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Chitosan‐based composite membranes containing chitosan‐coated carbon nanotubes for polymer electrolyte membranes
Author(s) -
Ou Ying,
Tsen WenChin,
Gong Chunli,
Wang Jie,
Liu Hai,
Zheng Genwen,
Qin Caiqin,
Wen Sheng
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.4171
Subject(s) - materials science , carbon nanotube , membrane , chitosan , polymer , electrolyte , polyelectrolyte , surface modification , chemical engineering , coating , composite number , conductivity , dispersion (optics) , nanocomposite , ionic conductivity , composite material , polymer chemistry , electrode , chemistry , biochemistry , physics , optics , engineering
Considering the poor dispersion and inert ionic conduction ability of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), functionalization of CNTs is a critical issue for their application in polymer electrolyte membranes. Herein, CNTs were functionalized by the polyelectrolyte, chitosan (CS), via a facile noncovalent surface‐deposition method. The obtained CS‐coated CNTs (CS@CNTs) were then incorporated into the CS matrix and fabricated composite membranes. The CS coating can enhance the compatibility between CNTs and the matrix, thus ensuring the homogenous dispersion of CS@CNTs and effectively improved the mechanical properties of the composites. Moreover, the CS coating can make CS@CNTs act as an additional proton‐conducting pathway through the membranes. The CS/CS@CNTs‐1 composite shows the highest proton conductivity of 3.46 × 10 −2 S cm −1 at 80°C, which is about 1.5‐fold of the conductivity of pure CS membrane. Consequently, the single cell equipped with CS/CS@CNTs‐1 membrane exhibits a peak power density of 47.5 mW cm −2 , which is higher than that of pure CS (36.1 mW cm −2 ).