Avrami Model Research Articles

Removal of Ni(II) and Cu(II) in Aqueous Solutions Using Treated Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) as Bioadsorbent

Phytoremediation consists of taking advantage of the capacity of certain plants to absorb, accumulate, or metabolize contaminants. In this study, Eichornia crassipes (water lily) treated with water (WLW) and NaOH (WLN) was investigated as an adsorbent for removal of Ni(II) and Cu(II) present in aqueous solution, focusing on determining the most efficient conditions (adsorbent concentration, contact time, pretreatment, temperature). The results showed that equilibrium adsorption was favorable and carried out by a multilayer physical process with both bioadsorbents. The maximum adsorption at 30 °C in WLW and WLN was 349 and 293.8 mg/g of Ni(II), respectively, and 294.1 and 276.3 mg/g of Cu(II), respectively. The thermodynamic analysis indicated that the removal in both metals was spontaneous and exothermic. The Avrami model was the most adequate in the kinetic study of Ni(II) and Cu(II) removal in both treatments, which revealed that the adsorption process was carried out by several mechanisms. In the characterization of the adsorbents, it was determined that the functional groups of WL as well as the attractive forces on the surface of the materials participated in the metal removal process.

Numerical simulation of polarization switching kinetics in ferroelectrics based on fractional Kolmogorov – Avrami model

The Kolmogorov – Avrami theory of crystallization is widely used for simulation of polarization switching kinetics in ferroelectrics. In the present study, a fractional modification of the Kolmogorov – Avrami model is examined in view of the application to polarization switching current in ferroelectrics. The approach is based on the numerical calculation of the Caputo fractional derivative with respect to the time-dependent function relating to the switching transients. The results of computational experiments are demonstrated with variation of both the parameters of domain growth and the order of time-fractional derivative. A comparison of the simulation results with experimental data and the corresponding statistical estimates are also carried out.

Ultrasound-assisted adsorption of chlorpyrifos from aqueous solutions using magnetic chitosan/graphene quantum dot‑iron oxide nanocomposite hydrogel beads in batch adsorption column and fixed bed

Chlorpyrifos is a hazardous material that pollutes the environment and also poses risks to human health. Thus, it is necessary to remove chlorpyrifos from aqueous media. In this study, chitosan-based hydrogel beads with different content of iron oxide-graphene quantum dots were synthesized and used for the ultrasonic-assisted removal of chlorpyrifos from wastewater. The results of batch adsorption experiments showed that among the hydrogel beads-based nanocomposites, the chitosan/graphene quantum dot‑iron oxide (10) indicated a higher adsorption efficiency of about 99.997 % at optimum conditions of the response surface method. Fitting the experimental equilibrium data to different models shows that the adsorption of chlorpyrifos is well described by the Jossens, Avrami, and double exponential models. Furthermore, for the first time, the study of the ultrasonic effect on the removal performance of chlorpyrifos showed that the ultrasonic-assisted removal of chlorpyrifos significantly reduces the equilibration time. It is expected that the ultrasonic-assisted removal strategy can be a new method to develop highly efficient adsorbents for rapid removal of pollutants in wastewater. Also, the results of the fixed bed adsorption column showed that the breakthrough time and exhausting time of chitosan/graphene quantum dot‑iron oxide (10) were equal to 485 and 1099 min, respectively. And finally, the adsorption-desorption study showed the successful reuse of adsorbent for chlorpyrifos adsorption in seven runs without a significant decrease in adsorption efficiency. Therefore, it can be said that the adsorbent has a high economic and functional potential for industrial applications.

Zn leaching recovery and mechanisms from end-of-life tire rubber

Experiments were conducted to investigate the leaching behavior of Zn from end-of-life tire rubber. XRD and XPS analyses showed that the Zn-containing phase in the material was mainly ZnO. SEM-EDS analysis confirmed the presence of both exposed and encapsulated ZnO particles. Acid leaching tests indicated that the carbon black comprised in the material can be oxidized and dissolved by HNO3, resulting in the dissolution of completely encapsulated ZnO particles with thinner covering layers. Then, leaching tests using HNO3 as the lixiviant were performed by varying acid concentration and leaching temperature. The results showed over 98% of Zn can be recovered using 2.0 mol/L HNO3 at 90 ℃ after 400 min of reaction. Leaching kinetic results were best fit with the Avrami model, indicating the leaching process was controlled by diffusion. The activation energy determined by Arrhenius formula was 12.92 kJ/mol, which further supports the proposed diffusion controlled leaching process.

Estudio cinético de la cristalización de fases grasas con agregado de fitoesteroles mediante calorimetría diferencial de barrido (DSC)

The aim of the work was to study the kinetic parameters of the isothermal crystallization of fat blends at different temperatures by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The fat blends are composed of fully hydrogenated rice bran oil (FHRBO) and soybean oil (SBO) at different proportions (20, 25, 30, 30, 35 and 40 % FHRBO), being both materials previously purified. In addition, some blends were selected and added a known amount of phytosterols. Kinetic parameters were quantified by applying the Avrami model that determines the induction time (generation of crystal nuclei, ti), nucleation mechanism (Avrami exponent, n) and crystal growth (kinetic constant, k). It was observed that higher percentage of FHRBO and lower crystallization temperature ti decrease and k increase. The faster kinetics observed is due to the contribution of tri-saturated triglycerides and a higher degree of supercooling. In the blend with 35 % of FHRBO, the addition of phytosterols at the concentrations studied promoted an increase in ti and a reduction in k, prolonging nucleation and generating a slow crystal growth. However, for the blend with 20% of FHRBO an increase in ti and k was observed.

Giant Grain Growth of 2,5-Di(2-thienyl)-1H-pyrrole Crystal Films: Kinetic Analysis of Self-Crystallization from Its Supercooled Liquid in Vacuum Deposition

Self-crystallization of 2,5-di(2-thienyl)-1H-pyrrole (DTP) from its supercooled liquid in vacuum deposition was demonstrated. In situ infrared absorption spectroscopy and polarizing microscope observation techniques were employed to investigate the kinetic effect of three kinds of substrates whose surfaces were differently treated on the phase transformation during deposition. Essentially, irrespective of the kind of substrates, the crystallization was found to proceed in a steady-state manner, where the supercooled liquid could be regarded as an intermediate whose amount was kept almost constant during the deposition. After stopping the deposition, the supercooled liquid underwent further phase transformation to complete the crystallization, which process could be well understood with the Avrami model. Giant grain growth of DTP crystal films was found on a substrate, which was uniformly covered with a thin ionic liquid layer, and their crystallinity was much improved.

Production of adsorbent for removal of propranolol hydrochloride: Use of residues from Bactris guineensis fruit palm with economically exploitable potential from the Colombian Caribbean

The production and consequently the consumption of the pulp of the fruit of the palm tree Bactris guineensis occurs extensively in Colombia. The majority of the fruit is formed by waste (peel and core), producing high residual biomass. Thus, it is necessary to find a practical utilization of these peels, making the production and consumption of the fruit of the palm tree Bactris guineensis highly sustainable. This study produced activated biochar chemically activated using ZnCl2 and utilized it as an effective adsorbent. The high micropollutant uptake is because of the high porosity and good specific surface area (SBET = 625 m2 g−1). Under basic conditions, propranolol adsorption was favored for an adsorbent dosage of 0.7 g/L. The adsorbent showed fast kinetics, with the equilibrium influenced by the concentration. Avrami's model showed a satisfactory fit having a t0.95 ranging from 47.8 to 179.3 min. Equilibrium data were best adjusted to the Liu isotherm model. The values of Qmax increased with the temperature, reaching up to 161.3 mg g−1 (45 °C). The thermodynamic data showed ΔG° < 0 for 298–328 K (adsorption process favorable) ΔH°= + 7.403 kJ mol−1 (endothermic; magnitude compatible with physical adsorption), and ΔS°= +115.2 J K−1 mol−1 (releases of water molecules of the adsorbate before it being adsorbed in the carbon surface). The biochar chemically activated with ZnCl2, produced from the leftover peels of Colombian palm fruits, is therefore inferred to be a promising option as an adsorbent for the treatment of effluents containing the medication propranolol hydrochloride.

Leaching kinetics of fluorine during the aluminum removal from spent Li-ion battery cathode materials

The high content of aluminum (Al) impurity in the recycled cathode powder seriously affects the extraction efficiency of Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, and Lithium resources and the actual commercial value of recycled materials, so Al removal is crucially important to conform to the industrial standard of spent Li-ion battery cathode materials. In this work, we systematically investigated the leaching process and optimum conditions associated with Al removal from the cathode powder materials collected in a wet cathode-powder peeling and recycling production line of spent Li-ion batteries (LIBs). Moreover, we specifically studied the leaching of fluorine (F) synergistically happened along with the removal process of Al, which was not concerned about in other studies, but one of the key factors affecting pollution prevention in the recovery process. The mechanism of the whole process including the leaching of Al and F from the cathode powder was indicated by using NMR, FTIR, and XPS, and a defluoridation process was preliminarily investigated in this study. The leaching kinetics of Al could be successfully described by the shrinking core model, controlled by the diffusion process and the activation energy was 11.14 kJ/mol. While, the leaching of F was attributed to the dissolution of LiPF6 and decomposition of PVDF, and the kinetics associated was described by Avrami model. The interaction of Al and F is advantageous to realize the defluoridation to some degree. It is expected that our investigation will provide theoretical support for the large-scale recycling of spent LIBs.

Application of a novel hybrid MIL-53(Al)@rice husk for the adsorption of glyphosate in water: Characteristics and mechanism of the process

The development of new materials that have a high capacity to remove pollutants in water-based media is becoming increasingly important because of the serious contamination of water and the negative impact on biodiversity and public health. The presence of glyphosate in water, the most widely used herbicide worldwide, has triggered alerts owing to the collateral effects it may cause on human health. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the potential of the hybrid material MIL-53(Al)@RH for the adsorption of glyphosate in aqueous solution. The material was obtained following the methodology of MIL-53(Al) synthesis in the presence of hydrolyzed rice husk assisted by microwave. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to evaluate the adsorbent dosage, pH0 solution effect, contact time, adsorbate concentration, and temperature effect. The results demonstrated that a maximum adsorption capacity of 296.95 mg g−1, at pH0 4 with a ratio of 0.04 g MIL-53(Al)@RH/50 mL of solution, was achieved in 30 min. The Avrami and pseudo-second order models appropriately described the adsorption kinetics and the equilibrium by Langmuir and Sips models. The enthalpy changes (ΔH°) determined propose an endothermic reaction governed by chemisorption, corroborating the kinetic and equilibrium settings. Hydrogen bonds, π*-π interactions, and complexation between the metal centers of MIL-53(Al) and the anionic groups of glyphosate were postulated to be involved as adsorption mechanisms. Finally, for practical application, MIL-53(Al)@RH was packed in a column for a fixed-bed test which revealed that the hybrid can remove glyphosate with an adsorption capacity of 76.304 mg L−1, utilizing 90% of the bed.

Process Elucidation and Hazard Analysis of the Metal–Organic Framework Scale-Up Synthesis: A Case Study of ZIF-8

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted growing attention for various applications in catalysis, separation, environment, food, and medicine. Guidelines for the efficient and safe scale-up synthesis of MOFs are significant to industry; therefore, a detailed process kinetics and hazard analysis can provide an inherently safer design before actual implementation. In this work, from the perspective of reaction engineering and process safety, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) is selected as a case example to study the MOF scale-up synthesis in a solvothermal RC1e reactor coupled with in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy under room temperature. Three ZIF-8 formation stages (nucleation, growth, and stationary) are identified over the reaction time, and the corresponding transformation kinetics are correlated by the Avrami model. Moreover, a detailed HAZOP analysis on each step is discussed to explore operability problems caused by deviations from normally designed conditions.

Dissolution kinetics studies of kaolin ore as raw material for mesoporous silica by acid leaching

ABSTRACT The high demand for nanoporous silica materials makes it worthwhile to further explore new, cheap and environmentally friendly resources. In this study, the selective acid dissolution of an indigenous kaolin ore after thermal activation for the preparation of mesoporous silica nanoparticles was reported. Experimental parameters (acid concentration, liquid/solid ratio and temperature) were optimised and resultant solid was characterised by X-ray diffraction; scanning and transmission electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements. The products were found to be nanoporous with pore sizes of 0.402 and 0.129 cm3 g–1, with specific surface areas of 45.23 and 16.89 m2 g–1, respectively. The pore development follows the Avrami model with parameter model n values of 0.80 and 0.63, and calculated apparent activation energies of 7.22 and 22.81 kJ mol–1 for hydrochloric and sulphuric acid respectively, suggesting that the leaching activity is controlled by diffusion processes. The products as characterised demonstrated the vast potential of kaolinite in the development of mesopore materials for diverse industrial applications.

Comparative adsorption of tetracycline onto unmodified and NaOH-modified silicomanganese fumes: Kinetic and process modeling

Silicomanganese fumes (SMF) are industrial waste and a potential low-cost adsorbent for the removal of contaminants from water. In this study, the adsorption performance of SMF and NaOH-modified SMF (SMF-Na) for the removal of tetracycline (TC) from an aqueous solution was investigated. The characterization results showed the presence of functional groups (SiO2, -OH and C-O-C), a considerably higher surface area of the SMF-Na (142.59 m2 g−1) compared to the SMF (7.73 m2 g−1). The TC adsorption was favored under acidic conditions (pH 2–3) and increased with an increasing amount of adsorbent. The adsorption equilibrium was achieved in 360 min, and the presence of Na+ ions insignificantly influenced the TC adsorption. The Avrami model fitted better to the kinetic data with R2 = 0.995. The isothermal data was well represented by the Redlich-Peterson and Langmuir model. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of SMF and SMF-Na was 117 and 129 mg g−1, respectively. The thermodynamic results confirmed that the TC adsorption was endothermic and predominantly governed by physical forces. The removal of TC onto SMF and SMF-Na was maintained above 90 % even after five regeneration cycles The results suggested that SMF-Na is a promising alternative adsorbent for the removal of tetracycline antibiotics from wastewater streams.

Bioremediation of arsenic using magnetic NdFeO3 nanoparticles functionalized with microbial biofilm

Magnetic support of NdFeO3 was synthesized to solve the problem of inorganic arsenic species contamination in water. NdFeO3 nanoparticles showed an adsorption capacity of 54.2 and 156.0 mg/g, for As (III) and As (V) respectively. The adsorption isotherms showed a good adsorption performance at pH 3 and 9 for both As species, showing more adsorption capacity for As (V) than As (III). Adsorption of As (III) on NdFeO3 showed a good fit with a pseudo-first order kinetic model and with the Avrami model. The reaction was endothermic, spontaneous, and exhibited increasing entropy. Looking to improve the arsenical remediation, the NdFeO3 was associated with the biofilm from Microbacterium oxydans AE038–20. The biofilm attached to the nanoparticles showed good stability and was characterized by TGA, SEM, and FTIR. Thus, a magnetic nanocomposite (mNFO@biofilm) was successfully fabricated and used as an adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of As (III) and As (V). mNFO@biofilm displayed a remarkable adsorption performance for both As (III) and As (V) removal at acidic and basic pH (3 and 9). The microbial biofilm attached to nanoparticles of NdFeO3 facilitated the remotion process showing an arsenic adsorption capacity of 84.80%. Additionally, the mNFO@biofilm improved the arsenical removal not only by the best adsorption than the nanoparticles alone but also was able to oxidize the As (III) to As (V). Finally, the NdFeO3 nanoparticles were recovered by removing the biofilm by heating. Thus, the recovery and potential reusability of these nanoparticles improved their application for arsenic water remediation.

Microstructuring process in oleogels formulated with vegetable oils and monoglycerides: A comparison of non‐isothermal nucleation kinetics by spectrophotometric and DSC analysis

AbstractThe initial oleogelation process (microstructuring) as well as the formulation are determinant to obtain the desired characteristics in oleogels with potential application in the industry. The microstructuring process in oleogels has been extensively studied by means of techniques highly sensitive to thermal variations, such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). However, there are other readily available techniques and equipment that can be employed to perform similar evaluations. Non‐isothermal nucleation kinetics by spectrophotometric methods can be used as alternatives to basic crystallization studies in oleogels. Therefore, in this research a comparison of both techniques is presented, highlighting their similarities, advantages and limitations, in the study of the microstructure of oleogels. Oleogels were obtained with a minimum concentration of gelator and another saturated one, using vegetable oils of different degrees of saturation. The crystallization profiles of the oleogels were obtained by DSC, a non‐isothermal nucleation kinetics was performed from the molten system and the final microstructure was evaluated by optical microscopy. The Fisher‐Turnbull and Avrami model was used to evaluate the behavior during microstructuring. A gap was observed during the crystallization process by DSC which can be evaluated by spectrophotometry. Differences in the microstructuring process were found in both methods due to the temperature ramp used and formulation variables. The results obtained by spectrophotometry indicate that it can be a good alternative, easily accessible in oleogel crystallization studies, when high sensitivity or very specific thermal parameters are not required.

Promotion of thermomechanical processing of 2-GPa low-alloyed ultrahigh-strength steel and physically based modelling of the deformation behaviour

A low-alloyed ultrahigh-strength steel comprising CrNiMoWMnV was designed based on thermodynamic calculations and by controlling the microalloying elements to promote various strengthening mechanisms upon processing. The hot deformation behaviour and mechanism were correlated with the processing parameters, that is, strain rate and temperature. The fine features of the deformed microstructures were analysed using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and MATLAB software, combined with the MTEX texture and crystallographic analysis toolbox. The flow stress behaviour at high temperatures was modelled using the dislocation density-based Bergström's model, which could be applied up to the peak strain. However, the diffusional transformation (i.e. recrystallisation)-based Kolmogorov–Johnson–Mehl–Avrami model has been applied to fit the flow stress over a wide deformation strain. The effective grain size (EGS) of martensite and prior austenite grain size (PAGS) were correlated with the deformation temperature and strain rate. Because the PAGS was significantly refined from 16 μm in the initial microstructure to 6 μm after processing at 850 °C/0.01 s−1, the corresponding martensite EGSs were 1.38 and 1.01 μm, respectively. Therefore, these fine-controlled characteristics of the processed microstructures at high temperatures help to enhance the mechanical properties, such as the strength and toughness, of the designed ultrahigh-strength steel.

Crystallization kinetics in the chiral compound showing the vitrification of the smectic CA* phase for moderate cooling rates

ABSTRACT The crystallization of the 3F5FPhF6 compound from the liquid crystalline antiferroelectric smectic CA* phase is investigated in various conditions using differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing optical microscopy. The kinetics of isothermal melt and cold crystallization is studied on the basis of the Avrami model. The kinetics of non-isothermal cold crystallization is analysed using the Ozawa model and the activation energy is determined by the Augis-Bennett, Friedman’s differential isoconversional and Matusita methods. The border temperature between the diffusion-controlled crystallization and thermodynamically-controlled crystallization is estimated. The high fragility index of 105 is determined from the α-process in the smectic CA* phase by the broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The metastable, conformationally disordered crystal phase, forming only via cold crystallization, is reported.

Cyclic CO2 capture behavior of slag-derived Li4SiO4: A kinetic analysis of CO2 desorption

Two slag-derived Li4SiO4 were synthesized using metallurgical slags as silica sources and used as CO2 sorbents. The CO2 desorption process was studied using a fixed temperature during the sorption step, with different CO2 partial pressures and several desorption temperatures. The kinetic parameters of the CO2 desorption were studied using the Avrami-Erofeev and zero-order models. With the latter, it was possible to calculate the activation energy of the desorption during the first minutes of the process, while with the Avrami-Erofeev model, only the energy associated with the second stage of the model was obtained. The calculated energies with the Avrami model were at least three orders of magnitude greater than the sorption stages reported values. Moreover, both models showed that the Li4SiO4 derived from the electric arc furnace (EAF) slag is less dependent on temperature than the derived from the blast furnace (BF). The kinetic parameters of desorption were also calculated for several regeneration cycles, where it was found that the k values diminish when lower partial pressures of CO2 (PCO2) were used. Finally, the structural evolution after the cyclic study showed the formation of secondary phases in the slag-derived silicates.

Investigation of CO2 adsorption performance of amine impregnated adsorbents using amine-support matching strategies

Supports and the organic amine type are the main factors affecting the performance of adsorbents. Currently, researchers are focusing on the development of supports, but their high cost limits the applications. In addition, there is a lack of studies on the mechanism of matching organic amines to supports. This paper presents a feasible strategy including the preparation of low-cost mesoporous nano-SiO2 (B-SiO2) support from blast furnace slag (BFS). A series of adsorbents were obtained by impregnating with different organic amines on the B-SiO2 support to identify the most suitable amine type for B-SiO2. The results showed that the matching degree four amines with B-SiO2 was TETA > TEPA > PEHA > PEI in order. TETA at 35 wt.% was the best matched amine for B-SiO2, exhibiting the highest CO2 adsorption capacity of 112.89 mg/g and the best adsorption energy Eads = −87.21 kJ/mol at 80 ℃. This is mainly due to two reasons. On the one hand, TETA is easily dispersed in the pores of the support, which not only effectively prevents the agglomeration effect and improves the accessibility of the active site, but also facilitates the inhibition of amine leaching. On the other hand, TETA has the least steric hindrance and the highest affinity for CO2, thus reducing the mass transfer resistance and improving the adsorption performance. In addition, four adsorption kinetic models were developed. The Avrami model was the best fit for four adsorbents. It indicates that the adsorption mechanism of this type of adsorbent is a combination of physical and chemical adsorption. This study reveals the matching rules between amine species and supports, and provides theoretical guidance for the preparation of solid amine-based adsorbents.

Kinetics, Mechanism, and Optimization Modeling of a Green LFP Delithiation Process Developed for Direct Recycling of Lithium-Ion Batteries

Orthorhombic LiFePO4 (LFP) offers highly reversible redox reactions, making it an attractive cathodic material for lithium-ion batteries. This electrochemical property was exploited to develop an environmentally benign selective lithium extraction process based on CO2 and hydrogen peroxide that can be applied to direct LFP recycling. The proof of concept of this green delithiation process was demonstrated in a previously published paper, while the process optimization and the establishment of the reaction kinetic mechanism are addressed in the current paper. First, the effects of solid to liquid ratio (S/L), temperature, CO2 pressure, and initial H2O2 to LFP molar ratio were studied through an orthogonal design of experiments. In the range of conditions studied and considering the objective of maximizing the S/L ratio, the optimal conditions are a temperature of 20 °C, a CO2 pressure of 2 atm, and a H2O2 to LFP molar ratio of 1.25. In addition, reaction kinetic models were used to determine the reaction mechanism. The activation energies obtained based on rate constants from shrinking core and Avrami models are 15.7 and 13.9 kJ mol–1, respectively. While these values reveal a mixed or diffusion-controlled heterogeneous reaction, the analysis of half-delithiated LFP particles under scanning–transmission electron microscopy revealed the reaction being controlled by nucleation rather than diffusion. In this context, the Avrami model that accounts for nucleation and growth in solid-state reactions proved the most appropriate. Further, the reaction mechanism is concluded to be limited by nucleation of FP phase within the body of LFP during the early reaction stage and to sequentially shift to the one-dimensional diffusion-limited crystallite growth regime. Finally, it is shown that CO2 acts as a buffering agent by neutralizing the LiOH formed by Fenton-like reactions between H2O2 and ferric iron in LFP.

Morphological control for high proton conduction in robust Co3O4-diethylmethylamine (metal-organic framework) membrane.

Metal-organic framework (MOF) based proton conductors are synthesized by the Avrami model (time-temperature modalities). Our objective here is to obtain a material with high proton conductivity in anhydrous conditions, improved catalytic behaviour and morphology control of conductivity, band gap and catalysis. For this purpose, we try to understand the role of morphology on mass transportation using computational fluid dynamics and the experimental realisation using the synthesis of MOF membranes with high protonic conductivity. In order to alter the morphology, the membranes are synthesized from protic ionic liquid (dimethyl ethyl amine H2PO4) and metal ion (Co3O4) at different temperatures and duration. A high protonic conductivity of 0.0286 S cm-1 with a high transference number >0.99 is observed in anhydrous conditions with the change in morphology. Furthermore, catalyst properties along with high activity (Tafel slope = 39 mV decade-1) with the alteration in morphology are also investigated in detail and observed adsorption governed conduction. This adsorption governed conduction is verified using computational fluid dynamics simulations with the alteration in morphology. This study suggests that morphology not only plays a pivotal role in obtaining a robust proton exchange membrane, it also improves the catalytic functionality and stability of the membrane.