- Research
- Research
- Publications
- PhD Theses
- Projects
- Academics
- Admissions
- M.Tech @ ESE
- Ph.D @ ESE
- DD MSc - Phd
- DD (B.Tech.-M.Tech.)
- B.Tech
- Minor in Energy
- Faculty Advisors
- Activities
- News and Events
- Seminars
- List of Holidays
Development of Fuel Cell Electrodes: Stabilization of Pt Catalyst with Anchoring Agents and Mitigation of Cobalt Dissolution by Dr Nagappan Ramaswamy
Wed, 2024-10-23 21:01 — venkatr
Location and Date:
March 24, 2023 (Friday), 3.30 PM, DESE seminar Room, 2nd Floor
Abstract
Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells are attractive alternatives for powering automotive applications for direct conversion of chemical energy stored in H2 fuel to electricity with high efficiency. They are widely considered to be the alternative for powering heavy-duty truck applications. While H2 oxidation on the anode of a fuel cell is kinetically fast, the O2 reduction reaction (ORR) occurring on the cathode is kinetically sluggish and imparts major efficiency losses. The current state of the art carbon-supported platinum (Pt/C) or platinum-cobalt (PtCo/C) based catalysts used for ORR are the most active materials, they face major durability challenges in fuel cell operating conditions. They primarily include the a) loss of electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of Pt, and b) Co dissolution and contamination of the membrane of the fuel cell.
In this presentation, a few strategies for mitigating these two durability challenges will be discussed. These include a) system level operational strategies such as the use of lower relative humidity (RH), b) materials strategies such as the use of Pt-rich alloys (Pt5Co, Pt7Co) to mitigate Co dissolution, or c) the use of anchoring agents such as ZrO2 on the carbon support to mitigate Pt migration/coalescence. Recent successes in developing catalyst nanoparticles with a combination of better system-level and materials-level strategies will be discussed.
Bio: Dr. Nagappan Ramaswamy is currently a Senior Research Engineer at the Global Fuel Cell Activities Division, General Motors Corporation located at Pontiac, Michigan USA. He received his Bachelor of Chemical & Electrochemical Engineering degree from Central Electrochemical Research Institute, India in 2005 and a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry from Northeastern University, USA in 2011. His research at GM involves the development of next-generation catalyst materials for fuel cells for heavy-duty truck applications. He is currently leading a U.S. Department of Energy funded research effort to develop durable catalysts and membranes for fuel cell applications geared towards heavy-duty truck applications.