Synthesis and characterization of hybrid zeolite, A chitosan sulfonated membrane for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is fuel cells that utilize membrane as the electrolyte. The electrolyte membrane was synthesized utilizing the natural polymer chitosan modified into hybrid zeolite A chitosan sulfonated membrane. The objective of the research are to synthesize hybrid zeolite A chitosan sulfonated membrane for PEMFC with a variations of zeolite concentration range 0, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80% (w/w) and to determine the ability of a polymer electrolyte membrane for PEMFC. Preparation of the membrane initially by blending chitosan solution with zeolite then immersed with H₂SO₄ 0.36 N. Morphological of zeolite A was characterized by XRD and performance of the membrane was characterized by FTIR and SEM. The diffractogram of zeolite A synthesized appeared 2θ 13.98; 24.05; 32.59; 35.79; 38.03; 43.58º and the FTIR spectra of synthesized hybrid zeolite A chitosan sulfonated membrane showed at 3448.49 cm^-1 for hydroxyl functional group, 1648 cm-1 and 1565 cm-1 for amide I dan amide II which is directly decrease with the addition of zeolite concentration. Hydrogen bonds between the Si-O from zeolite A–chitosan bonding showed at 1040 cm-1 and 455.14 cm^-1. The S-O bonding from sulfonate functional group showed at 619.12 cm^-1. The ability of the membrane as the electrolyte membrane showed the high mechanical properties Modulus Young 5.07 × 10⁷ N/m², water swelling test 61.38%, ion exchange capacity test with acid-base titration method is obtained IEC (Ion Exchange Capacity) 1.0107 meq/g, proton conductivity test with EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) method is 2.2 x ×10^-4 S/cm, and the methanol permeability test with dead-end method 1.26 kg/m2hour. This characteristic showed that the hybrid zeolite A chitosan sulfonated membrane potential as proton exchange membrane to be applied to the PEMFC.