Ionic conductivity and dielectric properties of potato starch-magnesium acetate biopolymer electrolytes: the effect of glycerol and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride

In the present work, the effect of glycerol and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BmImCl) on the conductivity and dielectric properties of potato starch doped with magnesium acetate, Mg(C₂H₃O₂)₂-based electrolytes is studied. The electrolytes are prepared via solution cast technique. The interaction between the materials is proven by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. Electrolyte with 20 wt.% Mg(C₂H₃O₂)₂ exhibits a room temperature conductivity of (2.44 ± 0.37) × 10^?8 S cm^?1. The addition of 30 wt.% glycerol to the best polymer-salt composition has further enhanced the conductivity to (2.60 ± 0.42) × 10^?6 S cm^?1. A conductivity of (1.12 ± 0.08) × 10^?5 S cm^?1 has been achieved when 18 wt.% BmImCl is added to the best polymer-salt-plasticizer composition. From the loss tangent (tan δ) plot, the relaxation time (t _r) for selected electrolytes is determined. From transference number measurements, ions are found to be the dominant charge carriers.