FABRIKASI NANOFIBER PVA/KITOSAN DENGAN PENAMBAHAN NH4Br MENGGUNAKAN METODE ELECTROSPINNING DAN POTENSINYA SEBAGAI MEMBRAN ELEKTROLIT PADA FUEL CELLS; FABRICATION OF ELECTROSPUN PVA/CHITOSAN NANOFIBERS DOPED BY NH4Br AND THEIR POTENTIAL AS ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE FOR FUEL CELLS

Nugrahini, Pipit D, Kuwat Triyana

2015 | Disertasi | FMIPA

PVA/chitosan nanofibers doped by NH4Br have been successfully fabricated by electrospinning method to examine their potential as membrane electrolyte for fuel cells application. For electrospinning solution, the mass ratio of PVA/chitosan 10:1 was dissolved in 20 ml acetic acid 1% and doped by NH4Br with the variation concentration of 0 g, 0.03 g, 0.05 g, 0.07 g, 0.10 g, 0.15 g and 0.20 g. The applied voltage to the electrospun is 15 kV, use 0,5 mm of diameter needle and the distance from spinneret to collector is 14 cm, respectively. As result, the addition of NH4Br concentration increased conductivity and decreased viscosity of the solution. Furthermore, the effect of conductivity and viscosity on diameters of electrospun nanofibers was very significant, so that needed to be optimized. The average diameter of electrospun nanofiber were found to be (174 ± 13) nm and decreased to be (130 ± 16) nm. The result of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) showed that the ionic conductivity of the membrane increased to be 6.27 x 10-7 S/cm for doped 0.2 g NH4Br. The result of Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that the addition of NH4Br does not change the conformation of PVA/chitosan nanofiber. Moreover, the result of Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) showed that PVA/chitosan doped nanofiber have high thermal stability to approximately 200 oC, it indicates that the electrospun of PVA/chitosan doped NH4Br nanofiber show a high potential for electrolyte membrane in fuel cells application.

Kata Kunci : PVA/chitosan nanofiber; NH4Br; electrospinning; electrolyte membrane; fuel cells