Polyphenylene sulfide woven membrane modified by ZIF-8 for alkaline electrolytic cell diaphragm

Enhancing the hydrophilicity of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) woven fabrics to expand their application in alkaline electrolysis has become a significant research focus. In this research, hydrophilic hPPS@ZIF-8 membranes were fabricated through in-situ growth method. By optimizing the growth time, the optimal conditions for the in-situ growth of ZIF-8 crystal particles on the fabric surface are determined. The in-situ growth of ZIF-8 crystals on the PPS fabric surface introduce hydrophilic groups, while their unique pore structures facilitate ion transport, thereby enhancing the electrochemical performance of the modified membrane. The findings indicate that when the in-situ growth time of ZIF-8 crystal particles is set at 12 h, the resultant hPPS@ZIF-8 membranes exhibit enhanced hydrophilicity, minimal surface resistance (0.231 Ω cm 2 ) and bubble pressure (6007 Pa). Moreover, at ambient temperature, the current density of the hPPS@ZIF-8 membrane is observed to be approximately 307 % higher than untreated PPS fabric under equivalent voltage conditions. After immersion in a 30 wt% KOH solution for 12 h, the change in the water contact angle was merely 3.5 %, and the maximum current density remained essentially unchanged. Therefore, the hydrophilic hPPS@ZIF-8 membranes have a wide application prospect in alkaline water electrolysis.