A composite membrane was fabricated from biopolymer chitosan and montmorillonite (MMT) filler as an alternative membrane electrolyte for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) application.

Chitosan based inorganic hybrid membrane is a promising organic-inorganic hybrids for the development of high performance proton exchange membrane (PEM). The immobilization of modified montmorillonite (MMT) using GPTMS within chitosan matrix would possess superior physicochemical characteristics due to more hydrogen bonding formation introduced by GPTMS. Therefore, higher number hydrogen bond formation can be expected in Ch/MMT-GPTMS membrane rather than in pure Ch membrane. A fully hydrated membrane at elevated temperatures is desirable for efficient proton conduction in the membranes. It remains a critical challenge to maintain proper hydration of the membranes for the operation of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The microstructure obtained by SEM for composites showed that filler was successfully incorporated and relatively well dispersed in the chitosan polymer matrix. The role of surface modification of MMT filler by GPTMS have increase the functional group that can form hydrogen bonding which suitable for interaction with water. High water uptake is favourable for high performance PEM to facilitate great numbers of protons hopping and diffusion through the membrane. In addition, greater hydrogen bonding formation would lead to the tighter packing of composite membrane, resulting in higher bonding strength and higher thermal resistance. The Ch/MMT-GPTMS composite membrane with 5 wt% filler loading exhibited the best proton conductivity are 4.66 mScm -1 , with water contact angle value of 64.73 o . A maximum power density of 0.24 mWcm -2 was obtained with a 2M methanol feed. The relationship of water contact angle, water upake, membrane swelling, thermal stability, and proton conductivity shown suitable trend, it means that all quality of them are related to the hydrophilicity properties. AbstrakKitosan berasaskan membran hibrid tak organik ialah kacukan organik-tak organik yang menjanjikan pembangunan pertukaran proton membran berprestasi tinggi (PEM). Montmorillonit (MMT) pegun diubahsuai menggunakan GPTMS dalam matriks ISSN 1394 -2506 Purwanto et al: CORRELATION BETWEEN PROTON CONDUCTIVITY, HYDROPHILICITY, AND THERMALSTABILITY OF CHITOSAN/MONTMORILLONITE COMPOSITE MEMBRANE MODIFIED GPTMS AND THEIR PERFORMANCE IN DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELL 676kitosan akan mempunyai ciri-ciri fiziko-kimia unggul kerana lebih pembentukan ikatan hidrogen yang diperkenalkan oleh GPTMS. Oleh itu, pembentukan jumlah ikatan hidrogen yang lebih tinggi boleh dijangka pada membran Ch/MMT-GPTMS bukannya pada membran Ch tulen. Setiap membran terhidrat sepenuhnya pada suhu tinggi adalah diperlukan untuk pengaliran proton cekap dalam membran. Ia kekal sebagai cabaran kritikal untuk mengekalkan penghidratan membran untuk operasi sel bahan api metanol langsung (DMFC). Mikrostruktur diperolehi melalui SEM untuk komposit menunjukkan bahawa pengisi telah berjaya digabungkan dan tersebar di dalam matriks polimer kitosan. Peranan pengubahsuaian permukaan MMT pengisi oleh GPTMS telah meningkatkan kumpulan berfungsi yang boleh membentuk ikat...

A new polymeric membrane blended from sulfonated polyetherimide (SPEI) and poly(eugenol sulfonate) (PES) was prepared as proton exchange membrane (PEM) for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The membrane was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM). Ion exchange capacity (IEC), proton conductivity, methanol barrier, water uptake, water contact angle and mechanical strength of the membrane was also being determined. The new PES/SPEI membrane with 3 wt.% PES and 20 wt.% SPEI show higher IEC, water uptake, proton conductivity and methanol barrier properties as compared to Nafion 117 membrane. As a conclusion, the results indicate that the SPEI/PES membrane has potential to be employed as PEM for DMFC application.