Publication date: 15th December 2025
Electrochemical technologies for converting and storing energy, including fuel cells and electrolysers, depend critically on electrocatalysts that can operate efficiently, selectively, and stably under demanding conditions, ideally while relying on earth-abundant and affordable materials. To find and evaluate such catalysts, initial screening of their performance is typically carried out in aqueous model systems, for example using rotating disk electrode (RDE) half-cell setups. However, such configurations fail to accurately reproduce the conditions of real devices. Conversely, catalyst testing in full fuel cells or electrolyser stacks is prohibitively expensive, labor-intensive, and often too complex to enable detailed mechanistic insights.
In recent years, gas diffusion electrode (GDE) half-cell setups have emerged as a powerful intermediate platform that bridges the gap between model systems and operating devices. GDEs allow the evaluation of catalyst layers under realistic conditions, including high current densities and device-relevant mass transport, while maintaining experimental flexibility and mechanistic accessibility [1].
Drawing on representative examples from our own research and the broader literature, this talk will illustrate how GDE setups can offer critical insights into catalyst performance and degradation under practical conditions. It will be shown, for instance, that Pt dissolution in fuel cells is strongly suppressed due to the low diffusion coefficient of dissolved species in Nafion compared to aqueous electrolytes [2]. For Fe–N–C catalysts, the detrimental impact of the oxygen reduction reaction on catalyst stability and pH change-related effects in the catalyst layer will be discussed [3, 4]. Furthermore, the application of GDE methodology to water electrolysis research will be highlighted through recent studies of Ir dissolution, with comparisons to aqueous model systems and full PEM electrolyser cells [5]. The talk will conclude with perspectives on future developments, including advanced and spatially resolved approaches such as scanning GDE setups [6].
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