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Full-Text Articles in Engineering Science and Materials

Modification Of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes By Microwave Digestion Method As Electrocatalyst Supports For Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Applications, Fang-Tzu Chuang Oct 2006

Modification Of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes By Microwave Digestion Method As Electrocatalyst Supports For Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Applications, Fang-Tzu Chuang

Fang-Tzu Chuang

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) which were directly synthesized on carbon cloth were modified by a microwave digestion method in 5M HNO3 for supporting Pt nanoparticles. The characterizations of modified CNTs were carried out by TEM, XPS, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. The HRTEM image shows the caps of MWCNTs are opened after modifying by microwave digestion method. The open-end and undamaged MWCNTs can provide a larger surface area for supporting more catalysts. Furthermore, the methanol electrocatalytic oxidation of microwave digestion treated Pt/MWCNTs electrode shows higher current density than pristine and nitric acid-treated MWCNTs from cyclic voltammograms. This can be an effective …


Study Of Chemical Surface Modifications Of Cnts As Cathode Electrode For Dmfc, Fang-Tzu Chuang Jul 2006

Study Of Chemical Surface Modifications Of Cnts As Cathode Electrode For Dmfc, Fang-Tzu Chuang

Fang-Tzu Chuang

In this study, multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are used as Pt catalyst support for cathode electrode in the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). Thus, a lot of well-align MWNTs are fabricated on carbon cloth directly. The method in the cathode electrode of DMFC is easy to constructed and sticking on the carbon cloth tightly. Then, MWNTs are modified by HNO3, H2SO4, and KOH at high temperature may produce different functional groups to attract more Pt ions nucleating uniformly and densely. Moreover, there are the other parameters, temperature, time, and concentration, in the function of chemical modification for MWNTs. In this …


Study Of Leading Factors In Formation Of Surface Wavy Structures On A Rubber Material, Fang-Tzu Chuang May 2006

Study Of Leading Factors In Formation Of Surface Wavy Structures On A Rubber Material, Fang-Tzu Chuang

Fang-Tzu Chuang

Wavy structures are often observed on the surface of a rubber material (polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS) covered with a thin metallic film. In this study we demonstrate that the orientation, periodicity, location of formation, and range of periodicity of the wavy structures can be regulated by three leading factors including the surface pattern, substrate hardness and the thickness of the metallic film. Results show the orientation of the wavy structures can be adjusted by the location, shape and size of the surface patterns. Enhancement of the substrate hardness can prevent forming random wavy structures. The thickness of surface metallic film significantly influenced …