Abstract:
A membrane electrode includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a proton exchange membrane sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a first gas diffusion layer and a first catalyst layer. The second electrode includes a second gas diffusion layer and a second catalyst layer. The first catalyst layer or the second catalyst layer includes a carbon nanotube-metal particle composite including carbon nanotubes, polymer layer, and metal particles. The polymer layer is coated on a surface of the carbon nanotubes and defines a plurality of pores uniformly distributed; the metal particles are located in the pores. A fuel cell including the membrane electrode is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A carbon nanotube-metal particle composite includes: carbon nanotubes, polymer layer, and metal particles. The polymer layer is coated on a surface of the carbon nanotubes and defines a number of uniformly distributed pores. the metal particles are located in the pores. A catalyst including the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A method for making a carbon nanotube-metal particle composite is provided. Carbon nanotubes, polymer monomers, a first solution containing metal ions, and a second solution containing carboxylic acid radical ions are provided. The carbon nanotubes and the polymer monomers are mixed in a solvent to form a first mixture. The polymer monomers are adsorbed on the carbon nanotubes. A second mixture is formed by mixing the first mixture, the first solution, and the second solution. The polymer monomers, the first solution, and the second solution react with each other to form a coordination complex mixture containing the metal ions. The coordination complex mixture is adsorbed on the surface of the carbon nanotubes. A reducing agent is added into the second mixture to reduce the metal ions of the coordination complex mixture to metal particles, simultaneously, the polymer monomers are polymerize to in situ form the carbon nanotube-metal particle composite.
Abstract:
A membrane electrode includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a proton exchange membrane sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a first gas diffusion layer and a first catalyst layer. The second electrode includes a second gas diffusion layer and a second catalyst layer. The first catalyst layer or the second catalyst layer includes a carbon nanotube-metal particle composite including carbon nanotubes, polymer layer, and metal particles. The polymer layer is coated on a surface of the carbon nanotubes and defines a plurality of pores uniformly distributed; the metal particles are located in the pores. A fuel cell including the membrane electrode is also disclosed.
Abstract:
In-organic fillers are modified by in-situ co-polymerization of vinyl silane and another vinyl monomer. Vinyl silane couples with the filler by Si—O bonds. The remaining vinyl groups on the surface of the treated fillers then co-polymerize with the other vinyl monomer. The modified in-organic fillers treated by the in-situ co-polymerization are subsequently used to fill the polymer matrix. Tensile and impact strength of filler-reinforced polymer composites are improved remarkably.