Vijay A. Sethuraman, Ph. D.

2A01H Swearingen Engineering
Department of Chemical Engineering
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208
(V) 803.777.0611
(F) 803.777.8265
E-mail

Current Research

          My current research under Professor Weidner's guidance involves understanding the kinetics of anode impurities such as CO and H₂S on supported catalysts. Specifically, I use standard electrochemical techniques to estimate the rates of adsorption, desorption and electro-oxidation of these molecules on supported Pt and Pt alloy catalysts. On a broader sense, these studies are giving us insights on how Pt interacts with these poisonous molecules and as a result,

a. We have established a simple technique to understand the kinetics of electro-active molecules on supported catalysts.

b. We have evolved to be able to use them as probe molecules in evaluating the distribution of  different phases of Pt [i.e., (111) (100) (110) etc.] and the nature of active sites (i.e., linear or atop, bridge and 3 fold) scattered among these phases. This understanding will pave the way to acquiring the ability to design catalyst sites that are favorable and to avoid those sites that are or may go inactive or worse, take part in adverse reactions.

Please click on the following for a brief description on some of my research areas:      

1. CO Kinetics on PEM Electrodes: Adsorption, Desorption, Electro-oxidation etc.

2. H₂S Kinetics on PEM Electrodes: Mechanism, Poisoning Effects etc.

3. H₂S, CO & O₂ Diffusion in Nafion Membranes

4. Electrocatalysis: Novel CO Tolerant PtAu Electrodes, NiO Nanotubes etc.

5. Electro-oxidation Rates of Adsorbed Monolayers

6. PEMFC Durability Studies: Humidity Effect

Future Interests

1. Reference Electrode Design & Positioning in Fuel Cell Electrodes

2. Evidence of Non-Electrochemical Modification of Faradaic Activity [NEMCA] in Fuel Cells

3. Incorporating Biosensing Elements in PEM Cathodes

Note on the above graphic: Early in the summer of '05, I visited University of Georgia's Driftmier Engineering Center where Venkat and I tried to deposit NiO on Au-backed porous anodized alumina. We expected NiO nano-rods but were genuinely surprised to see what looked like tubes. The TEM pictures would later reveal that they were indeed thick walled NiO tubes.

[Site maintained by Vijay A. Sethuraman; Date last updated: March 10, 2007]