(354a) Novel Electrode Structures for Enhanced Transport

Porous electrodes are a key component in fuel cells and other energy technologies, but the random and chaotic nature of state-of-the-art electrode structures leads to slow transport and reaction within the electrodes. Development of improved electrode structures is needed to accelerate fuel cell deployment. Advanced electrode designs can reduce barriers to transport and reaction, enabling fuel cells and related devices with higher power density and efficiency. Our team has developed new electrode architectures that provide enhancements in transport of both protons and oxygen using dedicated transport channels, non-tortuous geometries, and hierarchical structural control. These rationally-designed electrodes provide higher performance and durability than conventional electrodes in fuel cell membrane electrode assembly testing. The effect of structural parameters on electrode behavior will be discussed, along with outlook for future electrode designs.