Abstract
A series of nanocomposites based on quaternized polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and nanocellulose (NC) from oil palm empty fruit bunch have been used as anion exchange membranes (AEM) for direct alcohol-hydrogen peroxide fuel cell (DAHPFC) applications. The PVA and NC are individually quaternized with hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (HDT) and glycidyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (GAC), cross-linked, and cast to form quaternized polyvinyl alcohol/quaternized nanocellulose (QPVA/QNC) membranes following thermal treatment. We observe that an increase of QNC quaternization degree increases quaternary ammonium content and the dimensional stability of the QPVA/QNC membranes while inhibiting PVA matrix crystallinity, decreasing both HDT dispersal and membrane thermal stability. We determine that QPVA/QNCGAC30% membranes exhibit a maximum ion conductivity of 9.85 ± 0.07 mS/cm at room temperature and 29.07 ± 1.76 mS/cm at 80 °C with an ion exchange capacity of approximately 1.14 meq/g. Addition of QNC also enhances the alkaline stability of the optimized QPVA/QNC membrane with less ion conductivity loss. Optimized QPVA/QNC membranes have been demonstrated as an AEM in DAHPFCs without the use of platinum based catalysts. Compared with other membranes, we believe this nanocomposite membrane with comparable performances can promise AEM application in DAHPFCs.
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Abbreviations
- AEM :
-
Anion exchange membrane
- DAFC :
-
Direct alcohol fuel cell
- DAHPFC :
-
Direct alcohol-hydrogen peroxide fuel cell
- FE-TEM :
-
Field emission transmission electron microscopy
- FT-IR :
-
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
- GAC :
-
Glycidyltrimethyl ammonium chloride
- HDT :
-
Hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide
- IEC :
-
Ion exchange capacity
- NC :
-
Nanocellulose
- OPEFB :
-
Oil palm empty fruit bunch
- PVA :
-
Polyvinyl alcohol
- QNC :
-
Quaternized nanocellulose
- QPVA :
-
Quaternized polyvinyl alcohol
- SEM :
-
Scanning electron microscopy
- TGA :
-
Thermo gravimetric analysis
- XPS:
-
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
- XRD :
-
X-ray diffraction
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Acknowledgments
This work was financially supported by the Office of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and the Thailand Science Research and Innovation through the Kasetsart University Reinventing University Program 2021. We are grateful to the Department of Chemistry at Faculty of Science, Scientific Equipment Center and Center of Excellence-Oil Palm, Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute, Kasetsart University, and Suksomboon Palm Oil Co., Ltd. for their support.
Funding
This work was financially supported by the Office of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and the Thailand Science Research and Innovation through the Kasetsart University (Reinventing University Program 2021). Other supports were received from the Department of Chemistry at Faculty of Science, Scientific Equipment Center and Center of Excellence-Oil Palm, Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute, Kasetsart University, and Suksomboon Palm Oil Co., Ltd.
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Yunphuttha, C., Midpanon, S., Marr, D.W.M. et al. Polyvinyl alcohol/nanocellulose nanocomposites from oil palm empty fruit bunch as anion exchange membranes for direct alcohol-hydrogen peroxide fuel cells. Cellulose 31, 1569–1601 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-023-05692-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-023-05692-w