Energy News  
Nanowires may help make better fuel cells

disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only
by Staff Writers
Rochester, N.Y. (UPI) Mar 16, 2009
U.S. scientists say they have created long platinum nanowires that might soon lead to the development of commercially viable fuel cells.

University of Rochester researchers say their new nanowires should provide significant increases in both the longevity and efficiency of fuel cells, which have until now been used largely for such exotic purposes as powering spacecraft.

Nanowire enhanced fuel cells could power many types of vehicles, helping reduce the use of petroleum fuels for transportation, said Professor James Li, lead author of the study.

"People have been working on developing fuel cells for decades," said Li. "But the technology is still not being commercialized (because) platinum is expensive and the standard approach for using it in fuel cells is far from ideal. These nanowires are a key step toward better solutions."

The platinum nanowires produced by Li and graduate student Jianglan Shui are roughly 10 nanometers in diameter and long enough to create the first self-supporting "web" of pure platinum that can serve as an electrode in a fuel cell.

The researchers report their achievement in the journal Nano Letters.

Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Daimler seeks second partner for battery quest: report
Frankfurt (AFP) March 16, 2009
German luxury auto maker Daimler seeks a second partner to develop lithium-ion batteries for electric cars, a press report said on Monday.







  • Nigerian militants attempt attack on oil facility: army
  • Scientists aim to replicate the sun
  • China defends Spratlys sea patrol
  • Crisis a chance to tackle climate change, create green jobs

  • Finland needs at most one more nuclear reactor by 2020: govt
  • Analysis: Nuke waste problem unsolved
  • Analysis: Turkey's energy future
  • France may allow Gulf investors into nuclear giant: FT

  • Rendezvous With HALO
  • SKoreans buy air purifiers amid "yellow dust" warning
  • More Reasons To Hate Humidity
  • Scientist Models The Mysterious Travels Of Greenhouse Gas

  • Prince Charles in Brazil to deliver eco-warning
  • Prince Charles pushes eco-agenda in Latin America
  • Danger Lurks Underground For Oak Seedlings
  • World Bank approves 1.3 bln dlrs for Brazilian eco projects

  • Lowly maggot poised to boost income, cut pollution
  • Seed germination control process revealed
  • Liberia invaded by crop-eating caterpillars again: ministry
  • Farmers Saving The Economy Again, But For How Long

  • Sweden to slash 'clean' car taxes, hike diesel price
  • China Geely boss says open to overseas auto deals
  • Singapore-made biofuel to run cars in Europe, North America
  • Car makers get serious on the environment

  • Cathay Pacific lost 1.1 billion dollars in 2008
  • National hypersonic science centers named
  • First China-assembled Airbus set for June delivery: report
  • China's large passenger jet ready in eight years: report

  • Nuclear Power In Space - Part 2
  • Nuclear Power In Space
  • Outside View: Nuclear future in space

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement