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PVDF/TiO 2 /graphene oxide composite nanofiber membranes serving as separators in lithium‐ion batteries
Author(s) -
Khassi Kajal,
Youssefi Mostafa,
Semnani Dariush
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.48775
Subject(s) - membrane , materials science , chemical engineering , nanofiber , dielectric spectroscopy , graphene , electrospinning , electrolyte , ionic conductivity , nanoparticle , nanocomposite , scanning electron microscope , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , electrochemistry , composite material , nanotechnology , polymer , chemistry , electrode , biochemistry , engineering
Improving the electrochemical properties of membranes in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) is very important. Many attempts have been made to optimize ionic conductivity of membranes. The aim of this study was fabricating composite nanofiber membranes of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), containing titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) and graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles to use in LIBs as separators. The morphology, crystallinity, porosity, pore size, electrolyte uptake, ionic conductivity, and electrochemical stability of the membranes were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and linear sweep voltammetry. The electrolyte uptake and ionic conductivity of the PVDF/TiO 2 /GO composite nanofiber membranes containing 2 wt % GO were 494% and 4.87 mS cm −1 , respectively, which were higher than those of the other fabricated membranes as well as the commercial Celgard membrane. This could be attributed to the increased porosity, larger surface area, and higher amorphous regions of the PVDF/TiO 2 /GO composite nanofiber membranes as a result of the synergistic effects of the nanoparticles. In this work, suitable optimized membranes with greater electrochemical stability compared with the other membranes were presented. Also, it was demonstrated that the incorporation of the TiO 2 and GO nanoparticles into the PVDF nanofiber membranes led to a porous structure where the electrolyte uptake enhanced. These properties made these membranes promising candidates for being used as separators in LIBs. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137 , 48775.