SYNTHESIS AND STUDIES OF NOVEL PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANES AND THEIR APPLICATION IN MICROBIAL FUEL CELL

Abstract

In present day proton exchange membrane have essential application in electrochemical cells which replace the salt bridge as well as liquid electrolyte by a single polymeric proton exchange membrane. Advantage included as high energy density leak proof high electrical conductivity and thermal stability. PVC is water insoluble polymer and literature survey reveals that its water uptake properties are increased by addition of SiO2. In the present work, various membranes were prepared by using different concentrations of SiO2 and their corresponding water uptake was studied. For increasing the conductivity, citric acids (amla juice and lemon juice),and phophotungestic acid (PWA), a heteropolyacid, has been used here. The ion exchange capacity of resulting membranes was carried out by simple titration. Surface morphology was studied by SEM and tensile strength of the prepared samples was calculated. For the fuel cell usage the OCV curve, Polarization curve and the Power density curve was plotted to check the efficiency of the membranes. The power density obtained in case of these membranes showed encouraging results as proton exchange membranes. This work ultimately results into developing membranes using easily available and low cost materials resulting into cost reduction.