Single-walled carbon nanotubes and their composites with polyaniline. Structure, catalytic and capacitive properties as applied to fuel cells and supercapacitors

The structure and hydrophilic-hydrophobic properties of SWCNTs before and after oxidative functionalization were studied by standard porosimetry method. The correlation between the values of specific surface of hydrophilic and hydrophobic pores for the two types of SWCNTs is discussed. The capacity properties of SWCNTs and their composites with polyaniline were also investigated. The composite layer is shown to have exceptionally high capacitance that is due to the large surface area of the former, as well as to the proceeding of the reversible faradaic reaction of counter ions intercalation into PANI. The structure and electrocatalytic properties of platinum metals incorporated by various methods into support of SWCNTs and their composites with PANI were studied. Kinetics of the reactions proceeding in DMFC and the mechanism of catalytic influence of the support are discussed. The structure of the catalytic layer is shown to be the main factor that determines the overall catalytic activity. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.