Poly (vinyl alcohol)/3-(trimethylammonium) propyl-functionalized silica hybrid membranes for alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells

A novel hybrid membrane based on poly (vinyl alcohol)/3-(trimethylammonium) propyl-functionalized silica (PVA-TMAPS) is prepared by a simple solution-casting method. The properties of the PVA-TMAPS membranes are characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It is found that the thermal stability of the membranes increases with the addition of TMAPS particles. Moreover, the study of the effect of different weight ratios of PVA to TMAPS on the OH− conductivity shows that the membrane with a ratio of PVA:TMAPS = 90:10 exhibited the highest OH− conductivity. Finally, it is shown that the application of the alkaline membrane (PVA:TMAPS = 90:10) to an direct ethanol fuel cell can yield a peak power density of about 50 mW cm−2 at 60 °C.