Exfoliated Pt-clay/Nafion nanocomposite membrane for self-humidifying polymer electrolyte fuel cells.

Monolayers of Pt nanoparticles of diameters of 2-3 nm with a high crystallinity were successfully anchored onto exfoliated nanoclay surfaces using a novel chemical vapor deposition process. Chemical bonding of Pt to the oxygen on the clay surface ensured the stability of the Pt nanoparticles, and hence, no leaching of Pt particles was observed after a prolonged ultrasonication and a rigorous mechanical agitation of Pt-clay in the Nafion solution during the membrane casting process. Systematic analysis using WAXD and TEM showed that the recasting process produced a new self-humidifying exfoliated Pt-clay/Nafion nanocomposite membrane with a high crystallinity and proton conductivity.

Metallized hyperbranched polydiyne: a photonic material with a large refractive index tunability and a spin-coatable catalyst for facile fabrication of carbon nanotubes.

A cobalt-containing hyperbranched polydiyne shows refractive indexes (n) as high as 1.713-1.813 in the long wavelength region, which can be tuned to a large extent (Deltan up to approximately 0.