Enhanced performance of CS proton exchange membrane via anatase titania anchored GO and sodium ligninsulfonate constructing proton transport channels

Anatase titania anchored graphene oxide (TGO) and sodium ligninsulfonate (SLS) were introduced into chitosan (CS) proton exchange membrane (PEM) by solution casting to improve its mechanical strength, proton conductivity and selectivity. Herein, TGO, an association of proton conduction and enhancements, was fabricated by a facile one-step hydrothermal method. Compared with the pristine CS membrane, nanohybrid membranes introduced by graphene oxide (GO), TGO and SLS showed better thermal stability, mechanical stability, chemical stability and selectivity due to the strong electrostatic interaction and H-bonding between CS, crosslinking agent and fillers. The proton conductivity of nanohybrid membrane doped with 2 wt% TGO and 3 wt% SLS (CS/TGO2/SLS3) was enhanced to 43.85 mS cm-1 at 70 ℃. In general, the selectivity of CS/TGO2/SLS3 sample was reached 22.15×104 S s cm-3 which was much higher than that of pristine CS membrane (0.13×103 S s cm-3). The introduction of TGO extends the proton transport channels i...