Influence of $$\hbox {NH}_{4}$$Br as an ionic source on the structural/electrical properties of dextran-based biopolymer electrolytes and EDLC application

Biopolymer electrolytes (BPEs), consisting of ammonium bromide ($$\hbox {NH}_{4}\hbox {Br}$$) as the ionic provider and dextran (Leuconostoc mesenteroides) as the polymer host, are prepared by the solution cast technique. Interactions of cations from the salt have been confirmed with hydroxyl (OH) and glycosidic linkage (C–O–C) groups of dextran via Fourier transform infrared analysis. Electrolyte with 20 wt% $$\hbox {NH}_{4}\hbox {Br}$$ maximized the ionic conductivity up to ($$1.67 \pm 0.36)\times 10^{-6}$$ S $$\hbox {cm}^{-1}$$. The trend of conductivity has been verified by field emission scanning electron microscopy, where the electrolyte surface became rough as the concentration of $$\hbox {NH}_{4}\hbox {Br}$$ exceeded 20 wt%. The contribution of ions as the main charge carrier in the BPE is confirmed by transference number analysis as $$t_{\mathrm{ion}} = 0.92$$ and $$t_{\mathrm{e}} = 0.08$$. From linear sweep voltammetry, it is found that the highest conducting BPE in this work is electrochemically stable from 0 to 1.62 V. The fabricated electrochemical double-layer capacitor (EDLC) has been tested for 100 charge–discharge cycles and verified by cyclic voltammetry.