In this talk I will discuss our research toward chemical and structural engineering of nanomaterials for energy applications such as fuel cells. We have developed methods to create additive-free electrodes � anodes made without polymeric binders and carbon black.  Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of nanoparticles creates a strong enough electrical and mechanical bond for the anodes to perform at maximum capacity.  By developing a method for additive-free electrodes that maintain high conductivity we seek to open new possibilities for reducing the weight and volume of electrodes.  I will also discuss our new fabrication of flexible conducting ceramic nanosheets using sol-gel chemistry and kinetic demixing.  The nanosheets are 20 nanometer in thickness, uniform in length, and have highly anisotropic dimensions (aspect ratio 105:105:1).   They self-assemble into a pellet containing tens of thousands of stacked nanosheets. These metallic oxide nanosheets could be useful electrocatalytic supports since they are conductive, thermally and chemically stable, and ductile.

Chemical and structural engineering of nanomaterials for energy applications

245th National Meeting (2013)

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