The SUNCAT (SUstainable eNergy through CATalysis) Center for Interface Science and Catalysis is a partnership between SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and the Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University. The Center explores challenges associated with the atomic-scale design of catalysts for chemical transformations of interest for energy conversion and storage. By combining experimental and theoretical methods the aim is to develop a quantitative description of chemical processes at the solid-gas and solid-liquid interface. The goal is to identify the factors controlling the catalytic properties of solid surfaces and to be able to use theoretical and computational methods to tailor new catalysts.
Understanding Fuel Cell Catalysis
Changing the electronic structure of a metal in order to “tune” its affinity to catalytic reaction intermediates is a key element in catalyst design. Tailor-made catalysts with a carefully adjusted ratio of two or more different alloy components are particularly needed in fuel cells, which could efficiently power electric vehicles
