Carbonaceous nanofiber-supported sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) membranes for fuel cell applications

• A new strategy was developed for fabricating of proton exchange membranes (PEMs).
• CNFs and ACNFs were fabricated by solution blowing process.
• New PEMs were fabricated by impregnating carbonaceous nanofibers into SPEEK.
• The introduction of CNFs and ACNFs enhanced its mechanical and thermal stability.
• The membranes exhibited high proton conductivity.

A facile spinning-based strategy was developed to fabricate continuous carbon nanofiber (CNF)- and activated carbon nanofiber (ACNF)-supported sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membranes as proton exchange membranes (PEMs) for fuel cells. Polyacrylonitrile nanofibers were solution blown as precursor to obtain CNF and ACNF mats. These mats were then impregnated into a SPEEK solution to fabricate pore-filled composite membranes. The morphologies as well as thermal and mechanical properties were examined. Moreover, the performance of the mats as PEMs was investigated. Results showed that carbonaceous nanofibers were dispersed incompactly in the SPEEK matrix and thus made dense membranes. The introduction of CNFs and ACNFs to composite membranes significantly improved mechanical properties and proton conductivity, which indicated that carbonaceous nanofiber-supported membranes are promising materials for PEM fuel cells.

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