Enhanced and proficient chitosan membranes embedded with polyaniline-TiO₂ core-shell nanocomposites for fuel-cell hydrogen storage

This study investigates the preparation and properties of aniline polymerized in situ onto a nanosized TiO₂ surface to form core-shell nanoparticles at ambient temperatures. The in situ polymerization of aniline to polyaniline (PANI), in conjunction with the utilization of an anionic surfactant, was employed in this investigation. The prepared PANI-TiO₂ core-shell nanoparticles were integrated with chitosan at a gravimetric ratio and cast as core-shell nanocomposite membranes. The nanocomposites were subjected to structural analysis using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction patterns. The surface morphologies of the PANI and its nanocomposites were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Direct current conductivity studies revealed three discrete tiers of conductivity intrinsic to a semiconductor material. The nanocomposite, comprising a chitosan membrane embedded with 4 wt.% PANI-TiO₂, demonstrated peak direct current conductivity of 5.7 S/cm. The properties of the core-shell nanocomposite membranes could be elucidated using cyclic voltammetry, a technique that allowed for the observation of redox peaks occurring at 0.94 V and 0.25 V. The presence of both peaks was due to the redox transition of the prepared nanocomposite membranes from a semiconducting to a conductive state. At room temperature, the hydrogen absorption capacity was approximately 4.5 wt.%, but when the temperature was raised to 65 °C, it doubled to about 7.5 wt.%. In comparison to other nanocomposites, the 4 wt.% PANI-TiO₂ core-shell embedded chitosan membrane exhibited significantly higher absorption capacity of 10.5 wt.%.