Study of biomaterial electrolyte based on Peltophorum pterocarpum incorporated with NH4SCN for proton-conducting battery and PEM fuel cell applications

• Published in: Ionics Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 913 - 927
• Main Authors: Muthuselvi, P. Mohanaa, Chandra, M. V. Leena, Selvasekarapandian, S., Hazaana, S. Aafrin, Vignesh, N. Muniraj, Naachiyar, R. Meera, Babu, M. Kani Ajay
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-02-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Batteries; Biomedical materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Differential scanning calorimetry; Distilled water; Electrochemistry; Energy Storage; Fuel cells; Heat measurement; Impedance; Ion currents; Open circuit voltage; Optical and Electronic Materials; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells; Protons; Renewable and Green Energy; Thiocyanates; NH; AC impedance; Proton battery; SCN; PEM fuel cell
• ISSN: 0947-7047; 1862-0760
• DOI: 10.1007/s11581-023-05286-3

A novel development of biomaterial membrane based on
Peltophorum pterocarpum—
a flower with various concentrations of ammonium thiocyanate (NH
4
SCN)—is prepared with distilled water as a solvent by using solution casting technique. The prepared membranes are subjected to different characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, AC impedance analysis, transference number measurement, and linear sweep voltammetry. The crystalline/amorphous nature of the prepared biomaterial membrane is studied by using XRD. The
T
g
values of the prepared membranes are analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry. The highest ionic conductivity is found to be 2.19 × 10
−2
S/cm for 1 g PP with 0.7 M wt% NH
4
SCN by AC impedance analysis. The highest ion-conducting biomaterial membrane of 1 g
Peltophorum pterocarpum
with 0.7 M wt% NH
4
SCN is observed with an electrochemical stability of 2.00 V from LSV. Primary proton battery and proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell are fabricated using the highest ion-conducting biomaterial membrane. The open-circuit voltage (OCV) of primary proton battery is observed to be 1.57 V, and its performance is studied. A single fuel cell is constructed, which exhibits a cell potential of 487 mV.