Development of Ordered Nanostructures for Electrocatalytic and Sensor Applications

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This research proposal is focused on the development of new materials that have many useful applications, including in clean energy conversion (e.g., fuel cells, electrolysis) and storage (capacitors) technology, as well as in sensors, with an important sub-goal being to fabricate these in a highly organized fashion so that their properties can be better exploited and also more easily evaluated. Special emphasis is on fuel cells, which are devices that cleanly and efficiently convert fuel and oxygen to electricity, heat, and pure water, without combustion. In one branch of our work, we have developed some novel, high surface area carbon materials (CICs) with highly ordered, nano-sized pores, intended to anchor catalytic platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) for the conversion of oxygen to water. However, these pores must also contain a proton-conducting polymer in order to function in a fuel cell, and thus a key objective of our work is to tune the CIC pore diameter and depth so that both the polymer and the Pt NPs will penetrate and function properly within these pores. In other fuel cell research, we will convert unique metal oxide nanotube arrays to a conducting form and then use them as novel Pt NP supports, potentially later replacing carbon supports, which can be unstable with time. We will also employ powerful electron microscopy methods to determine, for the first time, how metal particles (also fuel cell catalysts), placed inside these organized nanotubes, agglomerate or detach, of critical importance to fuel cell durability. We have also recently discovered a simple and low cost method to produce a highly ordered array of metal NPs on smooth, 'nano-dimpled' surfaces and we will now be able to use these templates to determine the effect of NP composition and size on various catalytic reactions. Finally, we will further develop our very promising continuous blood glucose sensor for individuals with diabetes by making our sensors more reproducible and reliable, again by ordering their 3-D structures. In addition to employing the most advanced instruments and tools available in the world in our research, these projects will serve to train 10-15 students in these areas of critical importance to the world.