The Effect of Membrane Thickness on the Conductivity of Sulfonated Polystirene Membrane with PE-g-MAH Matrix

• Main Author: ARIEF HANDONO PRIYO (NIM 10501022), MOHAMMAD
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/10922
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Fuel cell is one of alternative methods that was developed to solve the energy crisis. It has high efficient up to 64% and environmentally friendly. Sulfonated polystyrene membrane with PE-g-MAH matrix is used as an electrolyte in the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell due to its high ionic conductivity. It also has good water uptake capacity, great ion exchange capacity, and could more economically than Nafion(R). The membrane sample with a variation in thickness made of the upper and middle faction of the sulfonated polystirene solution was mixed with benzimidazol and PE-g-MAH, and then hot pressed. The experiment result showed that the thinner the membrane, shows better performance. This fact could be observed from the value of its conductivities. The ionic conductivity reaches 10-4 S.cm-1, and the electronic conductivity is 10-6 - 10-7 S.cm-1. <br />