Sulfonated silica coated polyvinylidene fluoride electrospun nanofiber-based composite membranes for direct methanol fuel cells

A sulfonated silica coated polyvinylidene fluoride (S-SiO2@PVDF) nanofiber substrate with high strength and ultrahigh surface concentration of sulfonic acid groups was prepared by a three-step simple surface functionalization process. The S-SiO2@PVDF substrate was then used as both mechanical reinfo...

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Main Authors: Guoliang Liu, Wen-Chin Tsen, Sheng Wen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2020-08-01
Series:Materials & Design
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127520303403
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author Guoliang Liu
Wen-Chin Tsen
Sheng Wen
author_facet Guoliang Liu
Wen-Chin Tsen
Sheng Wen
author_sort Guoliang Liu
collection DOAJ
description A sulfonated silica coated polyvinylidene fluoride (S-SiO2@PVDF) nanofiber substrate with high strength and ultrahigh surface concentration of sulfonic acid groups was prepared by a three-step simple surface functionalization process. The S-SiO2@PVDF substrate was then used as both mechanical reinforcement support and inter-connected three-dimensional proton transport network for chitosan (CS) to prepare thin composite proton exchange membranes for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). As the mechanical support for CS matrix, the S-SiO2@PVDF nanofiber framework could significantly improve the dimensional stability, tensile strength, elongation and mechanical damage resistance. Meanwhile, as a proton conduction network, the conductivity of the composite membrane was remarkably enhanced to 21.2 mS cm−1 (about 2.8 times than that of pure CS). Moreover, due to the excellent methanol barrier ability of CS matrix itself as well as the limitation role of the nanofibers, the methanol crossover of the composite membrane was as low as 4.2 × 10−7 cm2 s−1 that was only 26% of commercial Nafion 115. DMFC test showed the composite membrane exhibited the maximum power density of 86.3 mW cm−2 (80 °C), and the power density loss was only 5.4% even after operating at a constant current of 0.35A cm−2 for 100 h.
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spelling doaj.art-dec27684451e4202aa14a8f25721466d2022-12-22T00:39:25ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752020-08-01193108806Sulfonated silica coated polyvinylidene fluoride electrospun nanofiber-based composite membranes for direct methanol fuel cellsGuoliang Liu0Wen-Chin Tsen1Sheng Wen2Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomass Conversion and Utilization, School of Chemistry and Material Science, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, Hubei 432000, China.Department of Fashion and Design, Lee-Ming Institute of Technology, New Taipei City 243, Taiwan.; Corresponding author.Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomass Conversion and Utilization, School of Chemistry and Material Science, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, Hubei 432000, China.; Correspondence to: S. Wen, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomass Conversion and Utilization, School of Chemistry and Material Science, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, Hubei 432000, China.A sulfonated silica coated polyvinylidene fluoride (S-SiO2@PVDF) nanofiber substrate with high strength and ultrahigh surface concentration of sulfonic acid groups was prepared by a three-step simple surface functionalization process. The S-SiO2@PVDF substrate was then used as both mechanical reinforcement support and inter-connected three-dimensional proton transport network for chitosan (CS) to prepare thin composite proton exchange membranes for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). As the mechanical support for CS matrix, the S-SiO2@PVDF nanofiber framework could significantly improve the dimensional stability, tensile strength, elongation and mechanical damage resistance. Meanwhile, as a proton conduction network, the conductivity of the composite membrane was remarkably enhanced to 21.2 mS cm−1 (about 2.8 times than that of pure CS). Moreover, due to the excellent methanol barrier ability of CS matrix itself as well as the limitation role of the nanofibers, the methanol crossover of the composite membrane was as low as 4.2 × 10−7 cm2 s−1 that was only 26% of commercial Nafion 115. DMFC test showed the composite membrane exhibited the maximum power density of 86.3 mW cm−2 (80 °C), and the power density loss was only 5.4% even after operating at a constant current of 0.35A cm−2 for 100 h.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127520303403Sulfonated silica coatingElectrospun PVDF nanofibersProton conduction networkHigh methanol resistanceThin thickness
spellingShingle Guoliang Liu
Wen-Chin Tsen
Sheng Wen
Sulfonated silica coated polyvinylidene fluoride electrospun nanofiber-based composite membranes for direct methanol fuel cells
Materials & Design
Sulfonated silica coating
Electrospun PVDF nanofibers
Proton conduction network
High methanol resistance
Thin thickness
title Sulfonated silica coated polyvinylidene fluoride electrospun nanofiber-based composite membranes for direct methanol fuel cells
title_full Sulfonated silica coated polyvinylidene fluoride electrospun nanofiber-based composite membranes for direct methanol fuel cells
title_fullStr Sulfonated silica coated polyvinylidene fluoride electrospun nanofiber-based composite membranes for direct methanol fuel cells
title_full_unstemmed Sulfonated silica coated polyvinylidene fluoride electrospun nanofiber-based composite membranes for direct methanol fuel cells
title_short Sulfonated silica coated polyvinylidene fluoride electrospun nanofiber-based composite membranes for direct methanol fuel cells
title_sort sulfonated silica coated polyvinylidene fluoride electrospun nanofiber based composite membranes for direct methanol fuel cells
topic Sulfonated silica coating
Electrospun PVDF nanofibers
Proton conduction network
High methanol resistance
Thin thickness
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127520303403
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AT wenchintsen sulfonatedsilicacoatedpolyvinylidenefluorideelectrospunnanofiberbasedcompositemembranesfordirectmethanolfuelcells
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