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Dipak A. Nikam,
Rupesh S. Shelke,
- Research Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, G.H. Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
- Professor & Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, G.H. Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Abstract
A critical review of modified cellulose for electrochemical energy storage is integrated with a potassium-specific multiphysics framework using cellulose obtainable from India-relevant feedstocks, including sugarcane bagasse, cotton/cotton stalk, banana pseudostem, Hibiscus/kenaf-type biomass, and other agricultural residues. The framework addresses the coupled requirements of ambient-temperature ionic transport, K⁺ selectivity, and mechanical integrity in solid polymer electrolytes. A hierarchical QCNF@Al₂O₃/PEO₁₆–KTFSI₁ architecture is evaluated in which quaternized bagasse cellulose nanofibers provide percolated reinforcement and fixed cationic sites for partial TFSI⁻ immobilization, while low-loading Al₂O₃ acts primarily as an interfacial modifier. A literature-bounded reduced-order model couples Vogel–Tammann–Fulcher transport, composite crystallinity, fixed-charge-mediated transference enhancement, interfacial effects, filler tortuosity, and percolation reinforcement. The Pareto-knee composition, 4 wt% QCNF + 2 wt% Al₂O₃ at effective DS=0.30, gives nominal predictions of σ₂₅=7.33×10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹, tK=0.391, σK,₂₅=2.86×10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹, and G′₂₅=5.55 MPa. Relative to PEO₁₆–KTFSI₁, it increases total and K⁺-specific conductivity by 2.06 and 4.73 times, respectively, while reducing the concentration-polarization proxy by 64.3%. Monte Carlo propagation (20,000 realizations) provides uncertainty intervals for transport and modulus. Thickness-dependent resistance and thermal safety are treated as explicit validation variables: area-specific bulk resistance scales as L/σ, and TGA must confirm a decomposition onset well above the 25–55 °C operating window. The framework identifies a directly testable formulation and validation pathway combining structural characterization, EIS, transference-number measurement, rheology, K-metal symmetric cells, and Prussian-blue full cells.
Keywords: Modified cellulose, electrochemical energy storage, quaternized bagasse nanocellulose, composite polymer electrolyte, PEO–KTFSI, Al₂O₃ nanocomposite, solid-state potassium batteries.
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Journal of Polymer & Composites
| Volume | 14 | |
| 05 | ||
| Received | 15/09/2026 | |
| Accepted | 08/10/2026 | |
| Published | 13/10/2026 | |
| Publication Time | 28 Days |