Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells often underperform due to high overpotentials caused by sluggish kinetics. Specifically, the Pt-catalyzed oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode renders the energy efficiency well below the thermodynamic limit.
Researchers in Stanford's Nanoscale Prototyping Laboratory have developed a simple, high throughput method to fabricate ultra-thin, defect-free, single crystal silicon sheets at a competitive cost.
Engineers in Prof. Fritz Prinz's laboratory have developed a low cost, scalable method to fabricate anti-reflective, highly conductive metal silicide nanowires electrodes for photovoltaic cells.