Membrane electrode assembly komposit polistirena tersulfonasi-natrium alginat untuk aplikasi direct methanol fuel cell

Abstract

Kinerja membran polimer elektrolit dapat ditingkatkan dengan membuat membrane electrode assembly (MEA). MEA berbasis membran komposit polistirena tersulfonasi-natrium alginat (PSS-natrium alginat) dibuat dengan mencetak membran komposit teraktivasi bersamaan dengan lapisan katalis Ag/C 20% pada suhu 120-125 °C selama 3 menit. Keberhasilan pembuatan MEA terlihat dari morfologinya yang dicirikan menggunakan mikroskop elektron pemayaran (SEM) dengan terbentuknya lapisan karbon dan membran pada penampang lintang MEA. MEA berbasis PSS-natrium alginat memiliki konduktivitas proton tertinggi, yaitu 2.672 × 10-4 S/cm atau meningkat 83% dari membran PSS-natrium alginat. Hal ini menunjukkan MEA PSS-natrium alginat dapat diaplikasikan pada sistem direct methanol fuel cell dan menghasilkan beda potensial sebesar 423 mV.

Polymer electrolyte membrane performance could be enhanced by producing a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). MEA based on composite of sulfonated polystyrene and sodium alginate (SPS-sodium alginate) was made by pressing an activated composite membrane with 20% Ag/C catalyst layer at 120-125 °C for 3 minutes. The success of preparing MEA represented by its morphology as characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) with the formation of carbon and membrane layers on its cross section. MEA based on SPS-alginate showed the highest proton conductivity of 2.627 × 10-4 S/cm, or increased of 83% as compared with the SPS-alginate membrane. The result indicated that MEA based on SPS-alginate could be applied to direct methanol fuel cell system and produced a potential difference of 423 mV. Keywords: composite, direct methanol fuel cell, membrane electrode assembly, sodium alginate, sulfonated polystyrene.