High-Performance All-Solid-State Supercapacitor Electrode Materials Using Freestanding Electrospun Carbon Nanofiber Mats of Polyacrylonitrile and Novolac Blends

Herein, this paper reports a facile method to prepare electrospun carbon nanofiber mats (ECNFMs) with high specific surface area and interconnected structure using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as a precursor and novolac resin (NOC) as a polymer sacrificial pore-making agent. Without additional treatment, the prepared ECNFMs have a highly porous structure because NOC decomposes in a wider temperature range than most polymer activators. The NOC content in the PAN nanofibers shows important effects on porosity. The BET specific surface area of ECNFMs reaches a maximum of 1468 m² g⁻¹ when the precursor nanofibers contained 30 wt% NOC (ECNFM-3) after carbonization at 1000 °C. The supercapacitor device from ECNFM-3 electrode and all-solid-state electrolyte shows excellent cycling durability and high specific capacitance: ≈99.72% capacitance retention after 10 000 charge/discharge cycles and ≈320 mF cm⁻² at 0.25 mA cm⁻². Furthermore, it shows a large energy density of ≈11.1 $\mu$Wh cm⁻² under the power density of 500 mW m⁻². Activation of carbon nanofibers simply by the addition of NOC into precursor nanofibers can offer a handy way to prepare ECNFMs for high-performance all-solid-state supercapacitors and other potential applications.     

Imidazolium functionalized poly(vinyl alcohol) membranes for direct methanol alkaline fuel cell applications

In this study, imidazolium functionalized poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was synthesized by acetalization and direct quaternization reaction. Afterwards, composite anion exchange membranes based on imidazolium‐ and quaternary ammonium‐ functionalized PVA were used for direct methanol alkaline fuel cell applications. ¹H NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data indicated that imidazole functionalized PVA was successfully synthesized. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry data demonstrated that the imidazolium structure was efficiently obtained by direct quaternization of the imidazole group. Composite anion exchange membranes were fabricated by application of the functionalized PVA solution on the surface of porous polycarbonate (PC) membranes. Fuel cell related properties of all prepared membranes were investigated systematically. The imidazolium functionalized composite membrane (PVA‐Im/PC) exhibited higher ionic conductivity (7.8 mS cm^?1 at 30 °C) despite a lower water uptake and ion exchange capacity value compared to that of quaternary ammonium. In addition, PVA‐Im/PC showed the lowest methanol permeation rate and the highest membrane selectivity as well as high alkaline and oxidative stability. Dynamic mechanical analysis results reveal that both composite membranes were mechanically resistant up to 10⁷ Pa at 140 °C. The superior performance of imidazolium functionalized PVA composite membrane compared to quaternary ammonium functionalized membrane makes it a promising candidate for direct methanol alkaline fuel cell applications. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

Crystal violet dye sorption and transport in/through biobased PVA cryogel membranes

Cryogels based on poly(vinyl alcohol) [PVA] and three types of bioinsertions such as scleroglucan, cellulose microfibers, and zein, respectively, have been prepared using capacity of PVA to crosslink by repeated freezing–thawing cycles. The effect of the incorporation of biopolymers on the properties of PVA cryogel has been studied by using several techniques such as: scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared studies. The obtained biobased cryogel membranes were subjected to sorption and to diffusion experiments using Crystal Violet (CV), a dye commonly used in the textile industry and in medicine. Image analysis with CIELAB system was used both to monitor the cryogels loading with CV and to gain insight in the dye state into the gel, in correlation with the bioinsertion type and gels morphology. Dye diffusion but also sorption capacity of the cryogels was found to be closely related to the type of biopolymer. In this article the equilibrium (sorption isotherms) and transport properties (diffusion and permeability coefficients) of CV, in/through physical cross‐linked PVA hydrogel membranes with bioinsertions has been reported. The highest efficiency for the CV removal from aqueous solutions was obtained for the PVA/Scl cryogels. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41838.     

Dynamic mechanical analysis and broadband electromagnetic interference shielding characteristics of poly (vinyl alcohol)-poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid)-titanium dioxide nanoparticles based tertiary nanocomposites

ABSTRACT

Novel tertiary nanocomposite films comprising of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid) (PSSA) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NP_S) were prepared using simple solvent casting method. The structural, thermal, morphological, thermo-mechanical and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties of PVA/PSSA/TiO₂ nanocomposite films were investigated. The EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of PVA/PSSA/TiO₂ nanocomposite films in the X and Ku band was found to be 12 dB and 13 dB respectively at 25 wt% TiO₂ NPs loading. These results demonstrate the possible applications of PVA/PSSA/TiO₂ nanocomposite films as low cost, lightweight and flexible material for EMI shielding.     

Effect of thermal crosslinking process on membrane structure and PEM fuel cell applications performed with SPEEK-PVA blend membranes

One of the promising options in the pursuit of clean and sustainable energy is fuel cell technology. PEM fuel cell stands out among fuel cell technologies due to its high efficiency, compactness, and ability to be used in portable applications. SPEEK (with different sulfonation degrees) and PVA blend membranes, which are thought to create a good synergy for PEM fuel cell, were prepared by using the solution casting method. As a result of the weight loss experiments, it was understood that the membranes dissolve in water regardless of the degree of sulfonation. Thermal crosslinking was carried out to prevent the membrane dissolution in water, which is in continuous contact with water in the fuel cell. Dissolution was mostly prevented by means of the thermal crosslinking process. Changes in the physical, chemical, and mechanical structure of the membrane after thermal crosslinking were comparatively determined by fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis – differential thermal analysis (TGA-DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), water uptake capacity, swelling property, ion exchange capacity (IEC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), electrochemical impedance analysis and oxidative stability. In addition, single-cell performance tests were performed with the membrane that gave the best results in the characterization analyses. Analysis results showed that thermal crosslinking prevented the dissolution of membranes in water ingreat extent. In addition, it was determined that the thermally crosslinked membranes had a more stable structure.     

PVA纤维对纳米水泥基复合材料单轴拉伸性能的影响

为研究PVA纤维掺量对掺纳米SiO_2水泥基复合材料抗拉性能的影响,通过单轴拉伸试验测得了试件的极限拉伸应变和极限拉伸应力,并得到了试件应力—应变关系曲线。纳米SiO_2的质量掺量为2%,PVA纤维采用五种体积掺量(0.3%、0.6%、0.9%、1.2%、1.5%)。结果表明,PVA纤维的掺加增大了纳米水泥基复合材料单轴拉伸试件的极限拉应变和极限拉应力。当PVA纤维体积掺量不大于1.5%时,随PVA纤维掺量的增大,试件极限拉应变逐渐增大,极限拉应力先增大后减小。当PVA纤维体积掺量分别为1.5%、1.2%时,试件极限拉应变和极限拉应力分别达到最大值;PVA纤维水泥基复合材料中掺加2%纳米SiO_2后,整体上提高了试件的极限拉应力,但试件极限拉应变变化不明显,纳米SiO_2使PVA纤维增强水泥基复合材料的抗拉伸性能得到了进一步提高。研究成果可为工程应用提供指导。     

Polyvinyl alcohol thin film reinforced by green synthesized zirconia nanoparticles

The focus of this work is to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) thin film reinforced by green synthesized zirconia nanoparticles. In order to do so, firstly, zirconia nanoparticles were synthesized by the rosemary extract-assisted sol-gel process as both template and stabilizing agents. The results showed that the as-obtained sample with zirconium salt to rosemary extract ratio of 1:4 had a semi-spherical morphology with the mean particle size of 12–17?nm. This nanoparticle was added as reinforcement with different ratios to the polyvinyl alcohol matrix. The mechanical property of the as-prepared nanocomposites revealed that the elastic modulus of 1?wt% ZrO2-PVA sample was about 5.5 times higher than pure PVA thin film.     

基于碳纳米管/聚乙烯醇的自愈合柔性电极

对多壁碳纳米管 (MWCNT) 进行回流酸处理，增加其表面活性获得羧基化多壁碳纳米管(CMWCNT)，结合聚乙烯醇 (PVA) 形成多功能导电水凝胶。借助CMWCNT表面羧基活性基团，与多重络合、纠缠的PVA链形成广泛氢键，构建CMWCNT-PVA水凝胶分层网络。通过丝网印刷工艺，制备CMWCNT-PVA自愈合柔性电极，该电极具有高电导率(35.1 S/m) 、高机械强度 (2000次循环弯曲) 和约10秒的自愈合特性，愈合后电路中，在大变形下也保持优异导电性和稳定性，且由柔性电路设计制备的发光二极管阵列，能够呈现HF发光图案。该自愈合柔性电极为柔性电路发展提供一种新的策略，对拓展电子皮肤、软体机器人和可穿戴设备等在人机交互中的应用具有重要科学意义。     

PVA/MMT/TiO2三元复合薄膜制备与研究

通过插层法和溶胶-凝胶法制备了PVA/MMT/TiO2三元复合薄膜。结果表明，MMT、TiO2均匀分散于基体中，由于无机柱子的协同增强作用．PVA／MMT／TiO2三元复合薄膜的热分解温度比纯PVA薄膜提高了59℃：MMT的质量一定时．复合薄膜的拉伸强度、直角撕裂强度和弹性模量随TiO2质量分数的增加而增加。并在TiO2质量分数为1.0％时分别达到最大值，但断裂伸长率则一直下降.MMT质量分数为3．0％、TiO2质量分数为1．0％、pH为7、搅拌3h和反应温度90℃条件下．制得的复合薄膜的性能最佳。     

短纤维及混杂纤维砂浆轴向拉伸试验研究

采用自行设计的试验加载装置，对在砂浆中分别掺人钢纤维、PVA纤维以及同时掺人两种纤维的水泥基复合材料进行了直接拉伸试验，成功地获得了完整的应力-应变全曲线．数据采集采用动态应变测试系统，结果表明，在砂浆中掺人钢纤维．可以大大提高基体的抗拉强度及韧性，试件的最终破坏取决于钢纤维与基体之间的界面粘结强度；在砂浆中掺人PVA纤维对提高基体的抗拉强度有限，但却可以较大幅度地提高基体的韧性，试件的破坏是随着纤维的逐渐断裂而破坏。混杂纤维增强砂浆的破坏形式则是由基体、钢纤维、PVA纤维的材料特性共同决定。