Application of nano particles and nano materials in fuel cells

The direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) have attracted more attention because ethanol has no toxicity compared to methanol and can be easily produced in great quantity by the fermentation of sugar-containing raw materials [1]. Because ethanol is a liquid, the storage and filling of the fuel is more convenient compared to gas fuel cells. One of the impeding problems in the commercialization is perhaps the high over-potential associated with the direct electro-oxidation of ethanol. Although electro-catalysts based on Pt and Pt_/Ru alloys [2] have been developed and indeed exhibit good activities, high costs of these materials are often very prohibitive. A great deal of interest has recently been centered on the materials immobilized onto the electrode surface and capable of mediating fast electron transfer from ethanol, namely its electro-oxidation [3]. Electrodes modified with electropolymerised by conducting polymer films have received considerable attention in the development of catalysts and sensors, and their use is rapidly increasing. Of all of the conducting polymers, polypyrrole (ppy) is the most popular in this respect, mainly due to its high electrochemical stability, conductivity, and mechanical robustness in diverse aqueous environments [4]. Conducting polymer nanostructure, including nanofibers, nanowires, nanorods, and nanotubes, has attracted much attention across scientific and engineering disciplines due to their superior properties compared to their bulk counterparts in turn on/off time, strength, and conductivity .

کلیدواژه ها:

nano conducting polymer ، Electrocatalyst ، ethanol ، fuel cell Introduction