Yet another very interesting potential application for carbon nanotubes: miniature fuel cells. Apparently nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes catalyze hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells even better than platinum does. (Note: skip past the ad page to reach the article.) Why is this important? It would allow construction of very small but quite powerful hydrogen fuel cells, capable of running things like cell phones or laptops. And while nanotubes ain't cheap, they don't cost as much as platinum does, either.
Note, by the way, that fuel cells are NOT a source of energy. They are a method of STORING energy. Free hydrogen doesn't exist on Earth, so if you're using hydrogen fuel that means that the hydrogen was produced from water by electrolysis, using energy from a powerplant somewhere. The advantage is that hydrogen is clean-burning, so you can concentrate pollution in efficient large powerplants rather than having lots of little pollution sources.
The answer to all of life's problems: carbon nanotubes.
I keep thinking we'll find (or create) some life form that produces hydrogen in bulk at a low input cost.
If we invent them, I suggest they be called Hinden-bugs.
Posted by: Barrett | March 04, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Of course it'd be better if the Hinden-bugs were actually huge manatees.
Posted by: Barrett | March 04, 2009 at 02:04 PM
I like my carbon nano-tubes on Pizza! They're good for everything!
Posted by: Brian Rogers | March 06, 2009 at 06:42 PM