Synthesis and Characterization of Electrolyte Membrane Based Biopolymer Chitosan and Fly Ash Combinations for Fuel Cell Application

Abstract

A composite membrane biopolymer chitosan filled fly ash was fabricated as alternative membrane electrolyte for fuel cell application. The membrane was synthesized from chitosan from deacetylation of shrimp shells and then cross-linked with sulfonic acid network by introducing fly ash. The aim was to investigate fly ash adding to the performance of membrane. The membranes were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water uptake, methanol uptake, permeability, and proton conductivity assessment. SEM images analysis showed that the fly ash was successfully incorporated in chitosan polymer matrix. Water and methanol uptake for the composite membranes decreased with increasing fly ash loadings. The resulting membranes exhibited proton conductivities up to 6,863 mS/cm. The obtained results indicated that the optimum composite membrane could be considered as a promising candidate to developed membrane electrolite for fuel cell applications.