Nanofiber electrodes, fabricating methods and applications of same

Abstract

Nanofiber electrodes for electrochemical devices and fabricating methods of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a liquid mixture containing a catalyst, a first polymer of perfluoro sulfonic acid and a second polymer of polyethylene oxide, the first polymer of perfluoro sulfonic acid being pre-treated to remove protons in the first polymer by exchange with a cation species like Na+; and electro spinning the liquid mixture to generate electro spun fibers and deposit the generated fibers on a collector substrate to form a fiber electrode mat comprising a network of fibers, where each fiber has a plurality of particles of the catalyst distributed thereon.