PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT OF FUEL CELLS: AMPHIPHILIC FUNCTIONALIZATION ALIGNED CARBON NANOTUBES

摘要

The main focus of the research was to improve the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). In this study, the major accomplishment is to modify aligned carbon nanotubes (ACNT), which were produced by plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition, provide catalytic advantages for PEMFCs. It was found that better device endurance with significantly decreased platinum (Pt) loading was achieved. The single PEMFC displayed the maximum power density 960 mV/cm2 and 460 mV/cm2 with the O2 and air oxidant introduced into cathode, respectively, whilest the Pt loading was controlled under 0.19 mg/cm2. The overarching goals are to: 1) provide guidelines for design of new materials; 2) promote nanocatalyst applications towards alternative energy; and 3) integrate several advanced instrumentation into nanocharacterization and fuel cell (FC) performance.