Back to Search Start Over

Electrospun Hybrid Perfluorosulfonic Acid/Sulfonated Silica Composite Membranes

Authors :
Leslie Dos Santos
Devon Powers
Ryszard Wycisk
Peter N. Pintauro
Source :
Membranes, Vol 10, Iss 10, p 250 (2020)
Publication Year :
2020
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2020.

Abstract

Electrospinning was employed to fabricate composite membranes containing perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomer, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) reinforcement and a sulfonated silica network, where the latter was incorporated either in the PFSA matrix or in the PVDF fibers. The best membrane, in terms of proton conductivity, was made by incorporating the sulfonated silica network in PFSA fibers (Type-A) while the lowest conductivity membrane was obtained when sulfonated silica was incorporated into the reinforcing PVDF fibers (Type-B). A Type-A membrane containing 65 wt.% PFSA with an embedded sulfonated silica network (at 15 wt.%) and with 20 wt.% PVDF reinforcing fibers proved superior to the pristine PFSA membrane in terms of both the proton conductivity in the 30–90% RH at 80 °C (a 25–35% increase) and lateral swelling (a 68% reduction). In addition, it was demonstrated that a Type-A membrane was superior to that of a neat 660 EW perfluoroimide acid (PFIA, from 3M Co.) films with respect to swelling and mechanical strength, while having a similar proton conductivity vs. relative humidity profile. This study demonstrates that an electrospun nanofiber composite membrane with a sulfonated silica network added to moderately low EW PFSA fibers is a viable alternative to an ultra-low EW fluorinated ionomer PEM, in terms of properties relevant to fuel cell applications.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20770375
Volume :
10
Issue :
10
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Membranes
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.4d4512a427854c54b7abcd7396c8d3d8
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10100250