Professor Ronald W. Fawcett of the University of California-Davis is supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program in the Division of Chemistry to study the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction, and the anodic methanol oxidation reaction. The reactions will be investigated using decorated catalysts in aprotic media to separate the effects due to interactions of the reactant with the catalyst surface from effects due to reactive intermediates arising from water. The experimental work will involve electrochemical tecniques, including cyclic voltammetry and faradaic admittance studies. In addition, FTIR spectroscopy will be used to identify reactants and reactant intermediates at the electrode / solution interface. Oxygen reduction occurs at the cathode of every fuel cell and methanol oxidation to carbon dioxide and water is an important area of fuel cell research. Students will be trained in this important area of alternative energy research.
