Phd in ELECTRICAL, MATERIALS, RAW MATERIALS AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
ENGINEERING

Thesis title: Electrospun Materials for the Development of Sustainable Mobility and Energy Storage

The transition towards sustainable energy solutions has positioned hydrogen as a pivotal energy carrier, particularly in the context of mobility and energy storage. Water electrolysis, a key method for hydrogen production, is undergoing significant advancements with the development of anion exchange membrane (AEM) technology. This thesis explores the synthesis and characterization of AEMs fabricated using electrospinning techniques, focusing on manufacturing cost-effective membrane for water electrolyzers. Two primary approaches are investigated: (I) the development of composite AEMs through post-activation of electrospun Polysulfone (PSU) membranes, and (II) the direct electrospinning of mixed PSU-ionomer solutions to create intrinsic AEMs. The study systematically evaluates membrane ionic conductivity, mechanical robustness, and electrochemical stability under realistic operational conditions. The findings demonstrate that electrospun PSU-based AEMs offer promising alternatives to commercial membranes, with enhanced scalability potential via Roll-to-Roll (R2R) production methods. These advancements pave the way for cost-effective, high-performance AEMs suitable for industrial-scale green hydrogen production and energy storage technologies.