(242a) Design of Highly Active and Durable Electrocatalysts By Tuning Nanostructure

Chemical-electrical energy conversion and storage are greatly attractive for the development of sustainable energy. Among the chemical-electrical energy conversion devices, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is one promising technology for portable applications, from as small as portable electronics, to as large as automobiles. One key for PEMFCs is the electrocatalyst. Development of high-performance electrocatalyst nanomaterials relies on tuning material structures at nanoscale. This is in particular manifested in the design of electrocatalysts demanding both high activity and durability. In this talk, I will present a research system that connects fundamental investigation on well-defined extended surfaces (e.g. single crystal surfaces), extrapolation onto nanocrystals with highly controlled shape and size, exploration of interfacial interaction using novel nanocrystal superlattices as platform, and finally design of high performance catalysts in which all the possible beneficial properties from complex functional structures are implemented.