FUEL CELLS DEVELOPMENT WITH NANOTECHNOLOGY

Fuel cells are energy conversion systems that converts chemical energy on fuels directly into electric energy. This is achieved by oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction rather than combustion reaction which is used in the conventional methods for electric energy production. Hydrogen and alcohols such as methanol are the type of fuels that are used in fuel cells. Fuel cells are considered the 21^st century technology for the production of electric energy. This is due to its high efficiency, low emission, safety, and silence. However, issues include cost, durability, and conversion efficiency are among the reasons for not using fuel cells in daily applications.

Nanotechnology and nanomaterials introduce solutions for the fuel cells issues that could make them one of the best method for the electric energy production in the near future. The solutions embrace the introduction of new materials and catalysts that increase the conversion efficiency of fuels, increase the durability, and decrease the cost.

One of the most important problems that fuel cells face is the slow electro-oxidation of the fuels used. The solution to this problem is the usage of the catalysts which increase the speed of the reaction without being consumed during the reaction. The kinds of catalysts that are used in the redox reactions in fuel cells are carbon supported noble metallic catalysts. The introduction of the carbon supported metallic nanoparticle catalysts such as Platinum Nanoparticles, Ruthenium Nanoparticles, Palladium Nanoparticles, and others showed excellent results in increasing the activity of the reactions and reducing the cost by decreasing the amount of metals used. Furthermore, the usage of carbon nanomaterials as the catalysts support displayed higher activity, applicability, stability, and efficiency results. These carbon nanomaterials include Carbon Nanotubes, Functional Carbon Nanotubes, and Graphene. The improvement in the results is due to the excellent properties of these nanomaterials such as high surface area, outstanding conductivity, and strength.

Continuous research and development is been done to develop new catalysts that exclude the expensive metals. Others are done to change the design and reduce the size to replace batteries. All these research are base in nanotechnology applications and in the usage of nanomaterials in the fuel cells compartments.

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Carbon Nanotube Threads

Since its discovery, carbon nanotube (CNT) has attracted many interests in different technology fields due to its extraordinary properties. Properties such as, high strength, great electrical and thermal conductivity, light weight and flexibility made CNT one of the best materials for wide range of applications. However, from its name it can be understood that CNT is a nanoscale material which is very small to be applied for the production of daily products. Researchers all around the world are working on finding methods and techniques which could produce new materials with the extraordinary properties of CNT. Image retrieved from: https://worldindustrialreporter.com/strong-light-flexible-carbon-nanotubes-threads-with-ultrahigh-conductivity/ One of these research is focusing on the production of high strength threads that can be used in the manufacturing of fabrics, cables and ropes. An international group of scientists were able to produce a flexible conductive thread th...

Multi Walled Carbon Nanotube Dispersions

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted enormous attention in recent years due to its unique physical, electronic, optical and potential applications in materials science and nanotechnology. The van der Waals interaction between tubes, however, makes CNTs aggregate in most organic solvents and aqueous solutions, which is the major limitation of their practical applications.Various approaches have been studied to alter the CNT surface to promote the dispersion of individual nanotubes and prevent their reaggregation. On the basis of this widely accepted viewpoint, numerous techniques such as covalent bonding, surfactant coating and polymer wrapping have been developed for surface modification or sidewall functionalization.These methods, however, are complicated, time-consuming and cause permanent damage to the CNT structure and properties of the surface, which produces residues of the dispersion agent for the final product. Figure: Single Walled Carbon Nanotube (SWCNT) It ha...

Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles/Nanopowder and Applications

General Information about Magnesium Oxide Magnesium oxide which has the chemical formula of MgO, is a white hygroscopic solid mineral that occurs naturally as periclase and is a source of Magnesium. It is a white powder at room temperature. Magnesium Oxide has very high melting point (2825 o C) and boiling point (3600 o C). Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles/Nanopowder an...

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