Free-standing Chitosan/phosphotungstic acid polyelectrolyte membranes were prepared by an easy and fast in-situ ionotropic gelation process performed at room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to study their morphological features and their thickness as a function of the chitosan concentration. The membrane was tested as proton conductor in low temperature H-2-O-2 fuel cell allowing to get peak power densities up to 350 mW cm(-2). Electrochemical impedance measurements allowed to estimate a polyelectrolyte conductivity of 18 mS cm(-1). (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.