Production of poly(vinyl alcohol)/Nafion (R) nanofibers and their stability assessment for the use in direct methanol fuel cells
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL TEXTILES, vol.50, no.6, pp.773-793, 2021 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 50 Issue: 6
- Publication Date: 2021
- Doi Number: 10.1177/1528083719844611
- Journal Name: JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL TEXTILES
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, Compendex
- Page Numbers: pp.773-793
- Keywords: Nanofiber, electrospinning, Nafion®, fuel cell, stability, PROTON-EXCHANGE MEMBRANES, NAFION, COMPOSITE, ENERGY
- Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
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.