PEM Fuel Cell Electrocatalysts and Catalyst Layers Fundamentals and Applications

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells are promising clean energy converting devices with high efficiency and low to zero emissions. Such power sources can be used in transportation, stationary, portable and micro power applications. The key components of these fuel cells are catalysts and catalyst layers. “PEM Fuel Cell Electrocatalysts and Catalyst Layers” provides a comprehensive, in-depth survey of the field, presented by internationally renowned fuel cell scientists. The opening chapters introduce the fundamentals of electrochemical theory and fuel cell catalysis. Later chapters investigate the synthesis, characterization, and activity validation of PEM fuel cell catalysts. Further chapters describe in detail the integration of the electrocatalyst/catalyst layers into the fuel cell, and their performance validation. Researchers and engineers in the fuel cell industry will find this book a valuable resource, as will students of electrochemical engineering and catalyst synthesis.

PEM Fuel Cell Fundamentals.- Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction.- Electrocatalytic H2 Oxidation Reaction.- Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Methanol, Ethanol and Formic Acid.- Application of First Principles Methods in the Study of Fuel Cell Air-Cathode Electrocatalysis.- Catalyst Contamination in PEM Fuel Cells.- PEM Fuel Cell Catalyst Layers and MEAs.- Catalyst Layer Modeling: Structure, Properties and Performance.- Catalyst Synthesis Techniques.- Physical Characterization of Electrocatalysts.- Electrochemical Methods for Catalyst Activity Evaluation.- Combinatorial Methods for PEM Fuel Cell Electrocatalysts.- Platinum-based Alloy Catalysts for PEM Fuel Cells.- Nanotubes, Nanofibers and Nanowires as Supports for Catalysts.- Non-noble Electrocatalysts for the PEM Fuel Cell Oxygen Reduction Reaction.- CO-tolerant Catalysts.- Reversal-tolerant Catalyst Layers.- High-temperature PEM Fuel Cell Catalysts and Catalyst Layers.- Conventional Catalyst Ink, Catalyst Layer and MEA Preparation.- Spray-based and CVD Processes for Synthesis of Fuel Cell Catalysts and Thin Catalyst Layers.- Catalyst Layer/MEA Performance Evaluation.- Catalyst Layer Composition Optimization.- Catalyst Layer Degradation, Diagnosis and Failure Mitigation.

Dr Jiujun Zhang is a Senior Research Officer and PEM Catalysis Core Competency Leader at the National Research Council of Canada Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation (NRC-IFCI). Dr Zhang has over twenty-six years of R&D experience in theoretical and applied electrochemistry, including over twelve years of fuel cell R&D (among these six years at Ballard Power Systems and four years at NRC-IFCI), and three years of electrochemical sensor experience. Dr Zhang holds seven adjunct professorships, including one at the University of Waterloo and one at the University of British Columbia. His research is based on: low/non-Pt cathode catalyst development with long-term stability for catalyst cost reduction; preparation of novel material-supported Pt catalysts through ultrasonic spray pyrolysis; catalyst layer/cathode structure; fundamental understanding through first principles theoretical modeling; catalyst layer characterization and electrochemical evaluation; and preparation of cost-effective MEAs for fuel cell testing and evaluation. Dr Zhang has co-authored more than 140 research papers published in refereed journals and holds over ten US patents. He has also produced in excess of seventy industrial technical reports. Dr Zhang is an active member of The Electrochemical Society, the International Society of Electrochemistry, and the American Chemical Society.