Flexible and ultrathin waterproof conductive cellular membranes based on conformally gold-coated PVDF nanofibers and their potential as gas diffusion electrode

• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2022.111441
• Publication Date: 2022-11-30T09:13:35Z
• Authors: Ranxue Yu; Alessandro Senocrate; Francesco Bernasconi; Tina Künniger; Luca Müller; Robin Pauer; Corsin Battaglia; Xinhou Wang; Jing Wang
• Keywords: Electrospinning; Conformal coating

Nanofiber membranes (NFMs) coated with noble metals are intensively researched for various applications such as wearable electronics, environmental sensors, and point of care diagnostics. To achieve the desired functionality while minimizing costs, a combination facile coating methods accurate microstructural designs is required, but remains elusive. Herein, novel conductive porous designed based on scalable approach to fabricating conformally gold layers electrospun PVDF fibers (Au-PVDF-NFMs) via electroless plating. The deposition conformal fully interconnected layer an average thickness circa 38 nm surface nanofibers confirmed by systematic characterizations. high-conjunction endows high electrical conductivity membranes, yielding low sheet resistance 1.2 Ω/sq. In addition, show integrated functionalities hydrophobicity gas permeability. Notably, NFMs also excellent mechanical durability under both stretching bending, negligible losses after 1000 test cycles. Thanks these properties, Au-PVDF-NFMs demonstrates practical suitability diffusion electrodes (GDEs) electrochemical CO2 reduction. exhibit substantial Faradaic efficiency towards CO, ∼ 85 % at −0.7 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), able reach current densities 100 mA cm−2 −0.95 versus RHE.