Chitosan-Based Fuel Cell Membranes

Chitosan complex membranes are prepared and characterized at room temperature. They are expected to be used as proton exchange membranes. The studied membranes are cross-linked membranes with sulfuric acid; salt-complexed membranes with lithium nitrate; cross-linked and salt-complexed membranes; plasticized and salt-complexed membranes; cross-linked, plasticized, and salt-complexed membranes; and doped membranes with sulfuric acid. A fixed amount of ethylene carbonate is used as plasticizer. It is found that the ion exchange capacity and hydrogen gas permeability of all membranes is better than that of Nafion membranes. However, their proton conductivities are worse than Nafion membranes. It can be stated that ethylene carbonate does not improve conductivity. An optimum amount of lithium nitrate salt can enhance conductivity. The formation of a sulfate group in cross-linked membranes is necessary for proton conduction. The proton conductivities of 4%cross-linked and 50%LiNO3 membrane before and after acid doping are (3.11±0.40) × 10−2 and (6.64±0.11) × 10−2 S cm−1, respectively. That of Nafion is (8.02±1.19) × 10−2 S cm−1.