Glycerol-plasticized chitosan–sorbitol/NaNO
                    3
                    electrolytes reinforced with TiO
                    2
                    nanofillers: A structural and ionic study

This study reports the quantitative impact of glycerol plasticization on the structural and electrochemical performance of chitosan–sorbitol–NaNO
3
–TiO
2
(CSNT) solid polymer electrolytes. Films were prepared by solution casting with 3 wt.% TiO
2
and varying glycerol concentrations (11–44 wt.%). FTIR confirmed successful complexation, while XRD revealed a decrease in crystallinity with increasing glycerol, indicating greater amorphousness favorable for ion migration. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed that the bulk resistance decreased from 2.61 MΩ to 470 Ω, accompanied by a substantial rise in ionic conductivity from 1.04 × 10
−9
S/cm to 1.2 × 10
−5
S/cm, corresponding to an improvement of more than 5500 times. Dielectric studies revealed that the low-frequency dielectric constant increased from <100 to ∼7200, while the relaxation frequency in tanδ shifted from 0.17 kHz to 30.9 kHz, confirming faster ion dynamics. FTIR deconvolution of the nitrate band further demonstrated a significant increase in the free-ion fraction, yielding enhanced ion transport parameters: carrier density n = 1.33 × 10
22
cm
−3
, mobility μ = 1.46 × 10
−9
cm
2
V
−1
s
−1
, and diffusion coefficient D = 1.46 × 10
−10
cm
2
s
−1
. These findings demonstrate that glycerol acts as an efficient plasticizer, strongly enhancing ion transport and establishing biopolymer-based electrolytes as promising candidates for advanced energy storage technologies.

Topics

No keywords indexed for this article. Browse by subject →

References

71

[1]

10.1002/adfm.202000077

[2]

10.1007/s10973-024-13598-3

[3]

10.31635/renewables.024.202400068

[4]

10.3390/batteries10030073

[5]

10.1002/idm2.12109

[6]

10.3389/fchem.2018.00318

[7]

10.1007/s10008-019-04203-x

[8]

10.1002/adma.202000587

[9]

Review of electrical energy storage technologies, materials and systems: challenges and prospects for large-scale grid storage

Turgut M. Gür

Energy Environ. Sci. 10.1039/c8ee01419a

[10]

10.1002/ese3.1163

[11]

10.1016/j.electacta.2019.03.193

[12]

10.1016/j.ensm.2023.102970

[13]

10.1016/j.mser.2024.100815

[14]

Glycerol as an efficient plasticizer to increase the DC conductivity and improve the ion transport parameters in biopolymer based electrolytes: XRD, FTIR and EIS studies

Aziz M. Abdullah, Shujahadeen B. Aziz, M.A. Brza et al.

Arabian Journal of Chemistry 10.1016/j.arabjc.2022.103791

[15]

10.3390/polym13030383

[16]

10.3390/nano9111592

[17]

Insight into the Effect of Glycerol on Dielectric Relaxation and Transport Properties of Potassium-Ion-Conducting Solid Biopolymer Electrolytes for Application in Solid-State Electrochemical Double-Layer Capacitor

Abdullahi Abbas Adam, Hassan Soleimani, John Ojur Dennis et al.

Molecules 10.3390/molecules28083461

[18]

Mahmud MZA. A concise review of nanoparticles utilized energy storage and conservation. J Nanomater 2023; 2023: 1–14. 10.1155/2023/5432099

[19]

Chen S, Chen Y, Mu X, et al. Strategies for enhancing ionic conductivity and energy density of gel polymer electrolytes for next-generation flexible energy storage devices. Sustain Mater Technol 2023; 36: e00635.

[20]

10.3390/polym8110387

[21]

10.1002/aenm.202200924

[22]

10.1016/j.jpowsour.2024.234539

[23]

10.54565/jphcfum.1507309

[24]

Physical Interpretations of Nyquist Plots for EDLC Electrodes and Devices

Bing-Ang Mei, Obaidallah Munteshari, Jonathan Lau et al.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b10582

[25]

10.3390/polym12102257

[26]

10.3390/ma14081994

[27]

10.1007/s11664-025-12025-z

[28]

10.1080/00222348.2025.2545275

[29]

10.1007/s00289-025-05793-5

[30]

10.1007/s11664-024-11599-4

[31]

10.1007/s42247-025-01179-5

[32]

10.1007/s42247-025-01088-7

[33]

10.1007/s11581-025-06135-1

[34]

Polyaniline (PANI) mediated cation trapping effect on ionic conductivity enhancement in poly(ethylene oxide) based solid polymer electrolytes with application in solid state dye sensitized solar cells

M.A.K.L. Dissanayake, J.M.K.W. Kumari, G.K.R. Senadeera et al.

Reactive and Functional Polymers 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2020.104683

[35]

10.1016/j.arabjc.2022.104172

[36]

10.1080/15421406.2017.1362889

[37]

10.1007/s10965-025-04441-w

[38]

Enhancing ion transport in MC/dextran-based polymer electrolytes: Effect of glycerol plasticization on nanocomposite properties

Ibrahim Nazem Qader, Abubakr Wsu Muhammed, Hazhar Hamad Rasul et al.

Electrochimica Acta 10.1016/j.electacta.2025.146976

[39]

A conceptual review on polymer electrolytes and ion transport models

Shujahadeen B. Aziz, Thompson J. Woo, M.F.Z. Kadir et al.

Journal of Science: Advanced Materials and Devices 10.1016/j.jsamd.2018.01.002

[40]

10.1007/s11581-025-06546-0

[41]

10.1007/s10924-025-03547-y

[42]

Effect of Various Plasticizers in Different Concentrations on Physical, Thermal, Mechanical, and Structural Properties of Wheat Starch-Based Films

Abdulrahman A. B. A. Mohammed, Zaimah Hasan, Abdoulhdi A. Borhana Omran et al.

Polymers 10.3390/polym15010063

[43]

10.3390/membranes10060116

[44]

10.1007/s00289-019-02714-1

[45]

10.1007/s00289-025-05900-6

[46]

10.1007/s11581-018-2448-z

[47]

10.1007/s11581-019-03096-0

[48]

Hadi JM, Aziz SB, R Saeed S, et al. Investigation of ion transport parameters and electrochemical performance of plasticized biocompatible chitosan-based proton conducting polymer composite electrolytes. Membranes. 2020; 10: 1–27.

[49]

10.1007/s11581-017-2116-8

[50]

10.1007/s11581-014-1084-5

Showing 50 of 71 references

Metrics

4

Citations

71

References

Details

Published: Sep 11, 2025
Vol/Issue: 58(1)
Pages: 46-72
License: View

Authors

S

Safar Saeed Mohammed

University of Raparin

D

Dlshad Aziz Hamid

University of Raparin

I

Ibrahim Luqman Salih

Raparin Technical and Vocational Institute

S

Shujahadeen Bakr Aziz

University of Sulaimani

K

Karukh Ali Babakr

University of Raparin

P

Peshawa H. Mahmood

University of Raparin

P

Pshdar Ahmed Ibrahim

University of Raparin

I

Ibrahim Nazem Qader

University of Raparin; Knowledge University

A

Abubakr Wsu Muhammed

University of Raparin

H

Hazhar Hamad Rasul

University of Raparin

Soran University

Soran University

Soran University

Cite This Article

Safar Saeed Mohammed, Dlshad Aziz Hamid, Ibrahim Luqman Salih, et al. (2025). Glycerol-plasticized chitosan–sorbitol/NaNO 3 electrolytes reinforced with TiO 2 nanofillers: A structural and ionic study. Journal of Elastomers & Plastics, 58(1), 46-72. https://doi.org/10.1177/00952443251378992

Glycerol-plasticized chitosan–sorbitol/NaNO 3 electrolytes reinforced with TiO 2 nanofillers: A structural and ionic study

You May Also Like