Summary
Perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomers such as Nafion (long side chain) and Aquivion (short side chain) are the benchmark proton-exchange membrane materials for fuel cells, and turning them into nanofibres by electrospinning is a promising route to better-structured membranes. However, pure ionomers electrospin poorly because they lack the chain entanglement needed to form a stable jet, so a carrier polymer is usually required. This study examines how the length of the ionomer side chain influences electrospinning behaviour, comparing long- and short-side-chain PFSA and the morphology of the fibres they form. The findings help define the processing conditions for producing PFSA nanofibre mats aimed at fuel-cell membrane applications.
Authors & Affiliations
Topics
Materials
Linari Electrospinning Systems
Electrospinning machines by Linari Nanotech
Linari Nanotech designs and manufactures electrospinning systems for nanofiber research and production — from benchtop starter kits to industrial multi-material lines.