Porous structure optimization of electrospun carbon materials

• DOI: 10.1007/s11172-020-2875-7
• Publication Date: 2020-07-20T11:02:46Z
• Authors: K. M. Skupov; I. I. Ponomarev; Yu. M. Volfkovich; V. E. Sosenkin; Iv. I. Ponomarev; Yu. A. Volkova; D. Yu. Razorenov; A. G. Buyanovskaya; V. N. Talanova
• Keywords: Polyacrylonitrile; Hydrophilization; Carbon fibers; Nitric acid; Porosimetry

According to standard contact porosimetry data, treatment of electrospun pyropolymer mats based on pyrolyzed polyacrylonitrile and polybenzimidazole (PBI) nanofibers with a mixture of sulfuric and nitric acids causes a drastic increase in the specific surface area of macro- and mesopores and complete disappearance of micropores. Acid treatment is followed by hydrophilization of pores with radii r < 10 nm. Taken altogether, these effects lead to higher performance of the membrane-electrode assembly of a high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell based on PBI membrane with the cathode made of the platinized acid-treated material.