Dear Colleagues,

Once revered as a technology with a great deal of potential, yet without fruition, it seems that mankind is at the very first steps of the long-awaited commercialization of fuel cell (FC) systems. Recent market launches of various hydrogen-powered vehicles, increased installation cases of solid oxide-based stationary FCs are just a few examples of this encouraging movement. Moreover, emerging environmental challenges such as global warming are in favor of powering the momentum for further applications of these cleaner energy options. Advances in catalysts in FC application has been remarkable in all systems, such as polymer electrolyte membrane FC, solid oxide FC, alkaline FC and hydrocarbon FCs. In this sense, it is worthwhile to mention some of the critical obstacles which the solutions will fortify the foundations for these newly market immerging technologies.

Increasing catalyst activity has been considered as one of the major pillars in FC research. As the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction of the cathode dictates the overall performance of the cell, much efforts have been focused on investigating novel materials and structures regarding this perspective. While a catalyst’s activity plays a crucial role in determining the performance of the FCs, in the sense of commercial implementation, the decisive factor weighs more on the durability rather than the activity. Pt-based nanoparticles are widely used as electrocatalysts in operation of polymer electrolyte membrane FCs. While the longevity may be an intrinsic property of the active material, other factors play in the degradation of the catalyst. The chemical stability of the support materials and the size distribution of the nanoparticles are aspects to consider in the deterioration mechanism known as the “Ostwald ripening process”.

Works submitted to this Special Issue should be centered providing key insights to achieving highly active or durable electrocatalysts for commercial applications. Such understanding allows future researchers and engineers to harness the full potential of the technology securing further efforts of a realized cleaner, more efficient energy source.

Prof. Dr. Yong-Gun Shul
Guest Editor

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• Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell catalysts
• Solid oxide fuel cell catalysts
• Direct methaol fuel cell catalysts
• High durability in electrocatalysts
• Pt/non-Pt fuel cell catalysts
• Durable catalyst support
• Oxygen Reduction Reaction
• Computational Chemistry
• MEA interface charecterization
• Reverse fuel cell catalyst
• Alkaline fuel cell catalyst
• Oxide electrocatalysts