Preparation and performance of nanoparticle‐reinforced chitosan proton‐exchange membranes for fuel‐cell applications. Issue 1 (22nd July 2018) - Ahmed, Saad
ABSTRACT: In this study, we incorporated commercially available p ‐toluene sulfonic acid coated boehmite nanofillers (commercially known as OS1 ) into the chitosan (CS) matrix to fabricate CS–OS1 nanocomposite membranes with a high proton conductivity for fuel‐cell applications. These nanocomposite membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Their mechanical properties, water uptake, ion‐exchange capacity, and proton conductivity were also determined. The results show that the incorporation of OS1 to CS chains can inhibit the mobility of CS chains and, hence, enhance the thermal stability and mechanical properties of CS–OS1 nanocomposite membranes. The composite membrane with 5 wt % OS1 showed a proton conductivity of 0.032 S/cm; this was almost equal to that of commercially available Nafion 117. We concluded that CS–OS1 nanocomposite membranes have potential for fuel‐cell applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2019, 136, 46904. Abstract :