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The present invention discloses nanowires for use in a fuel cell comprising a metal catalyst deposited on a surface of the nanowires. A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell is disclosed which generally comprises a proton exchange membrane, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode, wherein

The present invention discloses nanowires for use in a fuel cell comprising a metal catalyst deposited on a surface of the nanowires. A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell is disclosed which generally comprises a proton exchange membrane, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode, wherein at least one or more of the anode electrode and cathode electrode comprise an interconnected network of the catalyst supported nanowires. Methods are also disclosed for preparing a membrane electrode assembly and fuel cell based upon an interconnected network of nanowires.

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1. A composition comprising: a plurality of nanowires attached directly to a support structure comprising graphite, carbon or a carbon composition, the nanowires comprising crystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, or a mixture thereof; and an electrolyte. 2. The composition o

1. A composition comprising: a plurality of nanowires attached directly to a support structure comprising graphite, carbon or a carbon composition, the nanowires comprising crystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, or a mixture thereof; and an electrolyte. 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanowires are dispersed within the electrolyte. 3. The composition of claim 1, wherein a portion of the electrolyte is attached to the nanowires. 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein a portion of the electrolyte is directly linked to the surface of the nanowires. 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein a portion of the electrolyte forms a continuous or discontinuous film coating on the surface of the nanowires. 6. The composition of claim 1, wherein a portion of the electrolyte is uniformly wetted on the surface of the nanowires. 7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanowires comprise an interconnected network of nanowires. 8. The composition of claim 7, wherein the nanowires comprise at least one surface chemical group which forms chemical cross-links between the interconnected nanowires. 9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte comprises a polymer electrolyte comprising an ionomer, a polyethylene oxide, a poly(ethylene succinate), a poly(beta-propiolactone), or a sulfonated fluoropolymer. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the surfaces of the nanowires are functionalized. 11. The composition of claim 10, wherein the nanowires are functionalized with at least one functional group which promotes wetting of the electrolyte on the nanowires. 12. The composition of claim 10, wherein the nanowires are functionalized with at least one functional group which binds the electrolyte to the nanowires. 13. The composition of claim 10, wherein the nanowires are functionalized with at least one molecule selected from the group consisting of: a short chain polymer, a sulfonated hydrocarbon, a short chain sulfonated hydrocarbon, a fluorocarbon, a short chain fluorocarbon, and a branched hydrocarbon. 14. The composition of claim 10, wherein the nanowires are functionalized with at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of: a nitric acid group, a carboxylic acid group, a hydroxyl group, an amine group, a sulfonic acid group, or a silane group. 15. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is porous, wherein the porous composition comprises pores disposed between the nanowires of the plurality of nanowires. 16. The composition of claim 15, wherein the electrolyte is disposed within the pores of the porous composition. 17. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanowires comprise a core and one or more shell layers disposed on the core. 18. The composition of claim 1, further comprising one or more metal catalyst particles attached to the nanowires, wherein the metal catalyst particles comprise gold, copper, or mixtures or alloys thereof. 19. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanowires are grown on the support structure. 20. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is electrically conductive. 21. An electrode comprising the composition of claim 1. 22. An anode comprising the composition of claim 1. 23. An article, comprising: an anode;a cathode;an electrolyte, andwherein the anode comprises a substrate and a plurality of nanowires attached directly to the substrate, the substrate comprises graphite, carbon or a carbon composition, and the nanowires comprise crystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, or a mixture thereof. 24. The article of claim 23, wherein the nanowires are grown on the substrate. 25. The article of claim 23, wherein a portion of the electrolyte is directly linked to the surface of the nanowires. 26. The article of claim 23, wherein a portion of the electrolyte forms a continuous or discontinuous film coating on the surface of the nanowires. 27. The article of claim 23, wherein the nanowires are functionalized with at least one functional group which binds the electrolyte to the nanowires. 28. The article of claim 23, wherein the substrate is porous.