K DUTTA

S DAS

P P KUNDU

University of Calcutta (informally known as Calcutta University or CU) is a collegiate public state university located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.&nbsp;Within India it is recognized as a &quot;Five-Star University&quot; and accredited &quot;A&quot; Grade by National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

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The University of Calcutta has secured the Fifth position among the Universities of India in the prestigious &quot;Indian University Ranking 2019&quot; list, released by the NIRF of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

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It was established on 24 January 1857, and was one of the first institutions in Asia to be established as a multidisciplinary and Western-style university. Its alumni and faculty include several heads of state, heads of government, social reformers, prominent artists, only academy award winner and Dirac medal winner in India, many Fellows of the Royal Society and five Nobel laureates as of 2019 which is highest in South Asia.

University Of Calcutta

Synthesis, Preparation, and Performance of Blends and Composites of π-Conjugated Polymers and their Copolymers in DMFCs

Polymer Reviews

The development of potential anode catalysts and catalyst supporting matrices for application in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) has been an active area of research for the last couple of decades. The conventionally used Pt catalyst suffers from (a) high cost, (b) limited abundance and (c) the catalyst poisoning effect induced by the in situ generated carbon monoxide. In this work, a comparatively less expensive and more abundant Ni metal catalyst [supported on Vulcan carbon, polyaniline (PAni) and partially sulfonated PAni (SPAni)] has been utilized as a potential alternative to the Pt metal catalyst for the oxidation of methanol. SPAni emerged as the best matrix for the deposited Ni catalyst nanoparticles. This combination generated a peak current density of 306 μA cm-2 at +0.57 V. In addition, the Ni/SPAni catalyst produced a higher I<inf>F</inf>/I<inf>B</inf> ratio compared to the commercial Pt-Ru/C catalyst. Furthermore, a current density of 135 mA cm-2 (at +0.2 V potential) and a maximum power density of 27 mW cm-2 were obtained at 60 °C upon utilizing Ni/SPAni as the anode catalyst for DMFCs. The results, thus obtained, were better than those obtained for the commercial Pt-Ru/C, as well as, the Ni/C and Ni/PAni catalysts. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015.

Journal of Materials Chemistry A

Nickel nanocatalysts supported on sulfonated polyaniline: Potential toward methanol oxidation and as anode materials for DMFCs

Fuel cells (FCs) have evolved as a potential alternative energy harnessing device, with direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) as one of the front-runners. Although it has achieved significant progress, and is currently getting available in the commercial market; however, from a broader perspective, DMFCs, like most other devices, suffer from certain critical drawbacks. This, in turn, demands considerable progress to be made in order to realize ultimate commercialization, i.e., cheap, reliable, durable, and portable DMFCs with easily accessible fuel. In this respect, one important area of real concern is the DMFC electrodes, consisting of catalysts and catalyst-supporting matrices. Sluggish reaction rates and use of highly expensive and scarce catalysts are two critical drawbacks. Conducting polymers (CPs) have found extensive use in the fabrication of these matrices and have resulted in better dispersion, distribution and anchoring of catalysts, which is important to enhance their reaction efficiencies. This review attempts to summarize the potential contributions of CPs, their critical roles, and possible future trends toward fabricating catalyst-supporting matrices in DMFCs.

Enhancements of catalyst distribution and functioning upon utilization of conducting polymers as supporting matrices in DMFCs: A review

Significant progress has been made in the last few years toward synthesizing highly dispersible inorganic catalysts for application in the electrodes of direct methanol fuel cells. In addition, research toward achieving an efficient catalyst supporting matrix has also attracted much attention in recent years. Carbon black- (Vulcan XC-72) supported Platinum and Platinum-Ruthenium catalysts have for long served as the conventional choice as the cathode and the anode catalyst materials, respectively. Oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode and methanol oxidation reaction at the anode occur simultaneously during the operation of a direct methanol fuel cell. However, inefficiencies in these reactions result in a generation of mixed potential. This, in turn, gives rise to reduced cell voltage, increased oxygen stoichiometric ratio, and generation of additional water that is responsible for water flooding in the cathode chamber. In addition, the lack of long-term stability of Pt-Ru anode catalyst, coupled with the tendency of Ru to cross through the polymer electrolyte membrane and eventually get deposited on the cathode, is also a serious drawback. Another source of potential concern is the fact that the natural resource of Pt and the rare earth metal Ru is very limited, and has been predicted to become exhausted very soon. To overcome these problems, new catalyst systems with high methanol tolerance and higher catalytic activity than Pt need to be developed. In addition, the catalyst-supporting matrix is also witnessing a change from traditionally used carbon powder to transition metal carbides and other high-performance materials. This article surveys the recent literature based on the advancements made in the field of highly dispersible inorganic catalysts for application in direct methanol fuel cells, as well as the progress made in the area of catalyst-supporting matrices. 2015 Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Critical Reviews in Solid State and Materials Sciences

Progress in Developments of Inorganic Nanocatalysts for Application in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Search for suitable materials for fabricating polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) for application in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, and particularly in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), has been an important field of research for the last several decades. Notable candidates that have emerged from this extensive and seemingly exhaustive research are Nafion®, poly(vinylidenefluoride), sulfonated poly(etheretherketone), poly(benzimidazole), Dow XUS®, Flemion® R, 3P-energy, Aciplex-S®, Gore-Tex®, Gore-Select®, and their different blends, copolymers and interpenetrating networks with compounds, such as poly(hexafluoropropylene), poly(acrylonitrile), poly(styrenesulfonate), and poly(methylmethacrylate). Nevertheless, the objective of achieving a much reduced methanol crossover, while maintaining a substantial level of proton conductivity, has remained by and large elusive. However, a ray of hope has been provided by conducting polymers (CPs), and this has led to a considerable number of researchers to plunge into the exploitation of this possibility. This review focuses on the application of CPs, mainly polyaniline and polypyrrole, as PEM constituents. Detailed comparisons between their functioning, and their respective utility in terms of achieving this objective have been provided. We have also discussed the following critical points: first, the effect of CPs on methanol crossover, proton conductivity, and gas diffusion, and second, thermal stability of CPs in the temperature range within which DMFC operates. © 2014 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Utilization of conducting polymers in fabricating polymer electrolyte membranes for application in direct methanol fuel cells

Sodium salt of sulfonated styrene (SS) was polymerized in situ within the polymeric blend of PVdF-co-HFP/Nafion. The electrical efficiency of this cross-linked semi interpenetrating network membranes were evaluated for its potential application as a polymer electrolyte membrane in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The characteristic aromatic peaks obtained in the FT-IR spectra confirmed the successful incorporation of SS within the polymeric blend. X-ray diffraction analyses were conducted to determine the presence of crystalline and amorphous domains within the structure of the blend membrane. Water uptake measurements at room temperature indicate that above a threshold value of 20wt% of incorporated SS (S-20), water uptake of the semi-IPN membranes increases up to 24%, with an IEC value equal to Nafion, i.e. 0.8meqg-1. The maximum current density was recorded to be 120mAcm-2 at 0.2V, with a cell efficiency (power density) of 24mWcm-2 at 60°C. In addition, proton conductivity and methanol permeability test results indicate that the prepared membrane S-20 is comparable to that of Nafion-117 membrane. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Applied Energy

Membrane prepared by incorporation of crosslinked sulfonated polystyrene in the blend of PVdF-co-HFP/Nafion: A preliminary evaluation for application in DMFC

Journal	Data powered by TypesetPolymer Reviews
Publisher	Data powered by TypesetTaylor and Francis Inc.
ISSN	1558-3724