• If your goal is to develop a high-performance and durable fuel cell electrode, using pure PVA—even with sulfonated polystyrene (SLS) and heat treatment—is not ideal. Instead, consider a crosslinked or composite binder system in which PVA is modified or blended with a more stable component.

Crosslinking Modifications:

• Crosslink PVA with glutaraldehyde, boric acid, or sulfuric acid to improve chemical resistance.
• Use UV or thermal curing to promote better structural integrity.

Composite Binders:

• Blend PVA with a small amount of PTFE: combine the conductivity of PVA with PTFE’s stability.
• Or use Nafion/PVA composite binders: improves proton conductivity and maintains fuel cell durability.
• Use 10–15 wt% PVA as a binder (optionally crosslinked with 0.5–1% glutaraldehyde or blended with 40–50% PTFE or Nafion) in catalyst inks containing 65–70 wt% catalyst and 20 wt% carbon, dispersed in DI water or ethanol-water, to balance conductivity, adhesion, and stability for hydrogen fuel cell electrodes.

PVA binder may swell or partially dissolve in 0.1 M alkaline solutions unless properly crosslinked, making its stability lower than PTFE. Using PVA with SLS is possible for fuel cell electrodes but requires careful formulation to ensure durability in alkaline environments.