@article { ISI:000237003000008, title = {Role of dopant ions in electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol using conducting polypyrrole electrodes}, journal = {Journal of Power Sources}, volume = {155}, number = {2}, year = {2006}, month = {APR}, pages = {157-160}, publisher = {ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV}, type = {Article}, address = {PO BOX 211, 1000 AE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS}, abstract = {

Conducting polypyrrole electrodes obtained by electro-polymerization of pyrrole on vacuum metallized glass substrates are modified by doping with a range of metal halides as dopant ions having different electronegativity. Electro-oxidation of methanol using these electrodes is studied by means of cyclic voltammetry in 0.1 M HCiO(4) as supporting electrolyte. It is found that the electronegativity of the dopant ion plays a very important role in the electrocatalytic activity. Polypyrrole doped with zirconium chloride gives the highest anodic current of 10 mA cm(-2) at the oxidation potential of methanol. The results are explained on the basis of the charge-transfer efficiency at the electrode I electrolyte interface, which is associated with the acceptor state created by the dopant in the semi-conducting polymer. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.

}, keywords = {conducting polymers, electrocatalysis, fuel cells, Methanol oxidation, polypyrrole}, issn = {0378-7753}, doi = {10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.03.234}, author = {Radhakrishnan, S. and Adhikari, Arindam} } @article {18}, title = {Role of halide ions and temperature on the morphology of biologically synthesized gold nanotriangles}, journal = {Langmuir}, volume = {22}, number = {2}, year = {2006}, month = {JAN}, pages = {736-741}, publisher = {AMER CHEMICAL SOC}, type = {Article}, address = {1155 16TH ST, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 USA}, abstract = {

{In this paper, we demonstrate the effect of halide ions on the formation of biogenically prepared gold nanotriangles using the leaf extract of lemongrass (Cymbopogonflextiosus) plant. We have also studied the effect of halide ions on the morphology of biogenic nanotriangles. It has been shown that iodide ions have a greater propensity to transform flat gold nanotriangles into circular disklike structures as compared to other halide ions. The study also suggests that the presence of Cl- ions during the synthesis promotes the growth of nanotriangles, whereas the presence of I- ions distorts the nanotriangle morphology and induces the formation of aggregated spherical nanoparticles. The change in the morphology of gold nanotriangles has been explained in terms of the ability of the halide ions to stabilize or inhibit the formation of (I 11) faces to form [

}, keywords = {DME steam reforming, fuel cells, Hydrogen, Mixed oxides, supported Ga2O3, XPS}, issn = {1520-6106}, doi = {10.1021/la052055q}, author = {Rai, A. and Singh, A. and Ahmad, Absar and Sastry, M.} } @article { ISI:000254869800024, title = {Polymer electrolyte fuel cells using nafion-based composite membranes with functionalized carbon nanotubes}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie-International Edition}, volume = {47}, number = {14}, year = {2008}, month = {FEB}, pages = {2653-2656}, publisher = {WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH}, address = {PO BOX 10 11 61, D-69451 WEINHEIM, GERMANY}, keywords = {fuel cells, membranes, nanotubes, Polymers, proton transport}, issn = {1433-7851}, doi = {10.1002/anie.200704343}, author = {Kannan, Ramaiyan and Kakade, Bhalchandra A. and Pillai, Vijayamohanan K.} } @article { ISI:000265316800007, title = {Polybenzimidazoles tethered with N-Phenyl 1,2,4-triazole units as polymer electrolytes for fuel cells}, journal = {Journal of Polymer Science Part A-Polymer Chemistry}, volume = {47}, number = {9}, year = {2009}, month = {MAY}, pages = {2289-2303}, publisher = {JOHN WILEY \& SONS INC}, address = {111 RIVER ST, HOBOKEN, NJ 07030 USA}, abstract = {

Polybenzimidazole (PBI) polymers tethered with N-phenyl 1,2,4-triazole (NPT) groups were prepared from a newly synthesized aromatic diacid, 3{\textquoteright}-(4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3,5-diyl) dibenzoic acid (PTDBA). The obtained polymers show superior thermal and chemical stability and good solubility in many aprotic solvents. The inherent viscosities of all polymers were around 1 dL/g. They exhibit high thermal stability with initial decomposition temperature ranging from 515 to 530 degrees C, high glass transition temperature ranging from 375 to 410 degrees C, and good mechanical properties with tensile stress in the range of 66-98 MPa and modulus 1897-2600 MPa. XRD analysis indicates that these polymers are amorphous in nature. PhysicochemiCal properties such as water and phosphoric acid-uptake, oxidative stability, and proton conductivity of membranes of these polymers have also been determined. The proton conductivity ranged from 4.7 x 10(-3) to 1.8 x 10(-2) S cm(-1) at 175 degrees C in dry conditions. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2289-2303, 2009

}, keywords = {fuel cells, Polybenzimidazole, synthesis and characterization, Triazole}, issn = {0887-624X}, doi = {10.1002/pola.23310}, author = {Potrekar, R. A. and Kulkarni, M. P. and Kulkarni, R. A. and Vernekar, S. P.} } @article { ISI:000264541800007, title = {Y-junction nanostructures of palladium: enhanced electrocatalytic properties for fuel cell reactions}, journal = {Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry}, volume = {627}, number = {1-2}, year = {2009}, month = {MAR}, pages = {58-62}, publisher = {ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA}, address = {PO BOX 564, 1001 LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND}, abstract = {

Here we demonstrate the utility of hierarchically designed alumina templates for the formation of palladium Y-junction nanostructures through a chemical vapor deposition route. These structures exhibit enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of formic acid (up to 1020\%) compared to that of platinum Y-junction nanostructures, which could be of immense relevance to portable fuel cell technology, since designing a better electrocatalyst for fuel cell reactions continues to be an important challenge. Apart from the obvious applications in fuel cell electrocatalysis, these Y-junction nanostructures could also act as promising candidates for room temperature hydrogen separation and more importantly as interconnects in molecular scale electronic devices. The present method of fabrication of Y-junction nanostructures using hierarchical alumina templates could be extended to other metallic/semiconducting systems facilitating more general opportunities for such hierarchical designs in nanoelectronics. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

}, keywords = {electrocatalysts, fuel cells, Hierarchical structures, Nanostructure, Porous alumina membrane, Y-junctions}, issn = {1572-6657}, doi = {10.1016/j.jelechem.2008.12.021}, author = {Subhramannia, Mahima and Ramaiyan, Kannan and Aslam, Mohammed and Pillai, Vijayamohanan K.} } @article { ISI:000310901200014, title = {Preferential oxidation of CO on Ni/CeO2 catalysts in the presence of excess H-2 and CO2}, journal = {Reaction Kinetics Mechanisms and Catalysis}, volume = {107}, number = {2}, year = {2012}, month = {DEC}, pages = {405-419}, publisher = {SPRINGER}, address = {VAN GODEWIJCKSTRAAT 30, 3311 GZ DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS}, abstract = {

Preferential oxidation of CO (CO-PROX) was carried out over Ni supported on CeO2 prepared by the co-precipitation method. The influence of metal loadings (2.5, 5 and 10 wt.\% Ni) and the reaction conditions such as reaction temperature and feed composition on CO oxidation and oxidation selectivity were evaluated by using dry reformate gas. No other reactions like CO or CO2 methanation, coking, reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction is observed in the temperature range of 100-200 A degrees C on these catalysts. Hydrogen oxidation dominates over CO oxidation above the temperature of 200 A degrees C. An increase in oxygen leads to an increase in CO conversion but a simultaneous decrease in the O-2 selectivity. It has been noticed that 5 and 10 \% Ni/CeO2 show better catalytic activity towards CO-PROX reaction. These catalysts were characterized by S-BET, XRD, TEM, XPS and H-2-TPR.

}, keywords = {CeO2, CO-PROX, fuel cells, Methanation, Ni}, issn = {1878-5190}, doi = {10.1007/s11144-012-0477-6}, author = {Malwadkar, Sachin S. and Bera, Parthasarathi and Hegde, M. S. and Satyanarayana, C. V. V.} } @article { ISI:000313263300022, title = {Porous-organic-framework-templated nitrogen-rich porous carbon as a more proficient electrocatalyst than Pt/C for the electrochemical reduction of oxygen}, journal = {Chemistry-A European Journal}, volume = {19}, number = {3}, year = {2013}, month = {JAN}, pages = {974-980}, publisher = {WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH}, address = {BOSCHSTRASSE 12, D-69469 WEINHEIM, GERMANY}, abstract = {

Porous nitrogen-rich carbon (POF-C-1000) that was synthesized by using a porous organic framework (POF) as a self-sacrificing host template in a nanocasting process possessed a high degree of graphitization in an ordered structural arrangement with large domains and well-ordered arrays of carbon sheets. POF-C-1000 exhibits favorable electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen-reduction reaction (ORR) with a clear positive shift of about 40 mV in the onset potential compared to that of a traditional, commercially available Pt/C catalyst. In addition, irrespective of its moderate surface area (785 m2?g-1), POF-C-1000 showed a reasonable H2 adsorption of 1.6 wt?\% (77 K) and a CO2 uptake of 3.5 mmol?g-1 (273 K).

}, keywords = {Adsorption, Electrochemistry, fuel cells, oxygen-reduction reaction, porous organic frameworks}, issn = {0947-6539}, doi = {10.1002/chem.201202940}, author = {Pachfule, Pradip and Dhavale, Vishal M. and Kandambeth, Sharath and Kurungot, Sreekumar and Banerjee, Rahul} } @article { ISI:000325548600016, title = {Redox-mediated synthesis of functionalised graphene: a strategy towards 2D multifunctional electrocatalysts for energy conversion applications}, journal = {ChemPlusChem}, volume = {78}, number = {10}, year = {2013}, month = {OCT}, pages = {1296-1303}, publisher = {WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH}, address = {BOSCHSTRASSE 12, D-69469 WEINHEIM, GERMANY}, abstract = {

A simple, one-step synthetic route for developing a two-dimensional multifunctional electrocatalyst is reported, by the functionalisation of graphene using oxidised ethylenedioxythiophene (O-EDOT). The mutually assisted redox reaction between graphene oxide (GO) and EDOT facilitates the reduction of GO to graphene with a concomitant deposition of O-EDOT on the surface of the graphene. The oxidised surface of GO catalyses the reaction without using an added reducing agent, so a controlled and uniform deposition of O-EDOT is ensured on the surface of graphene, which essentially prevents the restacking of the layers. UV/Visible, IR, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy give valid evidence for the reduction and functionalisation of graphene sheets. The functional groups present on the surface of graphene are found to tune the physical and chemical properties of graphene. Consequently, the functionalised material displays enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of oxygen to water and I3- to I- relative to pristine graphene. These distinct property characteristics make the material a versatile cathode electrocatalyst for both alkaline anion-exchange membrane fuel cells and dye-sensitised solar cells.

}, keywords = {electrocatalysts, fuel cells, graphene, redox chemistry, solar cells}, issn = {2192-6506}, doi = {10.1002/cplu.201300153}, author = {Unni, SreeKuttan M. and Bhange, Siddheshwar N. and Anothumakkool, Bihag and Kurungot, Sreekumar} } @article { ISI:000337689900034, title = {Effect of composition and pretreatment parameters on activity and stability of Cu-Al catalysts for water-gas shift reaction}, journal = {ChemCatChem}, volume = {6}, number = {6}, year = {2014}, month = {JUN}, pages = {1698-1706}, publisher = {WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH}, type = {Article}, address = {BOSCHSTRASSE 12, D-69469 WEINHEIM, GERMANY}, abstract = {

We investigated various Cu species responsible for highly efficient Cu-Al oxide catalyst for the water-gas shift reaction (WGSR). The formation of various Cu species was achieved by systematically varying the Cu-Al composition in the coprecipitated mixed Cu-Al oxides. The Cu-Al composition of 70:30 (Cu-Al-7) was the best for WGSR using the reformate gas composition. In addition, the Cu-Al-7 catalyst reduced under 100\% H-2, was relatively stable with time on stream of 100 h, at higher gas hourly space velocity of 36201 h(-1). The structural investigation of our coprecipitated catalysts with varying Cu-Al compositions revealed the formation of nonzero oxidation state copper and metallic Cu to be essential for the observed WGSR activity. In addition, the highest activity and stability of Cu-Al-7 catalysts reduced under 100\% H-2 at lower temperature was attributed to particle-size stabilization and a lower extent of Cu aggregation by Cu2O and boehmite phases, respectively, along with the formation of various Cu species during the activation protocol for 12 h. Complete CO2 selectivity without methanation was observed for all the Cu-Al compositions irrespective of their pretreatment conditions.

}, keywords = {aluminum, Copper, fuel cells, Hydrogen, reduction}, issn = {1867-3880}, doi = {10.1002/cctc.201301049}, author = {Mane, Rasika B. and Jeong, Dae-Woon and Malawadkar, Atul V. and Roh, Hyun-Seog and Rode, Chandrashekhar V.} } @article { ISI:000331774700017, title = {Two-in-one: inherent anhydrous and water-assisted high proton conduction in a 3D metal-organic framework}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie-International Edition}, volume = {53}, number = {10}, year = {2014}, month = {MAR}, pages = {2638-2642}, publisher = {WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH}, address = {BOSCHSTRASSE 12, D-69469 WEINHEIM, GERMANY}, abstract = {

The development of solid-state proton-conducting materials with high conductivity that operate under both anhydrous and humidified conditions is currently of great interest in fuel-cell technology. A 3Dmetal-organic framework (MOF) with acid-base pairs in its coordination space that efficiently conducts protons under both anhydrous and humid conditions has now been developed. The anhydrous proton conductivity for this MOF is among the highest values that have been reported for MOF materials, whereas its water-assisted proton conductivity is comparable to that of the organic polymer Nafion, which is currently used for practical applications. Unlike other MOFs, which conduct protons either under anhydrous or humid conditions, this compound should represent a considerable advance in the development of efficient solid-state proton-conducting materials that work under both anhydrous and humid conditions.

}, keywords = {conducting materials, fuel cells, metal-organic frameworks, porous materials, proton conduction}, issn = {1433-7851}, doi = {10.1002/anie.201309077}, author = {Nagarkar, Sanjog S. and Unni, SreeKuttan M. and Sharma, Amitosh and Kurungot, Sreekumar and Ghosh, Sujit K.} } @article { ISI:000362819600016, title = {CoSe2 supported on nitrogen-doped carbon nanohorns as a methanol-tolerant cathode for air-breathing microlaminar flow fuel cells}, journal = {Chemelectrochem}, volume = {2}, number = {9}, year = {2015}, month = {SEP}, pages = {1339-1345}, publisher = {WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH}, address = {POSTFACH 101161, 69451 WEINHEIM, GERMANY}, abstract = {

The synthesis of CoSe2 nanoparticles supported on nitrogendoped carbon nanohorns (CoSe2/NCNH) and the influence of the interaction of the metal centre with the NCNH on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are reported. CoSe2/NCNH shows a 50 mV lower onset overpotential and a 150 mV positive shift in the half-wave potential compared to CoSe2 supported on carbon and carbon nanohorns. This suggests that the intrinsic activity and the density of active reaction centres of CoSe2 are modified by NCNHs. An air-breathing direct meth-anol microlaminar flow fuel cell (mLFFC) is constructed using CoSe2/NCNH as a methanol-tolerant cathode catalyst. A maximum power density of 10.05 mWcm(-2) and a maximum current density of 124.20 mAcm(-2) are achieved with CoSe2/NCNH compared to the non-doped catalyst, CoSe2/C and Pt/C with 5m methanol as the fuel. The improved activity of CoSe2/ NCNH is attributed to the peculiar morphology and the nitrogen doping of the carbon nanohorns. This catalyst could be a suitable alternative to Pt.

}, keywords = {carbon nanohorns, chalcogenides, fuel cells, oxygen reduction reaction, platinum}, issn = {2196-0216}, doi = {10.1002/celc.201500154}, author = {Unni, SreeKuttan M. and Mora-Hernandez, Juan M. and Kurungot, Sreekumar and Alonso-Vante, Nicolas} } @article { ISI:000353831200020, title = {Electrochemical preparation of nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots and their size-dependent electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction}, journal = {Bulletin of Materials Science}, volume = {38}, number = {2}, year = {2015}, month = {APR}, pages = {435-442}, publisher = {INDIAN ACAD SCIENCES}, address = {C V RAMAN AVENUE, SADASHIVANAGAR, P B \#8005, BANGALORE 560 080, INDIA}, abstract = {

Here we report a remarkable transformation of nitrogen-doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to size selective nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) by a two-step electrochemical method. The sizes of the N-GQDs strongly depend on the applied anodic potential, moreover increasing potential resulted in a smaller size of N-GQDs. These N-GQDs display many unusual size-dependant optoelectronic (blue emission) and electrocatalytic (oxygen reduction) properties. The presence of N dopants in the carbon framework not only causes faster unzipping of MWCNTs but also provides more low activation energy site for enhancing the electrocatalytic activity for technologically daunting reactions like oxygen reduction. The smaller size of N-GQDs has shown better performance as compared to the large N-GQDs. Interestingly, N-GQDs-3 (size = 2.5 +/- 0.3 nm, onset potential = 0.75 V) show a 30-mV higher positive onset potential shift compared to that of N-GQDs-2 (size = 4.7 +/- 0.3 nm, onset potential = 0.72 V) and 70 mV than that of N-GQDs-1 (size = 7.2 +/- 0.3, onset potential = 0.68 V) for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in a liquid phase. These result in the size-dependent electrocatalytic activity of N-GQDs for ORR as illustrated by the smaller sized N-GQDs (2.5 +/- 0.3 nm) undoubtedly promising metal-free electrocatalysts for fuel cell applications.

}, keywords = {fuel cells, MWCNTs, N-GQDs, oxygen reduction reaction, unzipping}, issn = {0250-4707}, doi = {10.1007/s12034-014-0834-3}, author = {Shinde, Dhanraj B. and Dhavale, Vishal M. and Kurungot, Sreekumar and Pillai, Vijayamohanan K.} } @article {45723, title = {Single cell fabrication towards the realistic evaluation of a CNT-strung ZIF-derived electrocatalyst as a cathode material in alkaline fuel cells and metal-air batteries}, journal = {ChemElectroChem}, volume = {4}, year = {2017}, month = {NOV}, pages = {2928-2933}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

The development of an electrocatalyst possessing all the vital requisites of an ideal electrode material, such as high porosity, high conductivity, and high intrinsic electrochemical activity, holds a decisive key in determining the activity of the triplephase boundary in many energy devices like fuel cells and metal-air battery systems. In the present work, highly porous cobalt-based ZIFs are strung along the highly conducive CNT backbone by using a simple one-pot technique at room temperature, which is then utilized to derive a porous, corrosion-resistant, Co nanoparticle-embedded electrocatalyst. Herein, for the first time, the single cell performance of the Co-ZIF-67-derived electrocatalyst has been evaluated by fabricating membrane electrode assemblies of alkaline exchange membrane fuel cell (AEMFC) and zinc-air battery (ZAB) systems. A maximum power density of 296 mW/cm(2) (vs. 317 mW/cm(2) for 40 wt.\% Pt/C) and 60 mW/cm(2) (vs. 64 mW/cm(2) for 40 wt.\% Pt/C) in the single cells of ZAB and AEMFC systems, respectively, establishes the practical proficiency of the homemade electrocatalyst for cathode applications during realistic system-level validations.

}, keywords = {Batteries, Carbon nanotubes, Composite materials, fuel cells, metal-organic frameworks}, issn = {2196-0216}, doi = {10.1002/celc.201700562}, author = {Aiyappa, Harshitha Barike and Bhange, Siddheshwar N. and Sivasankaran, Vijitha P. and Kurungot, Sreekumar} } @article {46704, title = {Bimetallic palladium nickel nanoparticles anchored on carbon as high-performance electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction and formic acid oxidation reactions}, journal = {ACS Applied Energy Materials}, volume = {3}, year = {2020}, month = {SEP }, pages = {9285-9295}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

{Herein, we report the synthesis of carbon-supported palladium-nickel electrocatalysts (ECs) (Pd4-xNix/C ECs

}, keywords = {electrocatalysts, Formic Acid Oxidation, fuel cells, oxygen reduction reaction, palladium-nickel alloy}, issn = {2574-0962}, doi = {10.1021/acsaem.0c01622}, author = {Goswami, Chiranjita and Saikia, Himadri and Tada, Kohei and Tanaka, Shingo and Sudarsanam, Putla and Bhargava, Suresh K. and Bharali, Pankaj} } @article {46783, title = {Co (9) S (8) nanoparticle-supported nitrogen-doped carbon as a robust catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in both acidic and alkaline conditions}, journal = {ChemElectroChem}, volume = {7}, year = {2020}, month = {JUL}, pages = {3123-3134}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

The present work illustrates the synthesis of an efficient and durable catalyst for electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) which is active both in the alkaline and acidic conditions by dispersing few-layer graphitic carbon coated Co(9)S(8)nanoparticles on the nitrogen-doped carbon (NVC-G) support (Co9S8/NVC-G). The size of the Co(9)S(8)nanoparticles is nearly 7-8 nm and the particles are found to be dispersed homogeneously on the NVC-G support. The few-layer graphitic carbon formed on the surface of Co(9)S(8)nanoparticles is assisting to accomplish their small size and it also prevents agglomeration of the nanoparticles. The ORR activity of the obtained material was analyzed in both 0.1 M KOH and 0.5 M H(2)SO(4)solutions. Co9S8/NVC-G displays nearly 70 mV overpotential compared to thestate-of-the-artPt/C in 0.1 M KOH solution. The half-wave potential (E-1/2) difference of the present system is nearly 75 mV with the commercial Pt/C. Co9S8/NVC-G displays promising ORR activity in the acidic conditions as well with nearly 140 mV overpotential compared to its Pt/C counterpart. The system shows about 170 mV lowerE(1/2)value with Pt/C. The system shows good stability both in acidic and basic conditions compared to the Pt/C system. Finally, testing of a single cell of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) was performed by employing Co9S8/NVC-G as the cathode catalyst and Nafion-212 as the proton exchange membrane. The system displays a maximum power density of 245 mW cm(-2)in H-2-O(2)and 115 mW cm(-2)in H-2-air feeding conditions.

}, keywords = {cobalt sulfide, fuel cells, Nanoparticles, nitrogen-doped carbon, oxygen reduction reaction}, issn = {2196-0216}, doi = {10.1002/celc.202000786}, author = {Illathvalappil, Rajith and Kurungot, Sreekumar} } @article {46766, title = {In situ preparation of ionomer as a tool for triple-phase boundary enhancement in 3D graphene supported Pt catalyst}, journal = {Advanced Sustainable Systems}, volume = {5}, year = {2021}, month = {JAN}, pages = {2000125}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

For improving the performance of platinum electrocatalysts in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), it is important to enhance the Pt utilization level in the catalyst systems. A high performing electrocatalyst (Pt/3DNG) is developed for PEMFC applications by using nitrogen-doped 3D graphene (3DNG) as the support material and an in situ grafted active {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}triple-phase boundary{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} to more precisely control the formation of the proton conducting ionomer interface at the active sites. Considering the 3D morphology of the system, during the electrode fabrication for realistic single-cell evaluation, the concept of in situ generation of the proton conducting-ionomer based {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}active triple-phase boundary{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} is introduced, which could potentially replace the conventional method of using Nafion ionomer for the electrode preparation. The monomers owing to their small-size can access the pores and inner regions of the 3DNG support, which on UV-curing, undergo polymerization and transform into an ionomer with an extended interfacial network into the nanoregimes of 3DNG. Single cell evaluation of the membrane electrode assembly in a high-temperature PEMFC by using phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole membrane demonstrates the utility of the present strategy.

}, keywords = {electrocatalysts, fuel cells, graphene, oxygen reduction reaction}, issn = {2366-7486}, doi = {10.1002/adsu.202000125, Early Access Date = JUL 2020}, author = {Gangadharan, Pranav K. and Vijayakumar, Vidyanand and Nediyirakkal, Shijil A. and Fernandez, Roshni Tresa and Siddharthan, V. Adhrika and Kurungot, Sreekumar} } @article {47376, title = {Polyaryletherketone in energy conversion and storage devices - a highly tailorable material with versatile properties}, journal = {Polymer International}, volume = {70}, year = {2021}, month = {AUG}, pages = {1026-1037}, type = {Review}, abstract = {

Polymers have been a highly useful class of material for the last few decades owing to their ease of bulk production and fabrication. With the myriad of applications in day to day life, they have also found an important role in energy conversion and storage devices, not just as a housing material of the device but with an important role in the energy conversion process. Among the several polymers used in this area, polyaryletherketones (PAEKs) are one of the most versatile materials owing to their easy tailorability. The ether and ketone groups can be introduced in the main polymer chain in several ways to achieve the desired material properties. The main role of a polymer in an energy conversion device is that of a barrier to avoid the mixing of reactants and to selectively transport ions from one electrode to the other to maintain charge neutrality. The polymer membrane finds application in various electrochemical energy conversion devices such as fuel cells, lithium ion batteries, redox flow batteries, supercapacitors etc. The main focus of this work is to briefly review the extent of development in the PAEKs in various energy conversion and storage devices. (c) 2021 Society of Industrial Chemistry.

}, keywords = {electrolyte membrane, energy conversion and storage, fuel cells, lithium ion batteries, redox flow batteries, separator}, issn = {0959-8103}, doi = {10.1002/pi.6233, Early Access Date = APR 2021}, author = {Feroze Gooty Saleha, Wasim and Nalajala, Naresh and Neergat, Manoj} } @article {48324, title = {Pt-anchored-zirconium phosphate nanoplates as high-durable carbon-free oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst for PEM fuel cell applications}, journal = {Advanced Sustainable Systems}, volume = {7}, year = {2023}, month = {FEB}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

Commercially available platinum-supported carbon (Pt/C) catalysts are the most widely used oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, inadequate active triple-phase boundary formation and carbon oxidation in Pt/C during PEMFC operation shorten its lifetime and efficiency. In this direction, a new class of carbon-free electrocatalysts for ORR is prepared by dispersing Pt nanoparticles on ZrP (Zirconium phosphates) nanoplates. In one case (ZrP@Pt), the Pt nanoparticles are found to be closely distributed and completely covering the ZrP nanoplates, whereas in the second case (Pt/ZrP), the Pt nanoparticles selectively restrict dispersion along the edges of the support. ZrP as the support displays an intrinsic proton conductivity of approximate to 0.5 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) at 70 degrees C, with an activation energy (E-a) of 0.19 eV. Pt/ZrP shows better durability after 3000 start-stop cycles. The mass activity of Pt/ZrP is increased by 4.6 times compared to Pt/C, which exhibits a loss in mass activity by 1.37 times. The single-cell level validation of ZrP@Pt, Pt/ZrP, and Pt/C as the electrocatalysts in PEMFC at an operating potential of 0.60 V shows the achievable current densities of 0.600, 0.890, and 0.890 A cm(-2).

}, keywords = {carbon-free electrocatalysts, fuel cells, oxygen reduction reaction, zirconium phosphate}, issn = {2366-7486}, doi = {10.1002/adsu.202200330}, author = {Kumar, Sachin and Yoyakki, Athira and Pandikassala, Ajmal and Soni, Roby and Kurungot, Sreekumar} }