S Pitchumani
Articles written in Bulletin of Materials Science
Volume 32 Issue 3 June 2009 pp 285-294
Nafion and modified-Nafion membranes for polymer electrolyte fuel cells: An overview
A K Sahu S Pitchumani P Sridhar A K Shukla
Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) employ membrane electrolytes for proton transport during the cell reaction. The membrane forms a key component of the PEFC and its performance is controlled by several physical parameters, viz. water up-take, ion-exchange capacity, proton conductivity and humidity. The article presents an overview on Nafion membranes highlighting their merits and demerits with efforts on modified-Nafion membranes.
Volume 33 Issue 2 April 2010 pp 157-163 Polymers
PEDOT–PSSA as an alternative support for Pt electrodes in PEFCs
K K Tintula S Pitchumani P Sridhar A K Shukla
Poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and poly (styrene sulphonic acid) (PSSA) supported platinum (Pt) electrodes for application in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) are reported. PEDOT–PSSA support helps Pt particles to be uniformly distributed on to the electrodes, and facilitates mixed electronic and ionic (H+-ion) conduction within the catalyst, ameliorating Pt utilization. The inherent proton conductivity of PEDOT–PSSA composite also helps reducing Nafion content in PEFC electrodes. During prolonged operation of PEFCs, Pt electrodes supported onto PEDOT–PSSA composite exhibit lower corrosion in relation to Pt electrodes supported onto commercially available Vulcan XC-72R carbon. Physical properties of PEDOT–PSSA composite have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. PEFCs with PEDOT–PSSA-supported Pt catalyst electrodes offer a peak power-density of 810 mW cm-2 at a load current-density of 1800 mA cm-2 with Nafion content as low as 5 wt.% in the catalyst layer. Accordingly, the present study provides a novel alternative support for platinized PEFC electrodes.
Volume 34 Issue 2 April 2011 pp 337-346
Pt–Au/C cathode with enhanced oxygen-reduction activity in PEFCs
G Selvarani S Vinod Selvaganesh P Sridhar S Pitchumani A K Shukla
Carbon-supported Pt–Au (Pt–Au/C) catalyst is prepared separately by impregnation, colloidal and micro-emulsion methods, and characterized by physical and electrochemical methods. Highest catalytic activity towards oxygen-reduction reaction (ORR) is exhibited by Pt–Au/C catalyst prepared by colloidal method. The optimum atomic ratio of Pt to Au in Pt–Au/C catalyst prepared by colloidal method is determined using linear-sweep and cyclic voltammetry in conjunction with cell-polarization studies. Among 3:1, 2:1 and 1:1 Pt–Au/C catalysts, (3:1) Pt–Au/C exhibits maximum electrochemical activity towards ORR. Powder X-ray diffraction pattern and transmission electron micrograph suggest Pt–Au alloy nanoparticles to be well dispersed onto the carbon-support. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy data suggest that the atomic ratios of the alloying elements match well with the expected values. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) operating at 0.6 V with (3:1) Pt–Au/C cathode delivers a maximum power-density of 0.65 W/cm2 in relation to 0.53 W/cm2 delivered by the PEFC with pristine carbon-supported Pt cathode.
Volume 35 Issue 3 June 2012 pp 297-303
A novel multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT)-based nanocomposite for PEFC electrodes
S Mohanapriya K K Tintula S D Bhat S Pitchumani P Sridhar
A novel nanocomposite comprising MWNTs and mixed-conducting polymeric components (electronic and ionic) is prepared, characterized and investigated as a support for platinum (Pt). Nanocomposite of MWNTs and poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT–PSS) is prepared by
Volume 36 Issue 3 June 2013 pp 353-359
K G Nishanth P Sridhar S Pitchumani A K Shukla
Porous titanium oxide–carbon hybrid nanostructure (TiO2–C) with a specific surface area of 350 m2/g and an average pore-radius of 21.8 Å is synthesized via supramolecular self-assembly with an
Volume 37 Issue 4 June 2014 pp 877-881
K Hari Gopi S Gouse Peera S D Bhat P Sridhar S Pitchumani
Hydroxyl ion (OH–) conducting anion exchange membranes based on modified poly (phenylene oxide) are fabricated for their application in alkaline polymer electrolyte fuel cells (APEFCs). In the present study, chloromethylation of poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) is performed by aryl substitution rather than benzyl substitution and homogeneously quaternized to form an anion exchange membrane (AEM). 1H NMR and FT–IR studies reveal successful incorporation of the above groups in the polymer backbone. The membrane is characterized for its ion exchange capacity and water uptake. The membrane formed by these processes show good ionic conductivity and when used in fuel cell exhibited an enhanced performance in comparison with the state-of-the-art commercial AHA membrane. A peak power density of 111 mW/cm2 at a load current density of 250 mA/cm2 is obtained for PPO based membrane in APEFCs at 30 °C.
Volume 45, 2022
All articles
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Prof. Subi Jacob George — Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bengaluru
Chemical Sciences 2020
Prof. Surajit Dhara — School of Physics, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
Physical Sciences 2020
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