TiO2-doped sulfonated poly(etheretherketone)/poly(vinyl alcohol) blend membrane synthesis for microbial fuel cell systems

Abstract

This study explores the development and comprehensive evaluation of titanium dioxide (TiO2)-doped, thermally crosslinked sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) blend membranes for microbial fuel cell (MFC) applications. The membranes were synthesized with varying TiO2 concentrations and characterized through analyses of water content, ion exchange capacity, swelling behavior, mechanical strength, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Incorporation of TiO2 significantly enhanced proton conductivity and reduced water-induced mass loss compared to undoped membranes. Among the various compositions, the membrane containing 5 wt% TiO2 (SPEEK/PVA-5T) demonstrated the highest proton conductivity of 0.4346 S cm(-1) at 25 degrees C, indicating superior performance. The membranes were tested in a cylindrical H-type MFC setup. The SPEEK/PVA-5T membrane achieved a maximum voltage output of 560.610 mV and a power density of 62.856 mu W m(-2), in comparison to a commercial Nafion 117 membrane, which delivered 777.740 mV and 120.975 mu W m(-2). These findings underscore the potential of the SPEEK/PVA-5T membrane as an effective and sustainable alternative for MFC applications, offering enhanced ion transport and contributing to the advancement of carbon-neutral energy technologies. This work represents a meaningful step toward the development of high-performance, eco-friendly membrane materials for renewable energy systems. (c) 2025 The Author(s). Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.