Fabrication and development of SPEEK/PVdF-HFP/SiO2 proton exchange membrane for microbial fuel cell application

•This study showed the proton exchange potential of SPEEK/PVDF-HFP/SiO2 fabricated membrane.•All the physical, chemical and electrochemical characterizations showed a significant compatibility and improved result as compared to other conventional PEM.•The maximum proton conductivity of 8.0 × 10−2 Scm−1, voltage generation of 998.5 ± 2 mV and power density of 1.5 mW/m2 were noticed for the 7.5 wt.% SiO2 incorporated polymer membrane.•The fabricated membrane was applied and analyzed in MFC for practical study.•The more study on this combination of composite could be a solution for an alternative PEM for MFC study. This study presents the potential of sulfonated poly (ether-ether-ketone)/ poly (vinylidene fluorideco-hexafluoro propylene)/SiO2 (SPEEK/PVdF-HFP/SiO2) composite proton exchange membrane for the use of microbial fuel cell. Silica particles (SiO2) were admixed with SPEEK/PVdF-HFP with various ratios. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC) were examined for characterizing the PEM membrane. Proton conductivity, oxygen diffusivity, ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake and performance for polymer composites using MFCs were analysed. The highest proton conductivity value of 8 × 10−2 S cm−1 was obtained for the SiO2–7.5 wt.% incorporated polymer membrane of SPEEK (80 wt.%) / PVdF-HFP (20 wt.%). The maximum voltage generation and power density of 998.5 ± 2 mV and 1.5 mW/m2 were noticed, respectively. This study suggests that the incorporation of SiO2 in polymer composite membrane has potential for an alternative PEM. [Display omitted]