Exploring the role and potential of epoxidized natural rubber in enhancing polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cells: an overview

• Published in: Ionics
• Main Author: Abd Jalil N.A.; Zakaria Z.; Rusli A.; Othman N.; Kamarudin S.K.; Hanapi I.H.; Yusof N.H.; Yusoff H.
• Format: Review
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85211508337&doi=10.1007%2fs11581-024-05987-3&partnerID=40&md5=9030351f11262d1f4422f1cec6234a61

Epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) biopolymer emerges as a viable alternative for conventional polymer electrolyte membranes in fuel cell applications due to its low cost, environmental friendliness, and good thin-film forming properties. However, concerns regarding the conductivity properties and membrane performance of ENR-based membranes present major challenges hindering their widespread implementation in fuel cell application. This review explores the potential and current status in applying ENR biopolymers as polymer electrolyte membranes in fuel cell technologies. A fundamental discussion of ENR biopolymers is presented to highlight their potential as alternative membrane materials. Subsequently, the current advances and challenges of ENR biopolymers as polymer electrolyte membranes in terms of its role are comprehensively discussed, including aspects such as conductivity properties, water uptake, fuel permeability, and mechanical and thermal stability. This review encompasses membrane characterization, performance in fuel cell systems, and their required properties. ENR biopolymers can overcome existing challenges, such as conductivity limitations and membrane performance issues, with proper modifications and enhancements. For the future research, the efforts to discover new alternative membranes with higher conductivity and lower fuel permeability at elevated temperatures, thereby enhancing fuel cell performance and power output need to be planned. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024.