Conclusion.
The proton exchange membrane fuel cell should play a significant role in a hydrogen economy
since it enables convenient and direct conversion of hydrogen into electricity, thus allowing
the use of hydrogen in applications particularly suited for the transportation industry. To fully
realize this, multiple engineering challenges as well as development of advanced
nanomaterials. Nano-particles are characterized by extremely small particle size and high
surface area depending on their size, shape, and preparation conditions. Nano-materials can
exhibit unique properties (electrical, optical, magnetic, and catalytic), which are different form
their bulk material properties. For example, melting point becomes lower due to the size effect,
which helps lowering the processing temperature. Nano particles as catalysts are characterized
by large surface area and a high degree of dispersion of metal constituents on the surface of the
support. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is the rate limiting reaction in PEMFCs
involving several reaction intermediates with sluggish kinetics and thus plagues the Membrane
Electrode Assembly (MEA ) cathodes with large amounts of costly and scarce platinum. This
issue is addressed by the synthesis of efficient Pt-based catalysts capable of facilitating the
ORR with higher specific and mass activities than pure Pt.
Your view on nanomaterial and nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology is a burgeoning field and is widely applied to advanced manufacturing and
engineering. Numerous technologies are involved in the fabrication of nanomaterials from various
sources such as physical, chemical, and biological materials, and different strategies are used to
maximize the production of nanomaterials such as the use of different raw materials, temperature, and
pH. The global market has a high demand for nanoparticles. Nanoparticles are complex molecules
composed of triple-layered surfaces: the surface layer, the shell, and the core. Among other metallic
NPs, noble nanomaterials have been used extensively for the applications in fuel cells, organic catalysis,
water gas shift reactions, selective oxidation of CO, pharmaceuticals, photonics, electronics, optics,
biosensors, biomedical and petrochemical industries, and automobiles Several approaches are used for
synthesizing NPs, such as physical, chemical, and biological methods. Conventional methods of NP
production involve two approaches: top-down and bottom-up methods Catalytic nanomaterials like
platinum, palladium, and cerium display inimitable physicochemical properties and high surface area
and have immense potential for application in various fields. platinum NPs (PtNPs) have led to a new
revolution in the field of nanotechnology including the chemical industry, automotive sector, and
biomedical applications, and therapeutic span. Consequently, recently, researchers have investigated
cleaner, greener, scalable, cost effective, and environmentally benign approaches that can avoid toxic
chemicals. Environmentally benign conditions require various templates, including microorganisms,
algae, fungi, and plants, and small molecules that can act as alternatives for physical and chemical
methods. The morphology and size of the NPs can be controlled by methods such as using different
concentrations of reducing agent/capping agent, concentrations of precursors, pH, and temperature.
Catalytic nanomaterials like platinum, palladium, and cerium display inimitable physicochemical
properties and high surface area and have immense potential for application in various fields. platinum
NPs (PtNPs) have led to a new revolution in the field of nanotechnology including the chemical
industry, automotive sector, and biomedical applications, and therapeutic span. PtNPs and their alloys
exhibit excellent catalytic properties because of their large surface areas. They are mainly used to reduce
pollutants and play a major role in the chemical reactions for synthesis of various chemicals in the
chemical industry .