedance analysis (EIS). Significant changes in the FTIR spectra were detected indicated chemical interactions between Bz-ƙcar and NaClO 4 . The ionic conductivity of the gel electrolytes increased with higher concentration of NaClO 4 , suggesting that NaClO 4 was an effective charge carrier in the system. The highest σ of the gel electrolyte attained at ambient temperature (298 K) was 1.29 x 10 − 3 S cm − 1 . The temperature dependence of conductivity is Arrhenian in the studied temperature range and achieved elevated σ of 7.90 x 10 − 3 S cm − 1 at 100°C with small values in the activation energy (E a ) were observed in all the electrolytes prepared.