Addition of Nanocrystalline Cellulose into the PVA/Lithium Acetate Solid Polymer Electrolyte Membrane as a Reinforcing Agent Endah Purwanti1, Deana Wahyuningrum2, Achmad Rochliadi1, and I Made Arcana1*
1Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Research Groups, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesha No10 Bandung 40132, Indonesia
2Organic Research Groups, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesha No10 Bandung 40132, Indonesia
Email: 30521011[at]mahasiswa.itb.ac.id
*Corresponding author: arcana[at]itb.ac.id
Abstract
Solid polymer electrolyte materials have been developed as an alternative to liquid electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries. A membrane solid polymer electrolyte acts as a separator and an electrolyte. In this case, it is necessary to develop a new solid polymer electrolyte material so that material that meets the criteria required for a lithium-ion battery. Nanocrystalline cellulose is a natural polymer of nanometer-sized cellulose that has a larger surface area than cellulose and can dissolve in water. Nanocrystalline cellulose can be added to the membrane as a reinforcing agent. In this study, the membrane used was polyvinyl alcohol added with lithium acetate salt at various concentrations. Nanocrystalline cellulose is obtained from the hydrolysis of cellulose synthesized from corn cobs. Hydrolysis of cellulose used 50% H2SO4 aqueous solution at 45 oC with variations in hydrolysis time of 90 minutes (CNC 90^) and 120 minutes (CNC 120^). The resulting nanocrystalline cellulose was characterized by PSA (Particle Size Analyzer), TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope), FT-IR spectroscopy and X-Ray diffraction. Based on PSA measurements, cellulose with CNC 90^ has a particle size distribution with a PI of 0.592 and an average diameter of 274.4 nm with a needle-shaped morphology that can be seen from the results of TEM analysis. In comparison, cellulose with CNC 120^ has a particle size distribution with a smaller PI of 0.510 and a smaller average diameter of 213.8 nm. The x-ray diffraction analysis showed that nanocrystalline cellulose has a crystallinity index of 61%, which is higher than the isolated cellulose. Based on EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) measurements on the membrane PVA/Lithium acetate/nanocrystalline cellulose, nanocrystalline cellulose can be used as nanocomposites in membrane solid polymer electrolyte for lithium-ion battery separators.
