Study of basic biopolymer as proton membrane for fuel cell systems

Up to now, many research groups work to improve the electrical and mechanical properties of membranes with a low cost of production. The biopolymers could be an answer to produce proton membranes at low cost. This work demonstrates that the intrinsic membrane polymer and clays properties can help to develop a novel proton exchange membranes. Biopolymer composites (chitosan-oxide compounds) present conductivity between 10⁻³ and 10⁻² S cm⁻¹. The measurements were calculated by EIS (1 MHz-0.05 Hz) using the two-electrode configuration. Different oxides were used: MgO, CaO, SiO₂, Al₂O₃. The ionic conductivities were compared with Nafion^®'s in the same conditions of P and T. The catalyst layer/membrane ensemble was made during the design with the subsequent demonstration as membrane electrode assemblies and finally the fuel cell was built. Our focus was to increase the compatibility between the proton basic polymer exchange membrane and basic clays as CaO and test a new kind of fuel cell.