Catalysts speed up a chemical reaction or allow for reactions to take place that would not otherwise occur. The chemical nature of a catalyst and its structure are crucial for interactions with reaction intermediates.
An electrocatalyst is used in an electrochemical reaction, for example in a fuel cell to produce electricity. In this case, reaction rates are also dependent on the electrode potential and the structure of the electrical double-layer.
This work provides a valuable overview of this rapidly developing field by focusing on the aspects that drive the research of today and tomorrow. Key topics are discussed by leading experts, making this book a must-have for many scientists of the field with backgrounds in different disciplines, including chemistry, physics, biochemistry, engineering as well as surface and materials science. This book is volume XIV in the series 'Advances in Electrochemical Sciences and Engineering'.


Richard C. Alkire is Professor Emeritus of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Charles and Dorothy Prizer Chair at the University of Illinois, Urbana, USA. He obtained his degrees at Lafayette College and University of California at Berkeley. He has received numerous prizes, including Vittorio de Nora Award and Lifetime National Associate award from National Academy.
Dieter M. Kolb (1942-2011) was Professor of Electrochemistry at the University of Ulm, Germany. He received his undergraduate and PhD degrees at the Technical University of Munich. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ, USA. He worked as a Senior Scientist at the Fritz-Haber-Institute of the Max-Planck-Society, Berlin and completed his habilitation at the Free University of Berlin, where he also was Professor. Prof. Kolb has received many prizes and was a member of several societies.
Jacek Lipkowski is Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Guelph, Canada. His research interests focus on surface analysis and interfacial electrochemistry. He has authored over 120 publications and is a member of several societies, including a Fellow of the International Society of Electrochemistry.
Ludwig Kibler is Research Scientist at the University of Ulm, Germany. He received his Diploma and PhD degrees under the supervision of Prof. Dieter Kolb.