Structural, surface morphological and mechanical behavior of fuel cell membranes infused with graphene oxide and graphene nanoplatelets

This paper discusses fuel cell membranes’ mechanical, structural, and morphological studies. The membranes were synthesized using PVA infused with different carbon-based nanoparticles. Carbon nanoparticles used include Graphene oxide (Go), and Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNP). The percentage of the NPs in the membrane varied from 0.01 to 0.04 wt. % of the holding matrix. The developed membranes’ mechanical properties were determined by experimental and FEA analysis. The tensile strength of the membranes increased with an increase in the nanoparticle dosage in the membrane till 0.02 wt.% for GO whileit was 0.01 wt. % for GNP beyond which decreasing trends were observed. The FEA results for tensile strength were in good agreement with the experimental results. GNP-reinforced membranes exhibited a higher tensile strength (20%) than GO. XRD results of the membranes reinforced with both the carbon nanoparticles showed intercalation of PVA in the Graphene layers. Also observed was graphene oxide formation in the graphene nanoplatelet and PVA mixture. The synthesized membranes can thus be used for longer operation in fuel cell applications with acceptable performance.