Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Using Membrane Electrode Assembly Based on Platinum- Carbon Electrocatalyst with Activated Carbon- Chitosan-Nickel

development of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) has been focused on membrane electrode assembly (MEA). In this research, MEA based on Platinum-Carbon electrocatalyst (Pt/C) mixed with activated carbon-chitosan-nickel, has been fabricated and tested on a PEMFC prototype. As a comparison, two commercial MEAs based on the Nafion membrane were also tested with Pt/C. It is found that the highest voltage achieved from the developed MEA without loading is 0.43 V, lower than the voltage achieved by the commercial MEA. When an electrical resistance load was given, a decrease in the electrical voltage was observed. However, the developed MEA is able to produce the largest power density value at an electric current density greater than 2 mA/cm2. The developed MEA has shown sufficient performance when compared to commercial MEA on the market. This preliminary research opens the potential for MEA development using more abundant and lower-cost materials, such as the activated carbon-chitosan-nickel.