Development of cellulose fiber-based composite by gamma-irradiation technique as a separator and electrode for energy storage devices

The objective of this research was to investigate the performance of sulfonated cellulose as a separator in battery applications. Sulfoneted cellulose (SC) was successfully synthesized through a two-step process of gama radiation and subsequently sulfonation with potassium metabisulfite of microcrystalline cellulose isolated from sugarcane bagassse. The impact of a gamma radiation exposure on cellulose revealed an increase in the degree of oxidation, which was evidenced by the intensity ratio of I1817 (carbonl) / I2982 (alipatic) from FTIR analysis. The obtained SC was introduced into a polyether blok amide and polyethlene glycol diacrylate (PEBAX/PEDGA) polymer matric as a reinforcement and hydrophilc filler for improving electrolyte affinity and thermal stability in the enhancement of hydrophilcity, electroyte uptake, and thermal stability compared to the pristine composite membrane. Moreover, introducing of SC level in the composite membrane exhibited low physical properties, caused by negligible dispersion on the surface membrane. With the optimum 2.0wt% in PEBAX/PEDGA, the porosity, contact angle, and electroyte uptake capacity were fond to be 65.0%, 12.7, and 38.5%, in that order. At 150°C, virgin PEBAX/PEGDA shown a shrinkage of 29%, whereas two percent (wt) SC/PBEAX/PEDGA demonstrated exceptional thermal stability with barely noticeable shrinkage of 10%. In lithium-ion batteries, the produced SC/PBEAX/PEDGA composite membrane is though to be a viable replacment for the widely used polyolfin-based seperator.For next scope, this research was a study of the electrical conductivity of regenerated cellulose for utilization as a flexible electrode in supercapacitors. Regenerated cellulose was successfully prepared via a simple physical method, with two-step processs of cellulose dissolution and subsequently regeneration with an H2SO4 coagulation bath as a non-solvent. To confirm the transformation of cellulose II structure (RC), suggesting that FTIR, XRD pattern, and crystallinity index of cellulose were changed after the regeneration process. It utilized the matrix material as a reinforcement for the next step. Gramma radiation-indued in situ polymerization without addition an oxidizing agent was successful in synthesizing the polypyrrole onto regenerated cellulose composite. The increase of polypyrrole content and irradiation dose with 10, 25, and 50 kGy in the composite resulted in enhancements in wettability and electrical conductivity performance compared to pristine regenerated cellulose. Nevertheleess, the percentage of crystalllinity was significant decreased with increasing polypyrrole content and irradiation dose, which was related to the lessen of bond distant furthermore angle of the internal bond. With the optimum 5wt% polypyrrole onto regenerated cellulose with irradiation dosages of 50 kGy, the percentage crystallinity, nitrogen elemental composition, water contat angle, and electrical conductvity were foud to be 28.6%, 0.86 wt.%, 14, and 17.9 x 10-4 S·cm-1, correspondingly. The Ppy/RC composites film evolved by gammaray-inducedd polymerization was a potential candidate for utilization as a flexible electrode in supercapacitors.