Sintesis dan Pencirian Membran Komposit Polistirena Tersulfonasi-Zeolit untuk Aplikasi Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Abstract

This study focused on synthesis and characterization of sulfonated polystyrene (SPS)-zeolit composite membrane as a proton exchange membrane for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). Sulfonation of polistyrene was done by using SO3 gas from oleum at 60 oC. The composite membrane was then synthesized with zeolite composition variation of 3%, 5%, and 7%. The success of the sulfonation process was indicated by the highest degree of sulfonation of PSS membrane with 15% concentration of polystyrene, that was 99.93%. The PSS Fourier transform infrared spectra of the composite membranes showed sulfonate group (-SO3) at 910.44 cm-1 and O-Si-O at 1091 cm-1. Topography study by using atomatic force microscope showed that the sulfonate groups of PSS were covered by the zeolite. The highest water uptake, proton conductivity, and potential difference were showed by the composite membrane with 5% of zeolite, that were 10.17%, 2.0339 10-6 S/cm, dan 15 mV respectively, showing that the PSS membrane can be applied in DMFC system.