Synthesis of Phosphorylated Chitosan Membrane and Composite Membrane for Fuel Cell Applications

• Main Author: RIFATHIN (NIM 10505046), ANNISA
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/11837
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Chitosan membrane can be used as a membrane for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), but its conductivity is lower than Nafion. Efforts have been done in this work to increase the conductivity and to decrease the permeability towards methanol of chitosan. It has been phosphorylated using phosphoric acid, urea, and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) in a 490 Watt microwave oven. In addition, composite membranes of polysulfone-chitosan and polysulfone-phosphorylated chitosan have also been prepared. Two kinds of method were done, first, the hot-press method using temperatures of 130oC and 170oC, and the second one, casting chitosan solution on polysulfone membrane. The results showed that composite membranes made by the second method have stronger adhesion between the two polymers. The conductivity of phosphorylated chitosan is higher and the permeability of methanol is lower than both chitosan and composite membranes. The thermal analysis of those membranes showed that the composite membrane has higher thermal resistance than the phosphorylated chitosan. From these results it can be concluded that compared to chitosan and compiste membranes, the phosphorylated chitosan membranse provide better performances as fuel cell membranes. <br />