A Versatile Nanofabrication Technology for Polymer / Inorganic Composites for Fuel Cell and Pulse Power Applications

Stein Lee, Richard Breitkopf, Peter, Faguy , Jan Hwang, and Andrew Hunt
MicroCoating Technologies, Inc., US

Keywords: Fuel Cells and Energy

Abstract:
An innovative atomizer, capable of producing sub-micron size droplets, in conjunction with Combustion Chemical Vapor Deposition (CCVD), a flame based technique have demonstrated the capability to produce nanoscale hybrid materials with morphological, compositional and internal interfacial properties unique from any existing technology. Conformal nanocomposite films were deposited on gas diffusion media for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications. These coatings ranged in composition from pure Nafion® to silica rich and demonstrated blending at the nanoscale level. Furthermore, preliminary electrochemical measurements indicate that the ionic conductivity and transport properties vary as expected for an ionomer/metal oxide nanocomposite. These composite electroctalyst layers also exhibit lower polarization losses in slow sweep potentiodynamic oxygen reduction experiments when compared to electrocatalyst layers prepared with pure ionomer films when in the presence of methanol.

NSTI Nanotech 2003 Conference Technical Program Abstract