This study investigated the potential enhancement of proton conductivity in Nafion membranes through the incorporation of sulfo ethyl cellulose (SEC) at varying weight ratios (5 and 10 wt.%). Results indicated that increasing the weight ratio of SEC led to improvements in water absorption, activation energy, and proton conductivity within the composite membranes. Specifically,the composite membrane exhibited a significant increase in proton conductivity, reaching up to 170 mS cm
1, in contrast to the pristine Nafion membrane which recorded 40.08 mS cm
1 , particularly at temperatures exceeding 120C. At the sub-molecular level, Fourier transfer inferred spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of Nafion/SEC membranes unveiled cross-linking interactions occurring between the sulfo acid groups of Nafion chains and the hydroxyls within the SEC matrix. Moreover, X-ray diffraction (XRD) findings of the composite membranes were instrumental in identifying crystalline phases, orientation, and structural features. The results indicated variations in atomic radius and alterations in lattice parameters at the nanoscale, induced by heightened surface forces resulting from the inclusion of SEC in the Nafion matrix…Read more