1-Allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride plasticized-corn starch as solid biopolymer electrolytes

Ionic liquids (ILs), 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([amim]Cl) is found to be a novel plasticizer for cornstarch. [Amim]Cl-plasticized starch film also has a potential application as solid biopolymer electrolytes. In this study, different proportional [amim]Cl/glycerol mixtures are used to plasticize starch by casting. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) finds the diameter of residual starch granules existed in [amim]Cl or glycerol-plasticized starch films is only about 10 nm. However, glycerol can form more intensive hydrogen bond with starch than [amim]Cl detected by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. So some novel ILs with high concentration and active hydrogen bond acceptors are necessary. Moreover, high [amim]Cl content can improve the water absorption and conductance of TPS film simultaneously. The conductance of TPS film with 30 wt% [amim]Cl content can achieve to 10−1.6 S cm−1 at 14.5 wt% water content.