Fenton/Ultra-Violet Treatment on Carbon Nanotube and its Effects on Carbon Nanotubes Reinforced Phenol Formaldehyde Resin/Graphite Composite for Bipolar Plate

Abstract

Using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) treated with Fenton/ultra-violet (UV) as reinforcement and phenol formaldehyde resin/graphite(PF/G) composite as matrix, a new composite for bipolar plate is fabricated by hot-pressing. The effects of different molar ratios of Fe2+ and H2O2 on the surface of the CNTs, the bend strength and conductivity of the composite produced are investigated. It is found that the surface of CNTs will be purer with the decreasing of the concentration of Fe2+; that a large quantity of hydroxyl groups and few carboxyl groups can be brought on the sidewalls of CNTs when the mole match of Fe2+ and H2O2 is 1:40; that the bend strength and conductivity of the composite increase initially and then decrease with the decreasing of mole match of Fe2+ and H2O2; and that the bend strength and conductivity of the composite can reach their best values when the mole match of Fe2+ and H2O2 is 1:40, corresponding 72.5MPa and 185.6 S•cm-1, respectively.