Open AccessEnhanced Proton Conductivity of Porous UHMWPE membrane with Graphene-based material for Vanadium Redox Flow Battery
Author(s) -
Saidatul Sophia Sha’rani,
Norela Jusoh,
Ebrahim AbouzariLotf,
Arshad Ahmad,
Roshafima Rasit Ali
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
iop conference series. materials science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1757-899X
pISSN - 1757-8981
DOI - 10.1088/1757-899x/808/1/012024
Subject(s) - materials science , membrane , flow battery , vanadium , conductivity , graphene , surface modification , chemical engineering , polyethylene , raman spectroscopy , grafting , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , polymer chemistry , composite material , chemistry , polymer , nanotechnology , electrolyte , electrode , biochemistry , physics , optics , engineering , metallurgy
Porous membrane with enhanced proton conductivity is designed and prepared for vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB). The membrane is composed of ultra height molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) grafted with poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) (PVBC) at different degrees of grafting (DOG). Subsequently, the membrane is functionalized with graphene oxide (UHMWPE-g-PVB GO ) under ultrasonication. The functionalization of the GO on the porous substrates is confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman analyses. UHMWPE-g-PVB GO membranes exhibited ∼37% higher proton conductivity compared to pristine UHMWPE upon modification at 30 °C and 100% relative humidity (RH). In relation to the degree of grafting, a higher degree of grafting possessed higher proton conductivity value for the porous membrane.