Electronic modification effects induced by Fe in Pt-Ru-Fe ternary catalyst on the electrooxidation of CO/H2 and methanol.

Electro-oxidation of CO/H2 and methanol was performed over a carbon supported Pt-Ru-Fe ternary alloy catalyst prepared via the conventional NaBH4 reduction method. Physicochemical and electrochemical measurements were used to elucidate the respective roles of Ru and Fe in the ternary catalyst, revealing synergistic effects in the Pt-Ru-Fe catalyst on the electro-oxidation of CO/H2 and methanol. The methanol oxidation activity of Pt3Ru2Fe/C was ca. 2.5 times higher than that of PtRu/C at 0.45 V vs. RHE as a result of enhanced CO tolerance. The enhanced CO tolerance of the Pt-Ru-Fe ternary alloy catalysts was derived from the reaction between the high mobility, weakly adsorbed CO on the Pt site that was electronically modified by alloying with Fe and adsorbed water species on the Ru site. This combination of features produced an improvement in the electro-oxidation of CO/H2 and methanol at lower potential. On the basis of the data, it was proposed that the addition of a water activator such as Ru is indispensible in the design of multicomponent alloy catalysts for methanol oxidation, and the additional effect derived from an electronic modifier is an important factor for improving the CO and methanol oxidation activity of the catalyst containing the water activator.

Study of the nanoscopic deformation of an annealed nafion film by using atomic force microscopy and a patterned substrate.

We demonstrated the repetitive imaging of the same area of a nafion film before and after annealing by using atomic force microscopy (AFM). In order to find the exact same area of the same sample after changing the cantilever and reattaching the sample, a micropatterned substrate was developed. A micropattern with a 250-500 microm pitch was prepared on the backside of a transparent glass substrate. This pattern includes various signs such as colored letters and numbers at the center of each lattice of the pattern. The nanostructures fabricated by AFM nanolithography on a nafion film using this new method were successfully characterized before and after annealing (over 100 degrees C). The AFM images clearly showed that the nanostructures on a nafion film were dramatically changed by annealing. The data indicated an evidence to understand why the nafion fuel cell does not work well at high temperatures. Our method is probably effective for the study of nanoscopic dynamics in various surface structures.

Preparation and characterization of platinum-ruthenium bimetallic nanoparticles using reverse microemulsions for fuel cell catalyst.

Platinum-ruthenium bimetallic nanoparticles are prepared by chemical reduction using sodium borohydride in reverse microemulsions of water/isooctane/Igepal CA-630/2-propanol for fuel cell catalysts. The prepared nanoparticles are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The average size and morphology of nanoparticles are dependent on the water volume fraction in reverse microemulsion system in the range of ca. 2-4 nm. The morphology of particles is related with the percolation behavior of water droplets in reverse microemulsions. By the pretreatment of water phase using a hydrochloric acid, the particles of a homogeneous solid solution state can be obtained. The CO stripping cyclovoltammetry and the electrochemical measurements compared with commercial catalyst show that the prepared particles have a high electrochemically active surface area and a stable and high catalytic activity for reformate gas oxidation.

Morphology evolution of ZnO thin films from aqueous solutions and their application to solar cells.

This paper reports a reproducible low-temperature solution-based process for the preparation of ZnO films of nanorod arrays and their application to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). A two-step approach was employed for the epitaxial growth of ZnO. We began with the preparation of a (002)-oriented ZnO seed layer by the electrochemical deposition method. After the treatment the substrate was soaked in an aqueous solution containing ZnCl2 and complex agents. A large-scale fabrication of ZnO nanorod arrays on transparent conductive oxides has been achieved after soaking at 95 degrees C for 1-48 h. The as-deposited ZnO film has a large surface area, therefore permitting a great amount of dye loading. The individually separated nanorod forms a linear nanoroad which should show more effective electron transportation than that in the film derived from ZnO powders. The DSSCs using these ZnO films as photoelectrodes show a conversion efficiency of about 0.6% at AM1.5.

Nanocharacterization and nanofabrication of a Nafion thin film in liquids by atomic force microscopy.

We demonstrated the nanocharacterization and nanofabrication of a Nafion thin film using atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM images showed that the Nafion molecules form nanoclusters in water, in 5% methanol, and in acetic acid. Young's modulus E of a Nafion film was estimated by sequential force curve measurements in water and in 5% methanol on one sample surface. Ewater/E5% methanol was 1.75 +/- 0.40, so the film was much softer in 5% methanol than in water. Even when solvent was replaced from 5% methanol to water, Young's modulus was not recovered soon. We showed the first example of the mechanical properties of a Nafion film on the nanoscale. Furthermore, we succeeded in fabricating 3D nanostructures on a Nafion surface by AFM nanolithography in liquids. Our results showed the new potential of the AFM nanolithography of a polymer film by softening the molecules in liquids.

A new method of biosensing with 1 microl of Escherichia coli suspension using atomic force microscopy.

We developed a new method for detecting bacterial cells from 1-mul samples with atomic force microscopy (AFM). The use of a parafilm surface as a sample palette was effective for reacting small amounts of samples with an AFM probe. This was due to the parafilm's hydrophobic, semitransparent, and nonadhesive surface. In this way, all processes, such as the surface functionalization of a cantilever and the adhesion of Escherichia coli cells to a cantilever, were easily completed. In addition, we succeeded in detecting cell adsorption on the same AFM cantilever by both the drive mode and the thermal mode. The resonance frequency shift caused by cell adhesion was clearly detected by the two modes for the first time. Our data indicated the potential of applying AFM nanobiosensing to extremely small amounts of samples.