Prathap Haridoss

Bio: Prathap Haridoss is an academic researcher from Indian Institute of Technology Madras. The author has contributed to research in topic(s): Carbon nanotube & Proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The author has an hindex of 21, co-authored 61 publication(s) receiving 1228 citation(s). Previous affiliations of Prathap Haridoss include Los Alamos National Laboratory & Plug Power.

Effect of cyclic compression on structure and properties of a Gas Diffusion Layer used in PEM fuel cells

Abstract: Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) components are known to deteriorate during use, in time scales much shorter than that required for commercially successful deployment of this technology. Therefore, servicing operations such as identifying and replacing poorly performing components will likely be required to extend the operational lifetime of PEMFC stacks. During such servicing operations fuel cell components are subjected to cyclic compression and expansion due to opening and rebuilding of the fuel cell stack. This cyclic compression may further contribute to the deterioration of PEMFC components. There are several reports in the literature showing the effect of static compression on change in GDL properties, however the present work focuses on the effect of cyclic compression on GDL properties, an aspect that has not been reported in detail elsewhere. This paper focuses on the impact of cyclic compression on the Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL). The results indicate that cyclic compression causes significant and irreversible changes to the structure and properties of the GDL such as surface morphology, surface roughness, pore size, void fraction, thickness, electrical resistance, contact angle, water uptake and in-plane permeability. The implications of these results are considered.

Synthesis and characterization of electrodeposited Ni–Pd alloy electrodes for methanol oxidation

Abstract: A wide compositional range of Ni–Pd alloy catalysts were prepared by electrodeposition for use as anode materials for methanol oxidative fuel cells in alkaline conditions. Structural characterization of the electrocatalysts in their as-plated condition revealed that the Ni–Pd catalysts synthesized were nanocrystalline, single phase, face centered cubic materials, indicating the formation of complete solid solution in the alloy. Compositional analysis of the alloys indicated that the palladium composition of the alloy increased with decrease in current density. This change in the composition of the alloy resulted in a shift in the X-ray diffraction peaks. The percentage shift in the d-spacing calculated from X-ray diffraction is in good agreement with percentage of palladium in the alloy. The electrocatalysts prepared are active for methanol oxidation in alkaline medium.

Effect of different carbon nano-fillers on rheological properties and lap shear strength of epoxy adhesive joints

Abstract: In this work, the rheological properties, thermal stability and the lap shear strength of epoxy adhesive joints reinforced with different carbon nano-fillers such as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and single-walled carbon nanohorns (CNH) have been studied. The nano-fillers were dispersed homogeneously using Brabender® Plasti-Corder®. The epoxy pre-polymer with and without the nano-fillers exhibited shear thinning behavior. The nano-filler epoxy mixtures exhibited a viscoplastic behavior which was analyzed using Casson’s model. Thermo-gravimetric analysis indicated an increase in the thermal stability of the epoxy with the addition of carbon nano-fillers. Carbon nano-fillers resulted in increased lap shear strength having high Weibull modulus. The joint strength increased by 53%, 49% and 46% with the addition of 1 wt.% CNT, 0.5 wt.% GNP and 0.5 wt.% CNH, respectively. The strength of the joints having high filler content (>1 wt.%) was limited by mixed mode type of failure.

Influence of mode of electrodeposition, current density and saccharin on the microstructure and hardness of electrodeposited nanocrystalline nickel coatings

Abstract: The main purpose of the present work is to study the influence of current density, deposition mode and the presence of saccharin as an additive on the microstructure, sulfur content, grain size and microhardness of nanocrystalline Ni coatings. Towards this purpose, nanocrystalline nickel (Ni) coatings were deposited at various current densities in Watt's bath using direct, pulse and pulse reverse current (PRC) electrodeposition and subsequently characterized for sulfur content, grain size and hardness. It was observed that, the current density has no influence on the grain size/hardness of nanocrystalline Ni coatings in direct and pulsed current electrodeposition mode. However, the grain size increased from ~ 20 to ~ 200 nm with decrease in current density in PRC mode of deposition. In addition a substantial change in microstructure and texture of PRC Ni coatings was also evident. The experimental results have been rationalized based on the adsorption–desorption type of mechanism during electrodeposition.

fuel cell electrode

Abstract: A composition includes a catalyst, and a non-electrolytic material different than the catalyst, wherein the catalyst and the non-electrolytic material compose a fuel cell electrode.

I and i

Abstract: There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality. Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

Fast parallel algorithms for short-range molecular dynamics

Abstract: Three parallel algorithms for classical molecular dynamics are presented. The first assigns each processor a fixed subset of atoms; the second assigns each a fixed subset of inter-atomic forces to compute; the third assigns each a fixed spatial region. The algorithms are suitable for molecular dynamics models which can be difficult to parallelize efficiently—those with short-range forces where the neighbors of each atom change rapidly. They can be implemented on any distributed-memory parallel machine which allows for message-passing of data between independently executing processors. The algorithms are tested on a standard Lennard-Jones benchmark problem for system sizes ranging from 500 to 100,000,000 atoms on several parallel supercomputers--the nCUBE 2, Intel iPSC/860 and Paragon, and Cray T3D. Comparing the results to the fastest reported vectorized Cray Y-MP and C90 algorithm shows that the current generation of parallel machines is competitive with conventional vector supercomputers even for small problems. For large problems, the spatial algorithm achieves parallel efficiencies of 90% and a 1840-node Intel Paragon performs up to 165 faster than a single Cray C9O processor. Trade-offs between the three algorithms and guidelines for adapting them to more complex molecular dynamics simulations are also discussed.

American Society for Testing and Materials

Abstract: The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is an independent organization devoted to the development of standards.

Palladium-Based Electrocatalysts for Alcohol Oxidation in Half Cells and in Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells

Abstract: Direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) are attracting increasing interest as power sources for portable applications due to some unquestionable advantages over analogous devices fed with hydrogen.1 Alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol, exhibit high volumetric energy density, and their storage and transport are much easier as compared to hydrogen. On the other hand, the oxidation kinetics of any alcohol are much slower and still H2-fueled polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEMFCs) exhibit superior electrical performance as compared to DAFCs with comparable electroactive surface areas.2,3 Increasing research efforts are therefore being carried out to design and develop more efficient anode electrocatalysts for DAFCs.

Alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells

Abstract: The faster kinetics of the alcohol oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions in alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells (ADAFCs), opening up the possibility of using less expensive metal catalysts, as silver, nickel and palladium, makes the alkaline direct alcohol fuel cell a potentially low cost technology compared to acid direct alcohol fuel cell technology, which employs platinum catalysts. A boost in the research regarding alkaline fuel cells, fuelled with hydrogen or alcohols, was due to the development of alkaline anion-exchange membranes, which allows the overcoming of the problem of the progressive carbonation of the alkaline electrolyte. This paper presents an overview of catalysts and membranes for ADAFCs, and of testing of ADAFCs, fuelled with methanol, ethanol and ethylene glycol, formed by these materials.