Composite chitosan and quaternary ammonium modified nanofibrillar cellulose anion exchange membranes for direct ethanol fuel cell applications

Fuel cells are a promising technology for energy production, but their commercialization is hindered mainly due to high costs. Direct alkaline ethanol fuel (DAFC) receiving increasing attention as they can utilize cheaper, non-precious metal catalysts. A vital component of DAFC the anion exchange membrane (AEM). Currently, commercially available AEMs don’t possess satisfactory properties. This indicates need development new highly efficient, environmentally friendly, and economically viable AEMs. Synthesis synthetic polymer usually complex time-consuming, well unfriendly. Therefore, it desired that material bio-renewable, non-toxic benign. In this work, series biopolymer membranes were designed by simple, cost-effective, dispersion-casting procedure, fully complying with green-chemistry principles. Design experiments was used methodology identifying optimal combinations influencing factors relations within selected responses. The obtained chitosan-Mg(OH)2 composite containing modified nanofibrillar cellulose (CNF) fillers quaternary ammonium groups investigated mechanical properties, swelling ratio, permeability ion Obtained data suggest applicability newly prepared, biopolymeric composites eco-friendly in technologies.