Effect of thermal degradation of polymer on redox initiated fractal geometries

Abstract Redox initiated fractal patterns have been studied in temperature treated chitosan-AgNO3 complex. Chitosan-AgNO3 complex has been treated at different temperatures (60 °C, 80 °C & 100 °C) for varying time periods. Reduction of the silver ions and the degradation behavior of the polymeric matrix affects the growth mechanism of silver aggregates which have been investigated by different experimental techniques. Redox initiated fractal geometries has been studied earlier [Phys. Scr. 94 (2019) 115013] on the basis of the anisotropy present in chitosan-AgNO3 complex. Initiation of the redox reaction (via insertion of Cu wire) in the temperature treated samples creates different levels of anisotropy which further guide the growth morphology of the silver aggregates. Evolution in the growth patterns can be explained by different rate of redox reaction which is manifested in the V-t characteristics. Structural analysis of the temperature treated polymer electrolyte has been done by FTIR measurement. Structural (microscopic) analysis of the growth patterns has been done by scanning electron microscopy and it is observed that the branch thickness of the aggregates increases for higher temperature treated samples.