The State University of New York

Sneha Chittabathini

Miriam Rafailovich

Rebecca Isseroff

Andrew Chen

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

Hicksville, NY, United States of America

Sneha Chittabathini