Production and Characterization of Cellulose Acetate-Graphene Oxide Composite Membrane as Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

The global energy crisis caused by dependence on fossil fuels has accelerated the search for renewable and sustainable energy sources, such as the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). This study aimed to develop cellulose acetate–graphene oxide (CA–GO) composite membranes with different GO concentrations (0–2%) to enhance proton-exchange performance. Cellulose acetate was characterized by molecular weight determination and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), while graphene oxide was synthesized via the Hummers method and analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The CA–GO membranes were fabricated by the phase-inversion method and evaluated for mechanical strength, swelling ratio, ion-exchange capacity (IEC), proton conductivity, and methanol permeability. The membrane containing 2% GO showed the best performance, with a Young’s modulus of 1.344 MPa, swelling ratio of 7%, IEC of 0.147 meq/g, methanol permeability of 1.2 × 10−3 kg/m2·s, and proton conductivity of 1.59 × 10−4 S/cm. FTIR analysis indicated hydrogen bond formation between CA and GO, while SEM revealed a heterogeneous surface morphology. These results demonstrate that incorporating 2% GO improves the mechanical strength and proton conductivity of CA membranes without significantly increasing methanol permeability, indicating potential for PEMFC applications.