Proton-conducting polymer electrolyte films based on chitosan acetate complexed with NH4NO3 salt

Chitosan acetate-ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) films have been prepared by the solution-cast technique. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that complexation has occurred. FTIR exhibited shifts in amine and carbonyl bands from 1553 to 1520 cm−1 and 1636 to 1617 cm−1. A new peak was also observed at 1746 cm−1. XRD shows that all complexes are amorphous. The highest conductivity at room temperature is 2.53×10−5 S cm−1 for the film containing 45 wt% NH4NO3. The conductivity of the samples is dependent on the number of mobile ions and mobility.