• Membrane Journal
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.123-129
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• 2019

Environmental pollution caused by the presence of heavy metal ion from growing industrialization or from leaching is increasing area of concern. There are several area of water purifications but among them adsorption on the functionalized polymer fibers is efficient and cost-effective method. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is exciting polymer due to the presence of excessive functional group which can be easily transformed for metal ion adsorption. PAN can be easily electrospun to prepare nanofiber that have higher surface area leading to better metal ion removal. Composite PAN fiber is yet another type of polymer covered in this review for waste water treatment.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2023

In this study, waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was recycled to produce a support and then polyetherimide (PEI) was used for environmentally friendly organic solvent nanofiltration. The prepared composite membrane was first prepared by electrospinning a PET support, then casted on the support using PEI having excellent solvent resistance, and organic solvent nanoparticles using a Non-solvent Induced Phase Separation (NIPS) method. A filtration membrane was prepared. First, the fiber diameter and tensile strength of the PET scaffold prepared prior to membrane fabrication were identified through morphology analysis, and the optimal scaffold for the organic solvent nanofiltration membrane was identified. Afterward, the PET/PEI composite membrane prepared was checked for the DEA removal rate of Congo red having a molecular weight of 697 g/mol in ethanol to understand the performance as an organic solvent nanofiltration membrane according to the concentration of PEI. Finally, the removal rate of Congo red was 90% or more.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.228-241
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• 2020

Separators, which produces physical layer between a cathode and anode, are getting enormous attention as the quality of the separator determines the performance of lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Porous membranes based on polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are generally utilized as the separator of LIBs because of their high electrochemical stability and suitable mechanical strength. However, low thermal resistance and wettability of PE and PP membranes limited the potential of LIBs. Operating at the temperature exceeding the melting point of membranes, the separators change their structures which lead to short circuit of LIBs. Low wettability of the separators corresponds to low ionic conductivity which increases the cell resistance. To overcome these weaknesses of PE and PP separators, different types of separator were prepared by co-electrospinning, applying coating layer, forming core shell around membrane, and papermaking method. The synthesized separator greatly enhanced the heat resistance and wettability of separator and mechanical properties like flexibility and tensile strength. In this review different type of polymer membrane used as separator in lithium ion battery are discussed.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.38-40
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• 2010

Carbon supported electrocatalysts are commonly used as electrode materials for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs). These kinds of electrocatalysts provide large surface area and sufficient electrical conductivity. The support of typical PEM fuel cell catalysts has been a traditional conductive type of carbon black. However, even though the carbon particles conduct electrons, there is still significant portion of Pt that is isolated from the external circuit and the PEM, resulting in a low Pt utilization. Herein, new types of carbon materials to effectively utilize the Pt catalyst are being evaluated. Carbon nanofiber/activated carbon fiber (CNF/ACF) composite with multifunctional surfaces were prepared through catalytic growth of CNFs on ACFs. Nickel nitrate was used as a precursor of the catalyst to synthesize carbon nanofibers(CNFs). CNFs were synthesized by pyrolysising $CH_4$ using catalysts dispersed in acetone and ACF(activated carbon fiber). The as-prepared samples were characterized with transmission electron microscopy(TEM), scanning electron microscopy(SEM). In TEM image, carbon nanofibers were synthesized on the ACF to form a three-dimensional network. Pt/CNF/ACF was employed as a catalyst for PEMFC. As the ratio of prepared catalyst to commercial catalyst was changed from 0 to 50%, the performance of the mixture of 30 wt% of Pt/CNF/ACF and 70wt% of Pt/C commercial catalyst showed better perfromance than that of 100% commercial catalyst. The unique structure of CNF can supply the significant site for the stabilization of Pt particles. CNF/ACF is expected to be promising support to improve the performance in PEMFC.