The State University of New York

Andrew Chen

Miriam Rafailovich

Rebecca Isseroff

Sneha Chittabathini

Alexandra Tse

Hongfei Li

Cheng Pan

Arthur Chen

Lee Blackburn

A composition used to form the active layer of a solar cell or hydrogen fuel cell that comprises, consists of or consists essentially of a homogenous dispersion, poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) and 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)propyl-1-phenyl[6,6]C(PCBM). The homogenous dispersion comprises, consists of or consists essentially of graphene oxide (GO) or reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and sulfonated polystyrene (PSS) or para-methoxy-N-methylamphetamine (PMMA). The GO or RGO can be functionalized with a metal, preferably gold (Au), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) or ferric oxide (FeO).

Synthesis and incorporation of graphene and/or metallized or metal oxide-modified graphene to improve organic solar cells and hydrogen fuel cells

A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a polyelectrolyte membrane and a solution of reduced graphene oxide and/or graphene oxide functionalized with metallized nanoparticles. The electrodes are coated with a polymer and the polyelectrolyte membrane has a hydrophobic exterior surface that is subjected to ultraviolet/ozone (UV/O) exposure, which changes the hydrophobic, exterior surface to a hydrophilic exterior surface. The polyelectrolyte membrane is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and can include a sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene based fluoropolymer-copolymer. The solution forms a coating on the hydrophilic exterior surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane and the positive and negative electrodes. The positive and negative electrodes can be coated with a polymer, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) that can be subjected to ultraviolet/ozone (UV/O) exposure. The metallized nanoparticles increase the efficiency of the fuel cell by at least 50% when the feed gas includes at least 1000 ppm carbon monoxide.

Attachment of graphene and metal or metal oxide-modified graphene to organic polymers used in organic fuel cells

A method of attaching reduced graphene oxide and/or graphene oxide to a polymer layer that includes: forming a polymer layer having a hydrophobic, exterior surface; subjecting the hydrophobic, exterior surface of the polymer layer to ultraviolet/ozone (UV/O) exposure to change the hydrophobic, exterior surface to a hydrophilic, exterior surface; and applying reduced graphene oxide and/or graphene oxide to the hydrophilic surface of the polymer layer. The UV/Oexposure reduces the contact angle of droplets on the exterior surface of the polymer layer so that greater amounts of reduced graphene oxide and/or graphene oxide can be applied to the surface.

Attachment of conducting graphene electrode layer to an organic polymer

Growing community of inventors

North Woodmere, NY, United States of America

Andrew Chen