Investigation of novel membrane synthesized with nanostructured metal oxanes for direct methanol fuel cell

Iron oxide nanoparticles (ferroxane) and aluminum oxide nanoparticles (alumoxane) were synthesized via an environmentally benign process, alternative to sol-gel process, for direct methanol fuel cell. For both oxane materials, the conductivity improved as relative humidity increased. However, sintered samples were less dependent on relative humidity. Conductivities of sintered ferroxane samples were significantly higher than those of green bodies. The protonic conductivity of ferroxane derived ceramics fired at 300°C (ranging 1.5-2.5 × 10-2 S/cm at various %RH) was comparable to that of Nafion. This is an abstract of a paper presented in the 230th ACS National Meeting (Washington, DC 8/28/2005-9/1/2005).

Duke Scholars

Author Mark Wiesner Civil and Environmental Engineering