Novel acid-base proton exchange membrane based on chitosan for fuel cellapplication

In this study, a new blend membrane based on Chitosan (Cs) and sulfonated polybutylenefumarate (SPBF) was made as a proton exchange membrane (PEM) in a methanol fuel cell(DMFC). Acid−base interaction between –SO۳H groups in SPBF and –NH۲ groups in chitosanstructure the blend membranes results in additional hydrogen bonds that provideunprecedented proton transport routes that facilitate proton transportation through the PEM.The obtained results revealed that the CS/SPBF۱۵ sample illustrates the highest amount ofbound water which has a vital effect on the Grutthus mechanism of proton transport. As aconsequence, The proton conductivity of pure chitosan increases from ۰.۸× ۱۰۳ S/cm to ۲.۹ ×۱۰۳ S/cm as well as methanol permeability from ۳.۲۷ × ۱۰-۷ cm۲/s to ۱.۷ × ۱۰-۷ cm۲/s,indicating its superiority among Proton Exchange Membranes

کلیدواژه ها:

Acid-Base blend ، Proton exchange membrane ، Direct methanol fuel cell ، Chitosan