University of California

California Institute of Technology

William Goddard

Jean-Pierre Fleurial

Yushan Yan

Ratnakumar V Bugga

Xin Wang

Margaret A Ryan

Daniel Choi

Richard P Vasquez

Mario R Blanco

Shiao-Pin S Yen

Margie L Homer

Abhijit V Shevade

Zhongwei Chen

Wely Floriano

Tahir Cagin

Wenzhen Li

Mahesh Waje

Wei-Qiao Deng

Minhee Yun

Nosang Myung

Novel proton exchange membrane fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells with nanostructured components are configured with higher precious metal utilization rate at the electrodes, higher power density, and lower cost. To form a catalyst, platinum or platinum-ruthenium nanoparticles are deposited onto carbon-based materials, for example, single-walled, dual-walled, multi-walled and cup-stacked carbon nanotubes. The deposition process includes an ethylene glycol reduction method. Aligned arrays of these carbon nanomaterials are prepared by filtering the nanomaterials with ethanol. A membrane electrode assembly is formed by sandwiching the catalyst between a proton exchange membrane and a diffusion layer that form a first electrode. The second electrode may be formed using a conventional catalyst. The several layers of the MEA are hot pressed to form an integrated unit. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells are developed by stacking the membrane electrode assemblies in a conventional manner.

Carbon based electrocatalysts for fuel cells

The present invention relates to a nanowire sensor and method for forming the same. More specifically, the nanowire sensor comprises at least one nanowire formed on a substrate, with a sensor receptor disposed on a surface of the nanowire, thereby forming a receptor-coated nanowire. The nanowire sensor can be arranged as a sensor sub-unit comprising a plurality of homogeneously receptor-coated nanowires. A plurality of sensor subunits can be formed to collectively comprise a nanowire sensor array. Each sensor subunit in the nanowire sensor array can be formed to sense a different stimulus, allowing a user to sense a plurality of stimuli. Additionally, each sensor subunit can be formed to sense the same stimuli through different aspects of the stimulus. The sensor array is fabricated through a variety of techniques, such as by creating nanopores on a substrate and electrodepositing nanowires within the nanopores.

Nanowire sensor, sensor array, and method for making the same

Growing community of inventors

Pasadena, CA, United States of America

William Goddard