Professor Eric Stuve's research deals with the electrocatalytic mechanism of methanol oxidation in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). In particular, the objective of this study is to understand the kinetics, reaction intermediates, catalyst modifiers, and poisoning mechanism of noble metal electrodes. The long-term prospect and broader impact is the development of improved electrodes and economically feasible DMFC. The parallel path mechanism of methanol oxidation will be studied in a dual electrochemical cell and in a combined ultrahigh vacuum-electrochemical cell system. The metal surfaces will consist of single crystalline and polycrystalline Pt modified with Ru, Os, and Ir. Characterization of surface structure and chemistry will be performed with Auger, LEED, and thermal desorption of CO. The chemical characterization will also include differential electrochemical mass spectroscopy of volatile reaction products. The project targets the training of undergraduate and graduate fuel cell engineers.
