Cashew tree gum exudate as a biopolymer electrolyte: The influence of glycerol plasticization

Abstract

Gel polymer electrolytes were produced using cashew tree gum exudate dissolved in water with varying glycerol proportions and cast as films with different degrees of plasticization. The films' electrical, dielectric, and ion transport properties were measured using electrochemical impedance spectra. The films exhibited non‐Debye character manifesting a distribution of relaxation times. The conductivity of the films increased up to 10−6 Scm−1 at 10% glycerol content. The relaxation time and diffusion coefficient values varied from 6.48 × 10−3 to 3.9110−5 s and 9.89 × 10−8 to 1.81 × 10−3 cm2s−1, respectively. The ion mobility ranged from 3.79 × 10−13 to 6.98 × 10−9 cm2v−1 s−1, and the number density ranged from 1.74 × 1021 to 1.60 × 1023 cm−3. Energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis revealed the presence of several elements, primarily Ca, Ba, Na, and K. The constitution and morphology of the films were further examined using FTIR, and XRD, techniques.