Sulfonated polyimide/acid-functionalized graphene oxide composite polymer electrolyte membranes with improved proton conductivity and water-retention properties

Sulfonated polyimide (SPI)/sulfonated propylsilane graphene oxide (SPSGO) was assessed to be a promising candidate for polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs). Incorporation of multifunctionalized (-SO3H and -COOH) SPSGO in SPI matrix improved proton conductivity and thermal, mechanical, and chemical stabilities along with bound water content responsible for slow dehydration of the membrane matrix. The reported SPSGO/SPI composite PEM was designed to promote internal self-humidification, responsible for water-retention properties, and to promote proton conduction, due to the presence of different acidic functional groups. Strong hydrogen bonding between multifunctional groups thus led to the presence of interconnected hydrophobic graphene sheets and organic polymer chains, which provides hydrophobic-hydrophilic phase separation and suitable architecture of proton-conducting channels. In single-cell direct methanol fuel cell tests, SPI/SPSGO-8 exhibited 75.06 mW·cm(-2) maximum power density (in comparison with commercial Nafion 117 membrane, 62.40 mW·cm(-2)) under 2 M methanol fuel at 70 °C.

Nanomaterials for membrane fouling control: accomplishments and challenges

We report a review of recent research efforts on incorporating nanomaterials-including metal/metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon-based nanomaterials, and polymeric nanomaterials-into/onto membranes to improve membrane antifouling properties in biomedical or potentially medical-related applications. In general, nanomaterials can be incorporated into/onto a membrane by blending them into membrane fabricating materials or by attaching them to membrane surfaces via physical or chemical approaches. Overall, the fascinating, multifaceted properties (eg, high hydrophilicity, superparamagnetic properties, antibacterial properties, amenable functionality, strong hydration capability) of nanomaterials provide numerous novel strategies and unprecedented opportunities to fully mitigate membrane fouling. However, there are still challenges in achieving a broader adoption of nanomaterials in the membrane processes used for biomedical applications. Most of these challenges arise from the concerns over their long-term antifouling performance, hemocompatibility, and toxicity toward humans. Therefore, rigorous investigation is still needed before the adoption of some of these nanomaterials in biomedical applications, especially for those nanomaterials proposed to be used in the human body or in contact with living tissue/body fluids for a long period of time. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to predict that the service lifetime of membrane-based biomedical devices and implants will be prolonged significantly with the adoption of appropriate fouling control strategies.