Synthesis and characterization of proton conducting membranes based on human nail keratin and sulfonated polysulfone

Abstract

Synthesis and characterization of proton conducting membranes based on human nail keratin and sulfonated polysulfone has been carried out. This research was conducted to make a proton conducting membrane based on acid-base pairs. In this study, human nail was dissolved using NaOH solvent. Through a neutralization process using glacial acetic acid, then evaporation of the solution was carried out to obtain human nail keratin. Sulfonated polysulfone composite membrane-human nail keratin was prepared in mass ratio of 3.5/0.5; 3.3/0.7; 3/1. Composite membranes were characterized by functional group analysis, XRD (X-Ray Diffraction), cation exchange capacity, degree of swelling and proton conductivity. Functional group analysis of sulfonated polysulfone-human nail keratin composite membranes showed interactions at peaks of 3000-3500 cm−1. The composite membrane has the highest cation exchange capacity, which is 2.02 meq/g on the composite membrane variation of 3/1. The greatest degree of swelling in the variation of 3/1 was 33.23%. The highest proton conductivity in the mass variation of 3/1 is 4.87 x 10−5 S/cm. The results of XRD analysis showed that the composite membrane synthesized by human nail keratin and sulfonated polysulfone had semicrystalline properties.