Nafion-Silane Modified Mordenite Composite Membrane Synthesis and Characterization for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell

Composite membranes, consist of Nation and surface-modified mordenite as inorganic filler functioned as ethanol barrier, were prepared and used for direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC). mordenite was modified using gamma-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GMPTS) which has the epoxide group and 3-mercaptopropyl-trimethoxysilane (MPTS) which has the mercapto group as coupling agents on mordenite. The composite membranes were fabricated by adding 5 %weight modified mordenite into Nafion by solution casting and hot pressing with catalyst to produce MEA and tested in DEFC single cell stack. XRD, FT-IR, Mastersizer and SEM were used to study the morphology, physical and chemical properties of the filler and the composite membrane. The characterizations also included ethanol permeability and proton conductivity by using the diffusion cell and AC impedance test, respectively. The performance of the cell was evaluated in the DEFC under cell temperature from 30 to 70 degrees C and ethanol concentration of 1 M to 4 M. It was then compared to the recasted Nafion membrane.