Written by Shouri Bouchetty

Nanoparticles work as effective catalysts due to their high surface-volume ratio. The smaller the particle, the greater the surface-volume ratio, allowing for the nanoparticles to react quickly. Additionally, nanoparticles are so tiny that they have different properties than the same pieces. These different properties have a multitude industrial uses since they have tremendous potential in energy and fuel technologies. Much research with nanoparticle-based catalysts has to do with maximizing the effectiveness of nanoparticle coating in fuel cells. Fuel cells that primarily react hydrogen with oxygen and catalysts are needed to improve energy production in the reactions. Catalysts in the anodes and the cathodes produce electricity at a 40-60% efficiency by allowing these reactions to occur. Conventional fuel cells use sheets of catalyst nanoparticles mixed with a polymer for the electrodes; Platinum is most commonly used in this application. A recent discovery, deemed The Vanderbilt approach, replaced these sheets with polymer fiber mats. The catalyst nanoparticles were bonded to these fibers. This allowed for the catalyst to have a larger surface area and increased the number of reactions between hydrogen and oxygen gas in the fuel cell. The unique structure of the design also resulted in higher fuel cell power and it made the fuel cell more cost friendly. Overall, it was an impressive advancement in the field of nanoparticles that aided in fuel production.

Citations:
Nanoparticles Lower Fuel Cell Costs. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/renewable-energy/nanoparticles-lowerfuel-cell-costs
Metal Nanoparticles Used as Catalysts Part 1 (Nanotechnology). (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://what-when-how.com/nanoscience-and-nanotechnology/metal-nanoparticles-used-ascatalysts-part-1-nanotechnology/
Recent development in the preparation of nanoparticles as fuel cell catalysts. (2015, May 16). Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211339815000246