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US 2008/0280169 A1Published application
Nanowire structures comprising carbon
AssigneeNanosys, Inc.
InventorsChunming Niu, Baixin Qian, Ionel Stefan
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AssigneeNanosys, Inc.
InventorsChunming Niu, Baixin Qian, Ionel Stefan
Estimating the term…
The present invention is directed to nanowire structures and interconnected nanowire networks comprising such structures, as well as methods for their production. The nanowire structures comprise a nanowire core, a carbon-based layer, and in additional embodiments, carbon-based structures such as nanographitic plates consisting of graphenes formed on the nanowire cores, interconnecting the nanowire structures in the networks. The networks are porous structures that can be formed into membranes or particles. The nanowire structures and the networks formed using them are useful in catalyst and electrode applications, including fuel cells, as well as field emission devices, support substrates and chromatographic applications.
A method for controlling fuel concentration at a proton exchange membrane of a fuel cell, the method comprising providing a diffusion-controlling barrier comprising a network of interconnected nanowires between an anode of the fuel cell and a fuel source.
A fuel cell comprising a fuel source, a proton exchange membrane, an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and a diffusion-controlling barrier comprising an interconnected network of nanowires, wherein fuel concentration at the proton exchange membrane is less than about 30% of that of the fuel source.
A fuel cell gas diffusion layer comprising an interconnected network of nanowires.
A method of preparing a fuel cell gas diffusion layer comprising disposing an interconnected network of nanowires on a substrate.
A method for preparing a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, comprising:
20-30. (canceled)
A membrane electrode assembly prepared by a process comprising:
A fuel cell prepared by a process comprising:
33-34. (canceled)
A fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, comprising:
36-42. (canceled)
A method of disposing a composition comprising metal catalyst-associated nanowires and ionomer on a substrate, the method comprising:
44-54. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.