Fuel cell electrodes using carbon nanostructures

The use of carbon nanotubes (SWNT, MWNT, and aligned CNT) for low and intermediate temperature fuel cells has been investigated with thin film CNT/Pt-electrodes of (1 < d < 10 μm). For membrane electrode assembly (MEA) the electrodes were combined either with Nafion® 117 or polycarbonate (PC) membranes wetted with H3PO4. The fuel cell characteristics of the CNT-based MEAs were determined at atmospheric pressure, different catalyst concentrations (Pt) and temperatures (RT < T < 150 °C). The performance is competitive to well-established phosphoric acid (PAFCs) or polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), e.g. PBI/H3PO4. Liquid state processing of CNTs allows flexible electrode design and opens new ways for integrated and significantly mass-/volume-reduced fuel cell electrodes with high saving potential for catalyst and carbon material. Microsized high performance power supplies and battery chargers for consumer electronics are the most promising applications.