ItemArticle

Facile fabrication of mesh-free, GO-reinforced ZrO2-based separators for advanced alkaline water electrolysis

Title
Facile fabrication of mesh-free, GO-reinforced ZrO2-based separators for advanced alkaline water electrolysis
Creator
Madhura, A.; Cherian, Christie Thomas; Patel, Nainesh
Description
Alkaline Water Electrolysis (AWE) is a promising method for sustainable hydrogen production due to its maturity and use of non-noble metal catalysts. A key challenge lies in developing cost-effective, durable, and scalable separators that ensure ionic conduction and separation between the electrodes. This study presents a mesh-free composite separator composed of zirconia nanoparticles (ZrO2 NPs), polysulfone (PSU), and graphene oxide (GO), eliminating the need for expensive polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) mesh and its hazardous hydrophilic surface treatments. GO was incorporated as a multifunctional additive to enhance mechanical strength, hydrophilicity, and dispersion of ZrO2 NPs. Separators were fabricated with varying compositions of ZrO2 NPs, PSU, and GO, and tested in a zero-gap titanium-based electrolyser using nickel foam electrodes and 30?wt% potassium hydroxide (KOH) electrolyte. Amongst them, the Sep72/25/3 separator (72?wt% ZrO2, 25?wt% PSU, 3?wt% GO) showed a low area-specific resistance (ASR) of 298?m? cm2 at room temperature (RT). It also exhibited excellent wettability with a reduced contact angle of 23 after 24?h conditioning in 30?wt% KOH, along with a notable improvement in tensile strength, from 1.75?MPa (without GO) to 3.26?MPa, validating the reinforcing role of GO. The results demonstrate a simple and scalable route for fabricating mesh-free separators that strike an optimal balance between ionic resistance, mechanical strength, and wettability, thereby offering a cost-effective alternative for next-generation advanced alkaline water electrolysis (AAWE) systems. The Korean Ceramic Society 2025.
Source
Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society;Volume;63;Issue;1;pp.82-92
Date
01-01-2026
Publisher
Springer
Subject
Alkaline water electrolysis; Area-specific resistance; Graphene oxide; Mesh-free composite separator; Zero gap electrolyser
Coverage
Madhura A., Department of Physics and Electronics, Christ University, Bengaluru, 560029, India; Cherian C.T., School of Electronic Systems and Automation, Digital University Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 695317, India; Patel N., Department of Physics and Electronics, Christ University, Bengaluru, 560029, India
Rights
Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library
Relation
ISSN: 12297801;
Format
online
Language
English
Type
Article

Citation

Madhura, A.; Cherian, Christie Thomas; Patel, Nainesh, “Facile fabrication of mesh-free, GO-reinforced ZrO2-based separators for advanced alkaline water electrolysis,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed June 19, 2026, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/22146.

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