Enhanced conductivity of bacterial cellulose films reinforced with NH₄I-doped graphene oxide

ABSTRACT

Bacterial cellulose (BC) films reinforced with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) platelets were investigated to assess their potential application as solid polymeric electrolytes. BC-RGO composites were further doped with NH₄I at different concentrations to evaluate the effect of NH₄I doping on the conductivity. Scanning electron microscopy images confirmed that GO addition did not alter BC coherent three-dimensional morphology. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies revealed that the ionic conductivity increased with the ammonium iodide salt concentration. The highest conductivity found was 1.32 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm for the samples doped with 5% NH₄I, suggesting that BC-RGO can be a promising candidate for electrochemical applications.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Bacterial cellulose
• solid polymer electrolyte
• electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
• reduced graphene oxide
• ammonium iodide salt

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Vice-Rectorate for Research of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and the National Council of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation of Peru (CONCYTEC/FONDECYT). The authors thank the staff at CAM-PUCP for help with the SEM images.

Notes on contributors

Fernando G. Torres

Prof. Fernando G. Torres obtained his Ph.D. degree in Polymer Engineering at the University of Manchester. He is a full professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and Head of the Laboratory of Polymers and Bionanomaterials.  His research interests are focused on the structure-property relationships in biomaterials and developing new functional bionanocomposites.