Research Projects

Fossil fuels-based energy sectors is the largest contributor to greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission, accounting for over 75% of global emission. The burning of non-renewable energy sources (fossil fuels), are responsible for global warming and anthropogenic. There is a concerted efforts to meet energy demand and reduce the GHGs impact on the environment. Therefore, it is essential to develop novel technologies to mitigate their consequences. Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and tidal energy must be used by nations to construct energy systems; however, although geothermal and tidal energy depend on location, solar and wind energy are dependent on the weather. Hydrogen stands out as a promising option for energy demand due to its high energy density of 142 MJ/kg. Its practical use is limited by low energy density and safety concerns. Therefore, it is essential to store hydrogen in a manner that maximizes energy efficiency, ensures safety, and minimizes costs, tailored to meet the specific requirements of the intended application. Solid-state material-based storage, such physisorption or chemisorption, is now one of the primary types of hydrogen storage methods. In order to meet the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, and DOE, US. Solid-state hydrogen storage holds promise for electrochemical systems such as batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors. This is because it can reversibly store hydrogen at low temperature and pressure. However, the available materials have lack of the required storage capacity and are not yet suitable for common use. To achieve better performance, it is required to innovate strategies to design advanced materials that offer higher storage efficiency, stability, and commercial viability. In this contrast, solid-state hydrogen storage materials, such as nanostructured metallic alloys, and mixed metal oxides (MMOs)-based layered systems, are very important for future energy solutions. Enhancement in hydrogen storage depends on the improvements of both as physisorption or chemisorption mechanisms. Therefore, nanostructured Matallic alloys (MgTi, MgNi, MgPd, MgTiNi, etc.), and mixed metal oxides (MMOs)-based nanocomposites (Zn₂SnO₄-rGO/CNT, NiAl₂O₄, CoAl₂O₄, Nd₂Sn₂O₇-CNT/rGO, etc.) have a promising way to increase overall efficiency due to increases it broad active sites and improved transport kinetics for electrochemical hydrogen storage applications because of their high discharge capacities, chemical stability, environment friendly, and low cost. Therefore, taking into consideration and expertise of the investigator the aim of this proposed project titled “Development of nanostructured alloys and mixed metal oxides for electrochemical hydrogen storage applications” is to develop nanostructured Mg-based alloys, and MMOs-based nanocomposites to use as effective electrochemical hydrogen storage materials for the higher storage efficiency, stability, and commercial viability.