Abstract In this study, composite membranes produced by combining both biopolymer chitosan (CS) and kaolin solvent-free fluid (kaolin-SF) were used as substitutes for the electrolyte membranes in direct-methanol fuel cells. To improve the interfacial morphologies between organic and inorganic substances, kaolin-SF was prepared using the ion exchange method. Subsequently, kaolin-SF of various doping proportions was mixed with CS crosslinked with sulfuric acid to produce thin membranes. The results of heat exhaustion and scanning electron microscope image analysis indicated that kaolin-SF was successfully doped into the CS polymer substrates, and this addition enhanced the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the CS polymer substrates. As long as the concentration of kaolin-SF was below 5 wt.%, the water absorption rate and proton conductivity of the CS/kaolin-SF composite membranes increased along with the kaolin-SF content. These results indicate that CS/kaolin-SF composite membranes are suitable for practical applications.

中文翻译：

---

使用壳聚糖和高岭土无溶剂流体生产的复合质子交换膜

摘要 在这项研究中，由生物聚合物壳聚糖 (CS) 和高岭土无溶剂流体 (kaolin-SF) 结合生产的复合膜用作直接甲醇燃料电池中电解质膜的替代品。为了改善有机物和无机物之间的界面形貌，采用离子交换法制备了高岭土-SF。随后，将各种掺杂比例的高岭土-SF 与用硫酸交联的 CS 混合以制备薄膜。热耗和扫描电子显微镜图像分析结果表明，高岭土-SF 成功掺杂到 CS 聚合物基材中，这种添加增强了 CS 聚合物基材的热稳定性和机械性能。只要高岭土-SF的浓度低于5wt.%，CS/高岭土-SF复合膜的吸水率和质子传导率随着高岭土-SF含量的增加而增加。这些结果表明 CS/高岭土-SF 复合膜适用于实际应用。