Reorientation of Magnetic Graphene Oxide Nanosheets in Crosslinked Quaternized Polyvinyl Alcohol as Effective Solid Electrolyte

Jia-Shuin Lin; Wei-Ting Ma; Chao-Ming Shih; Bor-Chern Yu; Li-Wei Teng; Yi-Chun Wang; Kong-Wei Cheng; Fang-Chyou Chiu; Shingjiang Jessie Lue

doi:10.3390/en9121003

Energies (Nov 2016)

Reorientation of Magnetic Graphene Oxide Nanosheets in Crosslinked Quaternized Polyvinyl Alcohol as Effective Solid Electrolyte

Jia-Shuin Lin,
Wei-Ting Ma,
Chao-Ming Shih,
Bor-Chern Yu,
Li-Wei Teng,
Yi-Chun Wang,
Kong-Wei Cheng,
Fang-Chyou Chiu,
Shingjiang Jessie Lue

Affiliations

Jia-Shuin Lin: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, and Green Technology Research Center, Chang Gung University, Kwei-shan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Wei-Ting Ma: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, and Green Technology Research Center, Chang Gung University, Kwei-shan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Chao-Ming Shih: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, and Green Technology Research Center, Chang Gung University, Kwei-shan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Bor-Chern Yu: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, and Green Technology Research Center, Chang Gung University, Kwei-shan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Li-Wei Teng: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, and Green Technology Research Center, Chang Gung University, Kwei-shan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Yi-Chun Wang: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, and Green Technology Research Center, Chang Gung University, Kwei-shan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Kong-Wei Cheng: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, and Green Technology Research Center, Chang Gung University, Kwei-shan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Fang-Chyou Chiu: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, and Green Technology Research Center, Chang Gung University, Kwei-shan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Shingjiang Jessie Lue: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, and Green Technology Research Center, Chang Gung University, Kwei-shan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en9121003
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9, no. 12
p. 1003

Abstract

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This work aims to clarify the effect of magnetic graphene oxide (GO) reorientation in a polymer matrix on the ionic conduction and methanol barrier properties of nanocomposite membrane electrolytes. Magnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were prepared and dispersed on GO nanosheets (GO-Fe3O4). The magnetic GO-Fe3O4 was imbedded into a quaternized polyvinyl alcohol (QPVA) matrix and crosslinked (CL-) with glutaraldehyde (GA) to obtain a polymeric nanocomposite. A magnetic field was applied in the through-plane direction during the drying and film formation steps. The CL-QPVA/GO-Fe3O4 nanocomposite membranes were doped with an alkali to obtain hydroxide-conducting electrolytes for direct methanol alkaline fuel cell (DMAFC) applications. The magnetic field-reoriented CL-QPVA/GO-Fe3O4 electrolyte demonstrated higher conductivity and lower methanol permeability than the unoriented CL-QPVA/GO-Fe3O4 membrane or the CL-QPVA film. The reoriented CL-QPVA/GO-Fe3O4 nanocomposite was used as the electrolyte in a DMAFC and resulted in a maximum power density of 55.4 mW·cm−2 at 60 °C, which is 73.7% higher than that of the composite without the magnetic field treatment (31.9 mW·cm−2). In contrast, the DMAFC using the CL-QPVA electrolyte generated only 22.4 mW·cm−2. This research proved the surprising benefits of magnetic-field-assisted orientation of GO-Fe3O4 in facilitating the ion conduction of a polymeric electrolyte.

Published in Energies

ISSN: 1996-1073 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/energies

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