In our experiment, thiol-functionalized spherical gold nanoparticles (around 2nm in diameter) were synthesized through the two-phase method developed by Brust et al. When a solution containing these particles was spread at the air/water interface, X-ray reflectivity and EXAFS spectroscopy indicated the formation of platelet shaped particles. Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) trough was then used to deposit monolayer of these platelet shaped gold nanoparticles onto the surface of Nafion� membrane. Up to 80% enhancement for output power of a single cell and 33% enhancement for three stacked cells were found after applying the modified Nafion� membrane on PEMFC. Effects of gold nanoparticels are studied by varying the surface pressure (to deposit gold nanoparticles onto membrane) and gases at cathode side. Cyclic voltammetry and oxygen reduction reaction activity will be measured to further investigate the activity of this kind of gold nanoparticles.

Enhancing the power output of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) through the deposition of monolayer gold nanoparticle platelets onto Nafion<sup>®</sup> membranes

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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Enhancing the power output of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) through the deposition of monolayer gold nanoparticle platelets onto Nafion® membranes

Enhancing the power output of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) through the deposition of monolayer gold nanoparticle platelets onto Nafion^® membranes