Development of medicinal plant (Centella Asiatica – Gotu Kola) based proton conducting polymer electrolytes for electrochemical device applications

Abstract A novel medicinal plant (GotuKola) based proton conducting polymer electrolytes (synthetic polymer (PVA)/ medicinal plant Cenetella Asiatica (CA)/ NH4I) were prepared and characterized via Solution Casting Technique for construction of Proton (H+) ion battery. Their structural, thermal, vibrational and electrical properties were characterized by XRD, DSC, FTIR and AC impedance analysis. The increase in amorphous nature/ decrease in crystalline nature of the prepared polymer membranes have been confirmed by X – ray diffraction analysis. The low Tg value of the maximumionic conducting (σ) polymer membrane was characterized by DSC analysis. Vibrational spectra of prepared polymer membranes were characterized by FTIR analysis. From the AC impedance analysis, 1 g PVA: 400 mg CA: 300 mg NH4I has the highest ionic (H+) conductivity as 2.11 × 10−3 Scm−1at ambient temperature. The electrochemical stability window of the highest ionic conductivity (σ) polymer membrane is 3.29 V. All the acquired outcomes recommend that PVA/ Centella Asiatica/ NH4I based polymer electrolytes are suitable materials for electrochemical device applications (battery, fuel cell and gas sensors etc). The highest ionic conductivity (σ) membrane has been used to construct the primary proton (H+) ion battery. From the fabrication of primary proton ion (H+) battery, the open-circuit voltage is found to be 1.9 V.