In-situ soft x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electronic structure simulations identified the adsorbed oxygenated species on platinum fuel cell cathodes during the oxygen reduction reaction. Two distinct pathways of oxygen reduction mediate the formation of reactive non-hydrated OH and less-reactive hydrated OH on platinum cathodes. Tuning the hydration will be crucial for developing more active fuel-cell cathodes, which can reduce platinum usage.
Researcher Information
JST PRESTO
Research Area : "Structure and Control of interfaces"
Research Theme : "Chemical composition and electronic structure at electrochemical three phase boundary "
Journal Information
Hirohito Ogasawara et al.“Direct observation of the oxygenated species during oxygen reduction on a platinum fuel cell cathode”
Nature Communications, Published online 18 December 2013
doi: 10.1038/ncomms3817
Contact
[About Research]
Hirohito Ogasawara, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory Physicist, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
E-mail: 
HP: http://www.stanford.edu/~hirohito/
[About Program]
Masashi Furukawa, Koji Matsuo, Kazuo Hirasawa
Green Innovation Group, Department of Innovation Research, JST
E-mail: 