Cellulose nanofiber-embedded sulfonated poly (ether sulfone) membranes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Xianlin Xu; Rui Li; Chenxiao Tang; Hang Wang; Xupin Zhuang; Ya Liu; Weimin Kang; Lei Shi

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.12.074

Cellulose nanofiber-embedded sulfonated poly (ether sulfone) membranes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Carbohydr Polym. 2018 Mar 15:184:299-306. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.12.074. Epub 2017 Dec 29.

Authors

Xianlin Xu¹, Rui Li², Chenxiao Tang³, Hang Wang⁴, Xupin Zhuang⁵, Ya Liu³, Weimin Kang⁴, Lei Shi³

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes/ National Center for International Joint Research on Separation Membranes, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China; College of Textile, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China. Electronic address: xianlinxu@163.com.
² College of Textile, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes/ National Center for International Joint Research on Separation Membranes, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes/ National Center for International Joint Research on Separation Membranes, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China; College of Textile, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes/ National Center for International Joint Research on Separation Membranes, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China; College of Textile, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China. Electronic address: zhxupin@tjpu.edu.cn.

PMID: 29352922
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.12.074

Abstract

Cellulose nanofibers were embedded into sulfonated poly (ether sulfone) matrix to heighten the water retention and proton conductivity of proton exchange membranes (PEMs). Cellulose nanofibers were obtained by hydrolyzing cellulose acetate nanofibers, which were prepared via electrostatic-induction-assisted solution blow spinning. Morphology, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of the PEMs were investigated. The results showed that proton conductivity, water uptake, and methanol permeability of the composite membranes were improved. Hydrophilicity of the composite membranes was gradually improved with the addition of nanofibers. When the content of nanofibers was 5 wt%, the highest proton conductivity was 0.13 S/cm (80 °C, 100% RH). Therefore, the cellulose nanofiber could be used as support materials to enhance the performance of proton exchange membranes, the composite membranes have potential application in Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs).

Keywords: Cellulose nanofiber; Proton conductivity; Proton exchange membrane; Water uptake.