The latest Editors’ Choice article in ECS Advances takes on one of the most pressing challenges in electrochemical energy research: advancing sustainable, high-performance materials for fuel cells. In “Can Hydrocarbon-Based MEAs Close the Performance Gap to State-of-the-Art Perfluorosulfonic Acid-Based MEAs for PEM Fuel Cells?,” Konstantin A. Weber, Carla S. Harzer, Elias Bindl, Kilian Stengl, and Hubert A. Gasteiger present a breakthrough approach that could reshape the future of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs).

Closing the Gap with Innovation

The research introduces a wet hot-pressing method that enables the fabrication of high-performance hydrocarbon (HC)-based MEAs—an important fluorine-free alternative to conventional perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA)-based ionomers. Historically, HC-based systems struggled to match the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and durability of PFSA-based MEAs, largely due to catalyst poisoning and incompatibilities in processing. (more…)

We’re thrilled to recognize one of the top-read articles in the Journal of The Electrochemical Society (JES): “Changes in Structure and Ionic Resistance of Lithium-Ion Battery Graphite Electrodes – Part I: Impact of Formation and SEI” by Jonas L. S. Dickmanns, Lennart Reuter, Robert Morasch, Filippo Maglia, Roland Jung, and Hubert A. Gasteiger.

This study dives into the structural evolution of graphite electrodes during the formation process of lithium-ion batteries—particularly the development of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). The authors provide a detailed, quantitative understanding of how this formation process impacts porosity, tortuosity, and thickness, ultimately increasing ionic resistance by up to 25 percent. These findings are essential for researchers and engineers seeking to design batteries that are not only more energy-dense, but also more efficient and durable. (more…)