Recent biopolymers used for membrane fuel cells: Characterization analysis perspectives

The emergence of biopolymers as polymer electrolyte membrane for non-Nafion used fuel cell application in recent years was an impactful finding. This review gives a different approach to researchers, by exposing the characterization analysis perspectives of developed materials from biomass sources - alginates, carrageenan, cellulose, chitosan and polyhydroxyalkanoates. Their membrane performances are proven in this work through chemistry understandings, hence assuring a clear picture to gain information of these biopolymers' behavior as PEM. These five bio-precursor materials are believed to perform as high potential PEM alternatives, thus this study appeared to be an insightful guidance to the industry replacing high cost Nafion membrane to a lower cost membrane sources for future massive production economically benign. HIGHLIGHTS Biopolymers are one of the promising natural sources to be utilized as the essential PEM in fuel cell These biopolymers to be highlighted in this review are alginates, chitosan, carrageenan, cellulose and starch Electronic biopolymers like carbon composites, hydrogels, nucleic acid, polyester, polysaccharide and protein imposed great features with their abundant functional groups, strong electrical conductivity, excellent ion conduction, versatility and stability