Comparison of the performance of reduced graphene oxide and multiwalled carbon nanotubes based sulfonated polysulfone membranes for electrolysis application

Abstract

A series of nanocomposites containing reduced graphene oxide (GO) versus multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as filler contents anchored with sulfonated polysulfone (SPSF) polymer matrix have been successfully prepared by sol-gel technique with up to 0.5 wt%. The influence of reduced GO compared to MWCNTs to enhance conductivity of nanocomposite SPSF membranes for higher efficient water electrolysis applications has been studied. The nanocomposite membranes were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, optical microscopy, electrical conductivity, and tensile testing. The membrane porous structure, porosity, and pores uniformity plus the uniformity of dispersion of mixture are investigated. The conductivity of the composite membranes for water electrolysis applications has been characterized using localized probes across the surface. The results show SPSF-GO nanocomposite membranes offer higher conductivity and improved performance than those of SPSF-MCNT. A uniform constant and high current density of 1.39 A/cm 2 has been achieved in SPSF-GO membrane at 60 C. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:475-481, 2015.

Carbon nanotube, graphene oxide and montmorillonite as conductive fillers in polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cell: an overview

“…At the same time, SPSf‐MWCNTs obtained a lower current density of 0.86 A/cm 2. 162 These results were indicating that SPSf‐rGO has excellent conductivity besides having high porosity, high surface areas, and homogenous dispersion of GO in the polymer matrix as analyzed by SEM and TEM instruments. Figure 19 shows the exfoliated structure of SPSf‐rGO and the distance between the graphene sheets increased, thereby changing the chain network of ionic pathways.…”

“…TEM images of GO (A), GO with higher magnification (B), CNT (C), and CNT with higher magnification (D) 162 …”

“…85 The strong electrostatic attraction between -SO 3 H group of SGO and SA matrix enhancing the mechanical stability, optimizing the water absorption, and inhibiting the methanol crossover in the membrane. The studies inferred that the sulfonate group was truly facilitating the networking between the alginate polymer F I G U R E 1 9 SEM images of GO (A), SPSf/GO (B), CNT (C), and SPSf/CNT (D) 162 F I G U R E 2 0 TEM images of GO (A), GO with higher magnification (B), CNT (C), and CNT with higher magnification (D) 162 and the GO filler. The addition of SGO had also overcome the weakness of individual SA such that it increased the tensile strength and elongation at break of the membrane.…”

Polysulfone Composite Membranes with Carbonaceous Structure. Synthesis and Applications

“…The studies indicate higher conductivity and improved performances in terms of current density for SPSF-GO membranes compared to SPSF-MWCNT due to the exceptional properties of graphene including the high specific surface area, increased localized chargers, and the conductive paths of graphene. At a 60 • C temperature, in case of SPSF-GO composite membranes, a constant and uniform current density of 1.39 Å/cm 2 was obtained [76].…”

A Novel Generation of Polysulfone/Crown Ether-Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide Membranes with Potential Applications in Hemodialysis

“…Graphene oxide also presents attractive adsorbent properties due to the interactions that can occur between the negatively charged carboxylic groups and conjugated C−C bond in GO’s structure and the positively charged metal ions in the surrounding environment [ 47 , 48 ]. Another essential feature of graphene oxide is that it can be reduced by thermal or chemical treatments, thus resulting reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with increased electrical conductivity due to its structure similar with pristine graphene [ 49 ].…”