Iranian Nano Scientists Improve Fuel Cells' Efficiency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian researchers could improve fuel cells' efficiency by synthesizing a combined structure of micro fibers-silver nanoparticle and its successful application in the oxygen reduction reaction.

"The combined structure of micro fibers - silver nanoparticle- creates a better conductivity within the composite in comparison with silver nanoparticles due to its one-dimensional structure," Nafiseh Sharifi, one of the researchers from Sharif University of Technology, told INIC.

"We succeeded in synthesizing a combined structure of micro fibers-silver nanoparticle from cellulose fibers of cotton through a new method. The simplicity of the method is one of its advantages over the current methods," she continued.

She first coated silver nanoparticles on cellulose fibers of cotton through chemical reactions. Then she removed cellulose from the coating that contained nanoparticles by heat treatment. Cellulose fibers acted as a template and nanoparticles took the form of the cellulose tissues.

The fibers consisted of nanoparticle chains. These one-dimensional structures act as a conductor in addition to being catalyst for oxygen reduction process due to their high effective area and desirable conductivity of silver.

In the next stage, nanostructured silver fibers with various concentrations were used in a graphite composite electrode. The presence of a combined structure of micro-fibers - silver nanoparticle increased the density of the current, and decreased the potential of the reducer. As a result, oxygen reduction processes were improved.

The method is expected to be of much use in the improvement of fuel cells.