PEM Fuel Cell Fundamentals -- Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction -- Electrocatalytic H2 Oxidation Reaction -- Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Methanol, Ethanol and Formic Acid -- Application of First Principles Methods in the Study of Fuel Cell Air-Cathode Electrocatalysis -- Catalyst Contamination in PEM Fuel Cells -- PEM Fuel Cell Catalyst Layers and MEAs -- Catalyst Layer Modeling: Structure, Properties and Performance -- Catalyst Synthesis Techniques -- Physical Characterization of Electrocatalysts -- Electrochemical Methods for Catalyst Activity Evaluation -- Combinatorial Methods for PEM Fuel Cell Electrocatalysts -- Platinum-based Alloy Catalysts for PEM Fuel Cells -- Nanotubes, Nanofibers and Nanowires as Supports for Catalysts -- Non-noble Electrocatalysts for the PEM Fuel Cell Oxygen Reduction Reaction -- CO-tolerant Catalysts -- Reversal-tolerant Catalyst Layers -- High-temperature PEM Fuel Cell Catalysts and Catalyst Layers -- Conventional Catalyst Ink, Catalyst Layer and MEA Preparation -- Spray-based and CVD Processes for Synthesis of Fuel Cell Catalysts and Thin Catalyst Layers -- Catalyst Layer/MEA Performance Evaluation -- Catalyst Layer Composition Optimization -- Catalyst Layer Degradation, Diagnosis and Failure Mitigation.

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, including H2/O2 (air) and methanol/O2 (air) fuel cells, are promising clean energy converting devices with high efficiency and low to zero emissions. Such power sources can be used in transportation, stationary, portable, and micro power applications. The key components of these fuel cells are catalysts and catalyst layers. PEM Fuel Cell Electrocatalysts and Catalyst Layers covers all of the fundamental aspects and applications of this field. The opening chapters introduce the essential topics on electrochemical theory and fuel cell catalysis, including: electrode thermodynamics, kinetics, and mass transfer; electrode/electrolyte interface electrocatalysis; electrocatalytic reactions, including O2 reduction and H2/CH3OH oxidations; quantum chemistry simulations of catalyst activity; catalyst contamination; spectroscopic methods for catalysis research; porous gas electrode theory; and catalyst layers and modeling. Later chapters investigate the synthesis, characterization, and activity validation of PEM fuel cell catalysts. All fuel cell related catalysts are reviewed, including noble and non-noble catalysts and their preparation/performance. Further chapters describe in detail the integration of the electrocatalyst/catalyst layers into the fuel cell, and their performance validation, including: catalyst layer structure function and optimization, catalyst degradation and diagnosis, and strategies to mitigate the failure modes. PEM Fuel Cell Electrocatalysts and Catalyst Layers provides a comprehensive, in-depth survey of PEM fuel cell electrocatalysts and catalyst layers, presented by internationally renowned fuel cell scientists. Researchers and engineers in the fuel cell industry will find this book a valuable resource, as will students of electrochemical engineering and catalyst synthesis.