The effect of chitosan concentration on the electrical property of chitosan-blended cellulose electroactive paper

Abstract

We studied the effect of chitosan blending on the electrical property of chitosan-blended cellulose electroactive paper (EAPap) under different humidity conditions. As the chitosan blending ratio increased, the real part of the dielectric constant of chitosan-blended cellulose EAPap increased while the dielectric loss factor decreased. From the curve fitting of the measured data using an electrode polarization model, it was found that increasing the chitosan ratio in the EAPap might promote a decrease in the relaxation time of the EAPap, resulting in an increase of the ion mobility and dc conductivity. Over 30% of the chitosan blending ratio, a gradual increment of the ion mobility of the EAPap was observed at 40% relative humidity, while a quadratic increment of the mobility was found at 60% relative humidity condition. This kind of ion-mobility-enhanced cellulose EAPap can be used not only for bending actuators but also for medical applications such as blood clotting patches.