Chitosan-Mg(OH)2 based composite membrane containing nitrogen doped GO for direct ethanol fuel cell

Nitrogen-doped graphene oxide (N-doped GO), prepared by a facile hydrothermal reaction of GO with melamine as nitrogen source was studied as a filler in chitosan (CS) based anion exchange membranes (AEM) used in alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells. The structures and functional properties of the N-doped synthesized fillers (N level as high as 29.34 at.%) and produced CS-based AEMs were investigated by XPS, SEM, FTIR, XRD analysis, as well as, ion exchange capacity, tensile strength, ethanol permeability, alkali uptake, swelling ratio and cell performance tests. The as-obtained CS-based AEMs with 0.01 wt% N-doped GO filler have achieved a maximum power density of 149 +/- 2.2 mW cm(-2) at 80 degrees C, which is significantly higher than that of the benchmark commercial FAA Fumapem(R) and polybenzimidazole with values of 11 and 60 mW cm(-2), respectively. The results demonstrate that the obtained membranes are promising AEM candidates for direct alkaline alcohol fuel cell applications. Graphic abstract

Automated summary

Nitrogen-doped graphene oxide was studied as a filler in chitosan-based anion exchange membranes for alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells, showing promising results with significantly higher power density compared to benchmark commercial membranes. The membranes exhibited excellent properties and are considered as potential candidates for direct alkaline alcohol fuel cell applications.