Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene - Research and Applications

A metal hydride-based hydrogen-storage device was developed capable of storing 70 l of hydrogen reversibly at ambient conditions. Fabrication of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNTs)-based fuel cell stack and microfuel cell were done using membrane electrode assembly, prechanneled bipolar plates and printed circuit boards, respectively. The MWNTs were synthesized by pyrolysis of acetylene. Functionalization of MWNTs results in improved adhesion of Pt nanoparticles of around 3–5 nm diameter on to the MWNTs surface.

Performance studies of fuel cell stack and microfuel cell were done by coupling them to hydrogen-storage device followed by the demonstration of working of electronic devices. Serial configured fuel cell stack gives a maximum power density of 500mW/cm2 at 1.75V, whereas planar configured microfuel cell gives a maximum power density of 125mW/cm2 at 2.0V (H2/O2) and 68mW/cm2 at 2.0V (H2/air).
Source: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 32 (2007) 4272 – 4278