Abstract:
Electrolyte membrane of fuel cells has been fabricated using sulfonated polystyrene (sPS) and Politilena-grafiting-Maleic Anhydride (PE-g-MAH) through an addition of supramolecular and divinyl benzene solution. The process of fabricating of the membrane was started from the preparation of supramolecular solution, since the solution is very dilute so that it was difficult to form then it is necessary to make a small container which has some porous (matrix) on it. Then, supramolecular solution was dropping into the matrix until the solution completely even. Next, the matrix had to be compressed while the temperature remained constant at 180 0C, and finally, by addition of divinyl benzene solution serves as a crosslinking. The observation using optical microscope reveals that the membrane surface appears more homogeneously. There results also show some changes in the infrared spectral peaks after adding a solution of divinyl benzene using Fourier-Transform Infra Red (FTIR). Measurements using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) show that the effect of addition of divinyl benzene solution on membrane results more compatibly between the materials used. The result of ionic conductivity measurement was slightly increased, namely into 8.91x10-5 S/m, compared to that without addition of divinyl benzene solution.
