By Christopher Moore
Fuel cell devices directly convert chemical energy into electricity by electrochemical reactions, and have received recent interest due to their lack of moving parts and relatively clean operation. Various types of fuel cells are currently discussed in the scientific literature, though polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) show characteristics that would make them suitable for automobile engines that produce zero emissions. (For a discussion on fuel cells in general, see this article.)
Several problems currently exist that limit the commercial viability of PEFCs, the largest being the cost of catalyst material. Though Pt has historically been the optimum cathode electrocatalyst for fuel cells, [1] the use of expensive Pt and Pt-based catalysts in fuel-cell electrodes makes their cost prohibitive. Since Pt requirements scale with fuel-cell size, large-scale fuel-cell costs can not be reduced through efficient production and economies of scale. If the transition to a hydrogen economy is to be realized, reductions in fuel cell costs are necessary. Otherwise the familiar rallying cry “no blood for oil” may be replaced by “no blood for platinum”. Recent studies have been conducted on means to reduce the amount of platinum necessary for successful catalysis, as well as studies to eliminate platinum from the process altogether. Specifically, in this article I examine studies of platinum monolayers, palladium alloys, and cobolt-polypyrrole composite catalysts.
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By Christopher Moore
You probably thought the first real application of nano-scale structures would be for computing, didn’t you?
It appears researchers are studying ways to use nanospheres to fill the tiny holes we all have in our teeth. The result: stronger, less sensitive choppers.
ScienceBlog reports:
Preliminary research presented today at the Institute of Physics conference EMAG-NANO 2005 shows that creating tiny spheres of a ceramic material called hydroxyapatite could be a long term solution or cure for sensitive teeth.
Hydroxyapatite is a ceramic material, and apparently plays well with tooth and bone, which is why it is currently widely used afor bone grafts and dental coatings.
The problem? The research team has not been able to synthesize hydroxyapatite into nano-spheres. Preliminary studies have been carried out using silica nanospheres (SiO2).
By Christopher Moore
This week I’m attending the American Vacuum Society’s (AVS) annual conference. More about what that is tommorrow. I just got off the plane. Normally, I would write an interesting article about flight and the Bernoulli Principle, but I’m too tired. Maybe another day. The high point of the flight: on the plane, I sat next to Kirk Cameron of “Growing Pains” fame. He’s not quite the star he used to be (neither of us was in first class) but hell, I grew up on that show, so it was pretty exciting for me.
That’s all for today.
By Christopher Moore
Cornell News reports carbon nanotube oscillators have been built that can weight an atom.
Using a carbon nanotube, Cornell University researchers have produced a tiny electromechanical oscillator that might be capable of weighing a single atom. The device, perhaps the smallest of its kind ever produced, can be tuned across a wide range of radio frequencies, and one day might replace bulky power-hungry elements in electronic circuits
For more, see here.
