Vanderbilt University – TechConnect Briefs

Recent Advances in Electrospun Fiber Mat Electrode MEAs for Hydrogen/Air Fuel Cells

Waldrop K., Fan X., Kang N., Wycisk R., Gumeci C., Dale N., Pintauro P.N., Vanderbilt University, US

The hydrogen/air proton-exchange membrane fuel cell is a promising candidate for automotive power plants, but Pt/C catalyst electrode cost and durability are still issues that require further study. Recently, there has been considerable work on [...]

Particle/Polymer Nanofiber Mat Electrodes for Hydrogen/Air Fuel Cells

Pintauro P.N., Slack J., Wycisk R., Brodt M., Vanderbilt University, US

A new method of preparing fuel cell electrodes has been developed. Electrode mats composed of particle/polymer nanofibers work exceptionally well in a hydrogen/air fuel cell, in terms of power output and long-term durability. Abstract: The [...]

Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes and Electrodes for Fuel Cells

Wycisk R., Ballengee J., Park J.W., Brodt M., Pintauro P.N., Vanderbilt University, US

The focus of our research group has been on the use of electrospinning for the fabrication of nanofiber membranes and electrodes for PEM fuel cells. We have demonstrated dramatic improvement in fuel cell performance and [...]

Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes and Electrodes for Fuel Cells

Wycisk R., Ballengee J., Park J.W., Brodt M., Pintauro P.N., Vanderbilt University, US

The focus of our research group has been on the use of electrospinning for the fabrication of nanofiber membranes and electrodes for PEM fuel cells. We have demonstrated dramatic improvement in fuel cell performance and [...]

Amperometric glucose sensor for real time extracellular glucose monitoring in microfluidic device

Ges I.A., Baudenbacher F.J., Vanderbilt University, US

Glucose and lactate are the most important metabolites which characterize physiological state and the metabolic activity of living cells. Consequently, development of a stable glucose biosensor is an interesting and important research topic for medicine [...]

Investigation of pH behavior of single myocyte cells in picoliter microfluidic device

Ges I.A., Baudenbacher F.J., Vanderbilt University, US

The possibility to investigate single cell metabolic activity in real time in sub-nanoliter volume could expand our knowledge of cellular physiological processes. Extracellular pH is a critical parameter for many cellular processes and extracellular acidification [...]

Development of Carbon Nanotubes Vacuum Field Emission Devices

Kang W.P., Wong Y.M., Davidson J.L., Kerns D.V., Huang J.H., Galloway K.F., Vanderbilt University, US

This report focuses on the design, fabrication and characterization of vacuum field emission (VFE) devices, specifically on the triode and integrated differential amplifier (diff-amp), utilizing CNTs synthesized by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition in conjunction [...]

Integrated microfluidic device to monitor the cells acidification rate in nanoliter volumes using microfabricated iridium oxide electrodes

Ges I.A., Ivanov B.L., Baudenbacher F.J., Vanderbilt University, US

In our work we describe a new approach to measure pH differences in microfluidic devices and demonstrated acidification rate measurements in on-chip cell culture systems with nanoliter wells. We used two miniaturized identical iridium oxide [...]

Computer Simulation of Nanoparticle Sintering

Koparde V.N., Cummings P.T., Vanderbilt University, US

Nanoparticles have been the area of active research in recent years as they have novel and unique properties, which distinguish them from the bulk phase. Given the difficulties associated with experimental analysis at the nanoscale, [...]

Mechanical Parameter Extraction of Thin-Film Coated Materials

Li Y., Tseng K.K., Vanderbilt University, US

Materials coated with thin-films have become popular in many advanced applications. The thin layer of high-strength coating can improve the performance of the material. However, challenges arise when characterizing or extracting mechanical parameters for this [...]