High performance of alkaline anion-exchange membranes based on chitosan/poly (vinyl) alcohol doped with graphene oxide for the electrooxidation of primary alcohols

Mixed matrix membranes (MMM) based on chitosan (CS) and poly (vinyl) alcohol (PVA) with a 50:50 w/w ratio doped with graphene oxide (GO) are prepared by solution casting and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), water uptake,...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: García Cruz, Leticia, Casado Coterillo, Clara|||0000-0002-4454-7652, Irabien Gulías, Ángel|||0000-0002-2411-4163, Montiel Leguey, Vicente, Iniesta Valcárcel, Jesús
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Cantabria (UC)
Repositorio:UCrea Repositorio Abierto de la Universidad de Cantabria
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.unican.es:10902/9920
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10902/9920
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Graphene oxide
Graphene composite electrolyte membrane
Chitosan
Poly (vinyl) alcohol
Alkaline anion-exchange membrane (AAEM)
Alcohol permeability
Descripción
Sumario:Mixed matrix membranes (MMM) based on chitosan (CS) and poly (vinyl) alcohol (PVA) with a 50:50 w/w ratio doped with graphene oxide (GO) are prepared by solution casting and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), water uptake, alcohol permeability, ion exchange capacity (IEC) and OH−conductivity measurements. The SEM analysis revealed a dense MMM where the GO nanosheets were well dispersed over the entire polymer matrix. The incorporation of GO increased considerably the thermal stability of the CS:PVA membrane. The GO-based MMM exhibited a low conductivity of 0.19 mS·cm−1 in part because the GO sheets did not change the crystallinity of the CS:PVA matrix. The reinforced structure created by the hydrogen bonds between the GO filler and the CS:PVA matrix resulted to be a good physical barrier for alcohol permeability, achieving a coefficient of diffusion of 3.38 × 10−7 and 2.43 × 10−7 cm2·s−1 after 60 and 120 min, respectively, thus avoiding additional alcohol crossover. Finally, the electrochemical performance of the GO-based MMM in the electrooxidation of propargyl alcohol was investigated in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Electrochemical Reactor (PEMER) under alkaline conditions, through the polarization curve and the electrolysis reactions, showing a performance comparable to anion-exchange commercial membranes.