Objectives

To discover and develop the best method for a cost effective, most efficient, non-polluting high power density fuel cells.

To develop a cost effective technology to utilize water as fuel.

To achieve and introduce the most potential, cost effective and safe Chemical Hydrogen Generator.

To build creative collaboration with leading fuel cell organizations and companies.

To discover and commercialize a low cost and highly efficient catalyst.

To act as Contract Research Organization (CRO) for clients of diverse need.

To train personnel in the method and development of fuel cell technology.

To extend the facilities to identify and implement different alternate non polluting fuels.

Achievements

Direct borohydride fuel cell

Indigenously fabricated the direct borohydride fuel cell (DBFC) and achieved 130 mW/cm² of peak power density at room temperature with H₂O₂ as oxidant. This is the highest power density value among the DBFC research reports all over the world using low surface area substrate (AvCarb 1071HCB Carbon Fabric)- Patent filed
               
                                          Performance of DBFC

Anode and cathode catalyst layers were prepared by a novel method by which binary and ternary alloy nano particles have been incorporated. A 5 wt% Sodium borohydride fuel was supplied to the anode side.  Acid stabilized hydrogen peroxide was used as oxidant in the cathode side. Both the liquids were supplied at a flow rate of 3 ml/min.  Nafion 117 was used as the electrolyte.


Chemical hydrogen generator

Our investigation on chemical hydride has unveiled three important observations in the catalytic hydrolysis of NaBH₄ with a novel, non-noble catalyst Ni-Co-B that could positively contribute to enhance the hydrogen generation efficiency.  Firstly, the hydrogen generation rate of NaBH₄ with the Ni-Co-B-2 catalyst was found to be 2608 ml/min/g catalyst at 15 wt% of NaOH (highly stable) solution at 28 °C which is remarkably high and 11 times faster than the reported values with initial NaBH₄ concentration of 0.16 g.  Secondly, the rate of hydrogen generation in the catalysis of alkaline NaBH₄ solution was found to increase with the increase in the NaOH concentration and showed a parabolic effect by reaching a maximum value around the concentration of 15 wt% of NaOH and subsequently decreased with further increase in the NaOH concentration.   This is the first report on such a unique behaviour of the catalysis of alkaline NaBH₄ solution in the hydrogen generation from a non-noble catalyst.  Thirdly, the hydrogen generation rate was almost constant with respect to the variation in the NaBH₄ concentration which is a rare observation in Ni-Co-B catalyst.  The activation energy of hydrolysis reaction for the catalyst Ni-Co-B-2 was found to be 62 kJmol⁻¹.  Eyring plots over the temperature range 8 to 27°C provided the enthalpy of activation ΔH = 60 kJmol^-1 and entropy of activation ΔS = −123 J K^-1mol^-1 for the Ni-Co-B-2 indicating the intermediate short lived transition state. 

Thus the cost effective non-noble Ni-Co-B catalyst prepared by a very simple method has been proved to be an effective catalyst for the catalytic hydrolysis of NaBH₄.   It could be improved further by varying the concentrations of Ni and Co in Ni-Co-B alloy.


Hydrogen storage

Researchers of Ingsman have gained expertise in hydrogen storage and the construction of a device to store hydrogen.  Pressure composition isotherm studies have been done extensively in several hydrogen storage alloys.