Stephen Creager

Biography

Dr. Creager earned a B.S. degree (1982) in chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Ph.D. degree (1987) in analytical chemistry from the University of North Carolina. He was a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas from 1987-1989. He taught at Indiana University for six years before joining the Clemson University faculty in 1995.

Research Interest

Dr. Creager’s research is in the general area of electrochemical science with an emphasis on electrochemical energy storage and conversion. Much of his research involves materials for polyelectrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells that convert chemical fuels such as hydrogen into electrical energy. Materials used in such devices include fluoropolymer ionomers to transport ions to and from the catalytically active sites in the fuel-cell electrodes, platinum nanoparticles to catalyze electrode reactions, and mesoporous carbon supports for the electrocatalysts. The pictures below show structures of some materials that he and his group study. He also pursues work on materials for lithium ion battery materials and for water electrolysis. His group has also created a miniaturized version of a PEM fuel cell that has an active area of just a few square millimeters, and requires just a few micrograms of catalyst to conduct a fuel-cell test.