Electrocatalysts for Acidic and Alkaline Fuel Cells

Dear Colleagues,

in the current energetic scenario, both acidic and alkaline fuel cells represent interesting alternative energy generators in view of their high conversion efficiency and maximum achievable output power, low working temperature, and almost null environmental impacts. However, a wide commercial diffusion of these devices is still hindered by issues related to costs, electrocatalyst activity, and material lifetime.

Among others, catalysts, being a paramount component, play a crucial role in the optimal operation of fuel cells, and their optimization deserves particular attention and effort.

Moreover, a massive use of fuel cells both for automotive and stationary applications entails finding an alternative material to platinum-based catalysts in order to reduce overall costs.

Additionally, kinetics is still an open key point. Indeed, the performance of these devices is mainly limited by the oxygen reduction reaction because of its sluggish kinetics resulting in a decrease of cell efficiency in both acidic and in alkaline environments.

This Special Issue of Applied Sciences, “Electrocatalysts for Acidic and Alkaline Fuel Cells”, is intended for a wide and interdisciplinary audience, and aims at covering, but is not limited to, recent advances in:

• durability enhancement of electrocatalysts;
• assessment of degradation mechanisms;
• development of Pt-free active phases;
• modeling of kinetic behavior of electrocatalysts;
• development of innovative catalytic supports;
• innovative preparation techniques and processing;
• in-operando characterization techniques.

Dr. Saverio Latorrata
Prof. Giovanni Dotelli
Prof. Cinzia Cristiani
Prof. Paola Gallo Stampino
Guest Editors

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