Production of poly(vinyl alcohol)/Nafion (R) nanofibers and their stability assessment for the use in direct methanol fuel cells


Zizhou R. E., ÇAY A., AKÇAKOCA KUMBASAR E. P., ÇOLPAN C. Ö.

JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL TEXTILES, cilt.50, sa.6, ss.773-793, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 50 Sayı: 6
  • Basım Tarihi: 2021
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1177/1528083719844611
  • Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL TEXTILES
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, Compendex
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.773-793
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Nanofiber, electrospinning, Nafion&#174, fuel cell, stability, PROTON-EXCHANGE MEMBRANES, NAFION, COMPOSITE, ENERGY
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The aim of this study is to investigate the electrospinning of Nafion (R) nanofibers with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a carrier polymer and to assess the thermal and chemical stability of resultant PVA/Nafion (R) nanofibers for the use in direct methanol fuel cells, in simulated conditions. Bead-free PVA/Nafion (R) nanofibers were produced using higher molecular weight PVA. Resultant PVA and PVA/Nafion (R) nanofibers were stabilized using two different methods which are BTCA crosslinking and thermal stabilization, followed by sulfonation of the PVA part. FT-IR analysis demonstrated that the membranes were stabilized and sulfonated successfully. Thermal, water, methanol and oxidative stability of the membranes were tested in addition to ion-exchange capacity. Morphological changes in the structure were analyzed using SEM analysis. Thermally stabilized PVA/Nafion (R) nanofibrous membrane was found to be stable against water, methanol and oxidative effects. The nanofibrous structure was well preserved after treatments, while the other membranes became a film-like material. Thermal stability of the PVA/Nafion (R) nanofibrous membrane was similar to that of commercial Nafion (R) 115 membrane up to 200celcius.