NANOWIRE-BASED MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES FOR FUEL CELLS

The present invention discloses electrode catalyst support composites comprising nanowires grown on a substrate surface and a polymer electrolyte. The nanowires used in these composites comprise silicon. The nanowires may be linked to the polymer electrolyte in some cases and the composite may also include metal catalyst particles attached to the nanowires. Electrodes, particularly an anode, comprising the composites are also described.