Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras

Technology Category/ Market

Category – Manufacturing / Chemical

Applications –Catalysis, separation and Energy  Storage , Drug Delivery Systems, Diagnostics

Industry- Nanotechnology, Chemicals, Manufacturing, Medical

Market -The global microporous and mesoporous materials market size was USD 8,601.7million in 2021. The market is projected to touch USD 14,930 million by 2028 exhibiting a CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period.

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Problem Statement

  • The commercial application of alkaline fuel cells is determined by the efficiency of oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)and on catalysts that promote these reactions
  • Currently used platinum catalysts have sluggish kinetics, methanol crossover, high cost and limited availability.

Technology

  • The present invention discloses a process for preparing nitrogenous ordered mesoporous carbons using hexagonal or cubic silica templates and nitrogen-containing organics
  • Further discloses metal free nitrogenous ordered mesoporous carbon material using the hard template method taking polyvinyl pyrrolidone as a precursor thereby avoiding metal chlorides as polymerizing agents and studied their ORR abilities in alkaline medium for fuel cell
  • Said nitrogenous ordered mesoporous carbon as catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline fuel cells

METHOD:

  • Dissolving polyvinylpyrrolidine in a solvent [300 K – 320 K ;45 min – 1.15 hr] to form a solution
  • Adding hexagonal or cubic silica template to solution of step (a) [Room Temperature;5-7 hrs to form mixture;
  • Drying at 330-360 K for 5-7 hrs to form dried mixture
  • Pyrolysis of dried mixture of step (b)[573-1273 K, 5-7hr, 4-6oC min-1, inert atmosphere]to form carbon/silica composite
  • Dissolving carbon/silica composite of step (c) in hydrogen fluoride/alkali solution at room temperature to remove silica
  • Washing with ethanol and drying to form metal free nitrogenous ordered mesoporous carbon material.

Key Features/ Value Proposition

Technical Perspective:

  • Nitrogenous ordered mesoporous carbon as catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline medium displaying superior activity and stability with a current density on par with 20% Pt/C commercial catalyst along with a four electron transfer and peroxide yield less than 10%.
  • High surface area and uniform pore size

User Perspective:

  • High efficiency, eco-friendly by product,cost-effective  stationary and portable applications  and flexibility of usage in transportation
  • These catalysts can be effectively used in fuel cells as cathodes for ORR to avoid cross over effects

Questions about this Technology?

Contact For Licensing

sm-marketing@imail.iitm.ac.in
ipoffice2@iitm.ac.in

Research Lab

Prof. SELVAM P

NCCR & Department of Chemistry

Intellectual Property

  • IITM IDF Ref. 2122
  • IN410837(Granted)

Technology Readiness Level

TRL- 4 

Technology validated in lab

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