MICROFLUIDIC PLATFORMS FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF FUEL CELL CATALYSTS AND ELECTRODES BY

ii A clear need exists for novel approaches to producing and utilizing energy in more efficient ways, in light of society’s ever increasing demand as well as growing concerns with respect to climate change related to CO2 emissions. The development of low temperature fuel cell technologies will continue to play an important role in many alternative energy conversion strategies, especially for portable electronics and automotive applications. However, widespread commercialization of fuel cell technologies has yet to be achieved due to a combination of high costs, poor durability and, system performance limitations (Chapter 1). Developing a better understanding of the complex interplay of electrochemical, transport, and degradation processes that govern the performance and durability of novel fuel cell components, particularly catalysts and electrodes, within operating fuel cells is critical to designing robust, inexpensive configurations that are required for commercial introduction. Such detailed in-situ investigations of individual electrode processes are complicated by other factors such as water management, uneven performance across electrodes, and temperature gradients. Indeed, too many processes are interdependent on the same few variable parameters, necessitating the development o