Morphology and Physiochemical Characterization of Perfluorosulfonic Acid (PFSA) Membrane for Electrochemical Application

Abstract

This report provides a thorough examination of the surface morphology, chemical content, and physical properties of Perfluorosulfonic Acid (PFSA) membrane which is commonly utilised as a conductive membrane in fuel cells, ionic batteries, and electrolysers. This experimental effort is separated into two parts: morphological characterisation and physicochemical analysis, which aim to improve understanding of the membrane functional qualities. The membrane surface and cross-sectional characteristics were examined at varied magnifications using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). The EDX results revealed that the membrane surface is predominantly composed of carbon (C), oxygen (O), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni), accounting for 22.82% by mass, whereas the cross-section analysis revealed higher mass percentages of titanium (Ti), sulphur (S), oxygen (O), carbon (C), and fluorine (F), totalling 53.51%. Tensile testing confirmed the membrane's strength, with a tensile stress of 13.71 N/mm² and an elongation at break of 73.73%. Thermal stability and breakdown behaviour were determined using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), which validated this membrane thermal endurance at 422^oC degradation temperatures. These findings provide significant understanding into the surface morphology and structural functional features of PFSA membrane which allow its optimisation for advanced electrochemical applications.