Novel carbon materials with nanometer dimensions are of potentially significant importance for a number of advanced technological applications. Within this report we describe the results for the electrochemical characterization of a series of single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) metal supported catalysts as cathodes for basic fuel cell systems. Compared to the typical carbon black electrocatalysts, the nanotube supported platinum catalyst resulted in up to a 140% improvement in the efficiency for a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell.

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There have been many recent advances in the use of nanostructured materials for space power applications. In particular, the use of high purity single wall nanotubes holds promise for a variety of generation and storage devices including: thin film lithium ion batteries, microelectronic proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, polymeric thin film solar cells, and thermionic power supplies is presented. Semiconducting quantum dots alone and in conjunction with carbon nanotubes are also being investigated for possible use in high efficiency photovoltaic solar cells. This paper will review some of the work being done at RIT in conjunction with the NASA Glenn Research Center to utilize nanomaterials in space power devices.