Hybrid membranes of PVA for direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) applications

► PVA/HPW/DTPA hybrid membranes as polymer electrolytes. ► Membranes for direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) applications. ► Special feature of alcohol permeability was observed. ► HPW and DTPA provided proton conductivities about 8.6 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 30 °C in ethanol.