Professor

Vinod Janardhanan

A-107

···

PhD: Ph.D, University of Karlsruhe

Research Interests: Catalysis, Fuel cells, Electrolyzers, Multiscale modeling

URFC: Unitized regenerative fuel cells can be a paradigm shift in energy conversion and storage because of their scalability and high round trip efficiency.

Research Overview

My research interests are primarily focused on electrochemical devices and heterogeneous catalysis. Specifically, our research is focused on the development and characterization of unitized regenerative fuel cells for energy conversion and storage. When it comes to heterogeneous catalysis, our research aims to develop micro-kinetic and mechanistic models for various reaction systems.

Research Highlights

HT-PEMFC

We prepare MEA’s for HT-PEMFCs. The main focus of the research is the the reduction of Pt loading in the catalyst layer by optimizing the catalyst ink composition and by trying different support materials.

HT-PEMWE

The main challenge in the anode catalyst, which undergoes corrosion at the cell potentials. We work towards circumventing this problem by using Pt-X/MWCNT and Pt/Conducting polymers.

Kinetic models

Reliable kinetic models are vital for reactor design and scale-up. We work on the development of kinetic models for various applications. The models include micro-kinetic model as well as mechanistic kinetic models.

Julia package

A free-to-use Julia package for reacting flow simulations. Rich library: thermochemistry, gas-phase and surface kinetics, transport properties. Applications: Batch, Plug, CSTR, Surface coverage, Multicomponent equilibrium etc.

Associated Projects

Ongoing

CSIR Foreign Travel Grant

Start Year: 2024

Sponsor: CSIR

Ongoing

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis of multi-phase flow field and thermal balance in a fused salt electrolytic cell for magnesium metal production

Start Year: 2023

Sponsor: DMRL,Hyderabad

Co-PI: Dr. Narasimha Mangadoddy

Completed

Kinetic Modelling of Iron Oxide Reduction

Start Year: 2020

Sponsor: Tata Steel Limited

Ongoing

Development and Characterization of unitized regenerative fuel cells for high temperature operation

Start Year: 2021

Sponsor: SERB

Completed

Development and Demonstration of Solid Oxide Electrolysis cell technology for Co-electrolysis of Co2 and H2o for the production of Syngas

Start Year: 2019

Sponsor: IMPRINT

Completed

SPOC-SPARC India - Japan

Start Year: 2019

Sponsor: SPARC

Selected Publications

Performance evaluation of high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: An experimental investigation

Ashwin Mekkad; Vinod M Janardhanan

Journal: Journal of Applied ElectrochemistryYear: 2024DOI: 10.1007/s10800-024-02226-5

Fuel processing systems

Ponugoti, P. V.; Janardhanan, V. M.

Journal: Modelling of Chemical Process SystemsYear: 2023DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-823869-1.00008-9

Investigating reforming kinetics of synthetic biogas mixture on Ni: Model development and experimental validation

Ponugoti, P.; Janardhanan, V. M.

Journal: Industrial & Engineering Chemistry ResearchYear: 2023DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.3c00975

On the stability of Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalyst and the effect of H2O and O2 during biogas reforming

Ponugoti, P. V.; Pathmanathan, P.; Rapolu, J.; Gomathi, A.; Janardhanan, V. M.

Journal: Applied Catalysis A: GeneralYear: 2023DOI: 10.1016/j.apcata.2023.119033

Performance evaluation of HCOOH micro-fluidic fuel cell using Ni wire electrode

Mohiuddin, A.; Kaur, B.; Duraiswamy, S.; Deepa, M.; Janardhanan, V. M.

Journal: Journal of Electroanalytical ChemistryYear: 2023DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2023.117245

Kinetics of iron oxide reduction using CO: Experiments and modeling

Ponugoti P. V.; Garg P.; Geddam S. N.; Nag S.; Janardhanan V. M.

Journal: Chemical Engineering JournalYear: 2022DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2021.134384

Catalyst deactivation during CO2 reforming of CH4 over Ni catalyst

Pawar V.; Ponugoti P. V.; Janardhanan V. M.; Appari S.

Journal: Canadian Journal of Chemical EngineeringYear: 2022DOI: 10.1002/cjce.24266

Microkinetic modeling of CO2 reduction on Pt

Janardhanan V. M.; Monder D. S.

Journal: Electrochimica ActaYear: 2022DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2021.139742

Microkinetic Modeling of CO₂ and H₂O Electrolysis on Ni in a Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell: A Critical Evaluation

Janardhanan, V. M.

Journal: Journal of the Electrochemical SocietyYear: 2021DOI: 10.1149/1945-7111/ac40c8

Effect of Calcination Time on the Catalytic Activity of Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ Cordierite Monolith for Dry Reforming of Biogas

Chava, R.; Purbia, D.; Roy, B.; Janardhanan, V. M.; Bahurudeen, A.; Appari, S.

Journal: International Journal of Hydrogen EnergyYear: 2021DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.11.125