Strach/Chitosan Membranes for PEM Fuel Cells Applications

Composite membranes based on starch and chitosan doped with ionic liquid were synthesized in this work. The membranes were evaluated for application as proton conductors in proton exchange membranes (PEM) fuel cell applications. The fabricated chitosan-starch membranes were characterized by electrochemical impedance (EIS), and high proton conduction values were obtained in the order of 10 ⁻³ S/cm. Furthermore, the effect of an ionic liquid was evaluated in this work too. Diethylmethylammonium Methanesulfonate ionic liquid (IL) was used to modify the existing starch-chitosan membranes, and the proton conduction values were evaluated. The addition of the ionic liquid was found to decrease the proton conductivity by 45-65%.