Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Fuel cells are promising candidates for clean energy conversion in the quest for alternatives to conventional fossil fuel technology. The high amount of noble material, the overpotential required for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) and the degradation of the electrocatalysts are the main issues that impair practical application. For electrocatalysis, the development of active and stable low-cost catalysts to be used as cathodes in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) is a massive challenge.

The study of the ORR in the Electrocatalysis Group at the MPIE is conducted in a concerted way, by combining

(i) fundamental studies on the ORR on model surfaces and High Surface Area Catalysts (HSACs) (including theoretical models)

(ii) investigation of support interactions

(iii) activity and dealloying of core-shell catalysts and

(iv) High-Throughput Material Screening using the Scanning Flow Cell.