title: Hydrogen evolution on hydrophobic aligned carbon nanotube arrays.
abstract: We investigate for the first time hydrophobic carbon nanotube-based electrochemical cells as an alternative solution to hydrogen sorting. We show that the electrically conducting surface of the nanotube arrays can be used as a cathode for hydrogen generation and absorption by electrolyzing water. We support our findings with Raman and gas chromatography measurements. These results suggest that carbon nanotube forests, presenting a unique combination of hydrophobicity and conductivity, are suitable for application in fuel cells and microelectromechanical devices.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Aerospace Laboratories, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Abha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Misra
authors.forename: Jyotsnendu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giri
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Daraio
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D004572:Electrolysis / Q000379:methods*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D014867:Water; D006859:Hydrogen