Carbon Fibers from PAN/PVP Blends by Solution Blow Spinning to Suppress Hydrogen Evolution in Lead-Acid Batteries

Abstract

In this work, carbon fibers were produced using the solution blow spinning (SBS) technique from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) blended with 0, 2.5, 5, and 10% of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). Spun fibers were carbonized in a tubular oven and subsequently characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, carbon−nitrogen elemental analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to observe their microstructural properties. Additionally, electrochemical tests, including potentiodynamic, potentiometric, and cyclic voltammetry, were conducted to evaluate the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Spectroscopic characterizations indicated that carbon fibers were produced by SBS. Moreover, it was possible to control the HER to suppress hydrogen evolution in lead-acid batteries.