Amylopectin-rich starch plasticized with glycerol for polymer electrolyte application

This paper describes the preparation and characterization of a solid polymer electrolyte based on amylopectin-rich starch plasticized with glycerol. The samples were characterized through ionic conductivity (σ) measurements, scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis, and spectroscopy in the UV–Vis–NIR region. The results showed that the highest σ (1.1 × 10− 4 S cm− 1 at 30 °C) was obtained for the sample with n = [O]/[Li] = 6.5 ratio. In addition, the samples plasticized with 30–35 wt.% of glycerol presented high ionic conductivity, transparency and conduction stability. The ionic conductivity measurements as a function of lithium salt contents showed a maximum for n = 6.5. The ionic conductivity as a function of time for amylopectin-rich starch plasticized with 30 wt.% of glycerol and containing [O]/[Li] = 10 showed conduction stability over 6 months (σ ∼ 3.01 × 10− 5 S cm− 1).