Abstract

AbstractIn this article, new biopolymer composite membranes based on κ‐carrageenan, polyvinyl alcohol and graphene oxide (designated as κ‐car/PVA‐GO) were synthesized by casting method for the application of passive direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFCs). FTIR, XRD, and FESEM analysis proved that the κ‐car/PVA‐GO biopolymer composite membrane has been successfully fabricated. The fabrication of the κ‐car/PVA‐GO biopolymer composite membrane effectively increases the proton conductivity and ethanol barrier. The high proton conductivity is achieved 2.67 × 10−3 S/cm and the reduced permeability of ethanol 1.95 × 10−7 cm2/s at 30°C. Besides, PVA blend modification and the introduction of GO improve the mechanical properties of the κ‐car biopolymer. The maximum power density of the passive DEFCs is 3.84 mW/cm2 using the κ‐car/PVA‐GO biopolymer composite membrane, which is higher than the Nafion membrane, which achieved only 2.02 mW/cm2 in a similar operating condition of passive DEFCs at 30°C. Furthermore, the κ‐car/PVA‐GO biopolymer composite membrane could be maintained in a fuel cell atmosphere for 1000 h. According to our review of the literature, there are no studies have used the carrageenan‐based membrane in the application of passive DEFCs. This is a promising biopolymer electrolyte membrane for use in passive DEFCs.

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