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Study on the Synthesis of CNTs and the Fabrication of CNTs-Based MEA for DMFC Application

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Chun-Hsi Su ,
Chii-Ruey Lin  and
Hsin-Chin Hung
Chun-Hsi Su
Affiliation:
[email protected], National Taipei University of Technology, Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, No.1, Sec.3, Chung-Hsiao E. Road, Taipei, 10608, Taiwan, 886-2-27712171ext2087, 886-2-87731661
Chii-Ruey Lin
Affiliation:
[email protected], Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Taipei, 10608, Taiwan
Hsin-Chin Hung
Affiliation:
[email protected], Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Taipei, 10608, Taiwan
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Abstract

A fuel cell (FC) generates electricity by chemical reactions. The catalyst dispersion in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of FC is a crucial factor to affect the performance of the cell. A novel grafting method is adopted in this study to grow secondary carbon nano-tubes (CNTs) on a substrate comprised of primary CNTs, in order to form branchy CNTs with higher specific surface area (SSA). The as-obtained branchy CNTs are then used as catalyst, Pt, carriers in the MEA of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). A self-assembled DMFC of air-breathing type with active MEA area of 2 × 2 cm2 is used in this study as the standard FC for the electrical performance test. The peak power of DMFC comprised of an MEA with sole primary CNTs is 0.002 watts at 0.15 V. Such peak power can be increased up to 0.01 watts at 0.4 V for the replaced MEA with new branchy CNTs. The open circuit voltages (OCVs) are 0.4 V and 0.6 V for DMFCs with MEAs of sole primary CNTs and branchy CNTs, respectively. Furthermore, the patterns of CNTs was designed to provide micro-channels of fuel. The pattern growth of CNTs have been fabricated by selective area growth method in this research.

Keywords

chemical vapor deposition (CVD) (deposition)Cnanostructure
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 963: Symposium Q – Nanowires and Carbon Nanotubes – Science and Applications , 2006 , 0963-Q20-14
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2007

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References

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