Synthesis of Pt nanostructures for miniaturized fuel cells: hydrogen storage in PT nanotubes and nanoparticles

Keywords:
hydrogen storage, Pt nanotubes, Pt nanoparticles

Abstract:
There has been an increase in the interest for the miniaturization of direct methanol fuel cells in the last years. Platinum is being studied intensively in several research groups, due to its importance as a catalyst in fuel cell systems. The surface chemistry and electrochemistry of methanol on Pt nanostructures is a central step towards the miniaturization of such systems. In this work, we report on the synthesis of colloidal Pt nanostructures using a solution phase approach. A battery of analytical techniques, which includes transmission and scanning electron microscopy, scanning tunneling electron microscopy and surface reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy are employed for the characterization of the nanostructures. Pt nanoparticles are prepared from the reduction of cationic platinum compounds while Pt nanotubes are prepared using aqueous templates. The effect of H2, CH4 and CH3OH uptake by these nanostructures will be discussed. It is expected that the methodology developed in this work can trickle down to the design and synthesis of nanostructures that can result in the miniaturization of fuel cells.

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Nanotech 2006 Conference Program Abstract