Some chitosan-based solid electrolyte composite membranes were prepared by incorporating potassium hydroxide as the functional ionic source, using glutaraldehyde as cross-linking agent. A three-layer structure with a porous intermediate layer for each composite membrane was observed using SEM. It was found that the concentration of potassium hydroxide solution used to prepare the composite membranes largely influenced the pore volume, porosity, pore size of the intermediate layer, as well as determined the content of potassium hydroxide inside the composite membranes, whereas the degree of cross-linking of composite membrane did not show notable effects. All composite membranes showed significant decreases in both their T-g and onset thermal degradation temperatures with respect to the solid cross-linked chitosan membranes without containing potassium hydroxide. Potassium hydroxide was found to be located inside the intermediate layer of composite membranes with shapes of bulky or fabric crystals. The crystalline properties of matrices of the composite membranes themselves were remarkably modified after being incorporated with potassium hydroxide and main crystalline peaks of matrices almost disappeared for all composite membranes. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.