Electrochemical Properties of Electro-Spun Polyvinylpyrrolidone-Based Zirconia Phosphate Fibers as Potential Fuel Cell Membrane Fillers

Zirconium phosphate (ZrP) nanoparticles were successfully integrated into crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) fibers with 0.01% glutaraldehyde (GA) during the electrospinning process. TEM and SEM results show the presence of zirconium phosphate nanoparticles. Under EDX, ZrP-PVP showed the presence of 4.27 weight % of Zr, proving the successful incorporation of ZrP in the PVP matrix. SEM scans reveal a smooth nanofiber in pristine PVP and a slightly rough ZrP-PVP. The resistance and conductivity of the PVP fiber nanocomposite in electrochemical cells were investigated in this work in relation to zirconium nanoparticles. ZrP-PVP and pristine PVP fibers with approximate average diameters ranging from 90 to 110 nm were observed under TEM and SEM analysis. Thermal stability and degradation at high temperatures were observed using TGA. The TGA data shows that ZrP-PVP fibers have higher thermal stability compared to pristine PVP at higher temperatures above 450 °C. It can therefore be concluded that the incorporation of ZrP in PVP enhances the thermal stability of the fibers, hence making them more suitable for fuel cell membrane applications at higher temperatures. Additionally, the electrochemical results show a slightly higher level of current flow resistance in ZrP-PVP fibers than pristine PVP fibers. Overall, the ZrP-PVP fibers are therefore promising candidates for fuel cell electrolyte fillers due to their interesting properties, such as enhanced proton conductivity and enhanced thermal stability.