Facilitating, understanding, and controlling the oxygen reduction reaction for fuel cell technology using (1) laccase-inspired tricopper molecular catalysts, (2) a high temperature and pressure reaction vessel, and (3) a hybrid bilayer membrane electrochemical platform

The objectives of my thesis were to investigate three major facets of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR: O2 + 4 H+ + 4 e– → 2 H2O). First, I developed new tri-copper catalysts for the ORR with a specific focus on the active site present in multi-copper oxidases, which are the most active enzymes for the ORR. Second, I evaluated the ORR kinetics at high temperature (between 100 and 200 °C) and under pressurized conditions (between 0.7 and 3.4 MPa). Third, I designed and prepared a hybrid bilayer membrane (HBM) electrochemical platform to control the ORR mechanism by modulating the proton flux.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2016

Author dc:creator

• Tse, Chun Ming Edmund

Contributors dc:contributor

• Gewirth, Andrew A.
• Rauchfuss, Thomas B.
• Murphy, Catherine J.
• Kenis, Paul J. A.

• Electrocatalysis
• Fuel Cells
• Enzyme Models
• Organometallic Complexes
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Surface Modifications
• Lipid Membranes
• Analytical Characterizations

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2016 Chun Ming Edmund Tse

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/90861

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/90861