Composite membrane of sulfonated polyether ether ketone (sPEEK) - Chitosan for direct methanol fuel cell

Abstract

The challenge of commercialization of fuel cells in Indonesia is mainly the caused by high manufacturing costs, particulary the cost of electrolyte membrane which is one of the important components of fuel cells. The use of inexpensive and abundant local materials such as sulfonated polyether ether ketone polymers and chitosan, to replace the currently widely used membrane Nafion, may reduce the cost of fuel cell manufacturing. This study aims to investigate the development of direct methanol fuel cell, using composite of sPEEK - chithosan as the electrolyte membrane. The mass composition of sPEEK - chitosan, was varied i.e. (100:0), (80:20), (60:40), (50:50), (40:60), (20:80), (0:100). The characteristics of membrane were based on water uptake, swelling degree,and methanol permeability, observed the composition 80:20 give the best characteristics water uptake 45,95%, swelling degree 44.35%, methanol permeability 9.96×10-7 cm2s-1. These characteristics are not significantly different from those of Nafion, Then, composite of sPEEK chitosan is feasible as direct methanol fuel cell.