Research Interests & Facilities
Our research
interests revolve around the major areas of dynamic electrochemistry
and heterogeneous catalysis at the gas solid interfaces.
In the area of
dynamic electrochemistry we are basically engaged in the application
of impedance spectroscopy and various methods of voltammometery in
the investigation of electrodic phenomena involved in fuel cells,
electrochemical sensors, photo-electrochemical solar cells,
corrosion of alloys, etc. Our laboratory is fairly well equipped
with the computerized electrochemical systems including
EG&G
electrochemical system comprising of 273A pot/gal and 5210 lock-in
amplifier capable of performing virtually all voltammometeric
measurements as well as impedance spectroscopy. The system is also
equipped with RDE616 rotating disc assembly.
Our Solartron model
1287A electrochemical interface provide capabilities for 4-probe
voltammometeric measurements which are indispensable in the study of
the electrochemistry of membranes as well as the study of the
electrochemistry at liquid-liquid interfaces.
A Radiometer
Voltalab10 provides us with the quick measurement of impedance
spectra which we employ for exploratory studies. Our laboratory is
also equipped with BHP2061 pot/gal/programmer, Metrohm polarographic
system and an ancient Beckmann Electroscan30 .
Our research in the
area of fuel cells covers both low temperature and solid oxide fuel
cells. In the low temperature fuel cells business we are mainly
interested in developing electrocatalysts and electrocatalytic
studies for a variety of fuels as well as the electro-chemical
interaction of hydrogen with metals and alloys. In the SOFC
framework we are mainly interested in fuel electrocatalysts and the
electrochemistry of the contacts inside the cell.
Our work on
membranes and the study of liquid-liquid interfaces include the
study of PVC and POAP membranes used in ionic and molecular
selective sensors and the ionic/electronic characteristics of mixed
transition metal sulfides and oxides membranes.
In the area of
heterogeneous catalysis we currently apply the methods of BOC-MP and
UBI-QEP for the elucidation of catalytic reaction paths on the basis
of the calculation of the energetics of the reactions. Also,
artificial neural networks are being developed in this laboratory to
perform catalyst design/selection.
In the
experimental front a combination of temperature programmed
desorption and calorimetric methods are employed to perform
catalysts testings and screenings.
