Using Biopolymers for solid state batteries has gained great scientific interests in recent years. Biopolymers such as chitosan are abundantly available and are very environment friendly. Chitosan is a liner polysacchraide composed of deacetylated chitin units. Chitosan is well kown as an absorbing agent which forms chelate compounds with metal ions. Lithium ion batteries using biopolymers like chitosan can help the environment greatly. One important problem faced in making Chitosan-Lithium membranes is the change in the mechanical prperties of the films due to inclusion of Lithium. Incorporation of Lithium in Chitosan membranes during the formation of the membrane makes the films very flexible. It is therefore of importance to try to control the mechanical characteristics of the films. One method we are investigating in this research is by studying the mechanical characteristics of the films by incorporation of chromium  into the membranes during its formation. Chromium compounds are of great practical importance. CrO₃ is a very good oxidizing agent. It is also useful in chrome plating.   Cr(IV) can be chelated by chitosan via either the hydroxyl group or the protonated amine group by electrostatic attraction to chromium.   

In our experiment 1 gm of chitosan was dispersed in 100 ml of water to which 1.5 ml of acetic acid was added. After mixing the sample, appropriate amounts of chromic acid was added to have a final chromium concentration of 20 mM. The solution was heated to 90ºC for 2 hr. It was observed that the solution changed its color from yellow to greyish green as the temperature increased. This is attributable to the formation of chromium nanoparticles. The solutions viscosity was also found to decrease. It was observed that the films were not formed and that lots of cracks developed in the film. It is therefore clear that the formation of chromium nanoparticles affects the mechanical properties of the films and it make it harder unlike Lithium which makes it softer.

The effect of varying concentrations of chromic acid in chitosan films containing Lithium is presently being investigated. The characterization involving XRD, Raman, FTIR, AFM, SEM and impedance spectroscopy will be discussed.

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