Date of Defense

4-22-2025

Date of Graduation

4-2025

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

First Advisor

Muralidhar Ghantasala

Second Advisor

Ramakrishna Guda

Abstract

In an effort to reduce the cost of fuel cell production, this research aims to find an alternative material to replace the current state-of-the-art electrocatalyst: Platinum. The goal of this project is to synthesize two different carbon-based materials and analyze their physical, chemical, and catalytic properties for PEMFCs catalyst layer materials. We found and implemented methods to successfully synthesize Graphdiyne (GDY), a carbon structure that incorporates single, double, and triple bonds intro its structure, and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) which is another carbon framework with single and double bonds, more packed together than GDY and with a few functional groups. The latter was doped with metal-oxygen clusters called Polyoxometalates (POM) in an effort to increase its catalytic activity. Three different doping ratios of rGO to POM (1:1, 1:3, 1:5) were used to find an optimum ratio for best catalytic efficiency. Then we proceed to characterize all the samples: Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Optical Microscopy, Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), and Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV) methods are used in this study. This provided physical, structural, surface, and electronic information on the materials. The synthesis was performed at Western Michigan University’s Haenicke Hall, while the characterization was performed at different labs at WMU, as well as Argonne labs. With the information, we determined the optimal materials for the application after comparing them to each other and to a reference. This study provides a comparison between the doping ratios of the materials (except for GDY) and the materials themselves in a way we can extract conclusion at different stages. The procedures used are ensured to be repeatable for further experimentation and continuation of this study. Finally, besides the conclusion we have provide with recommendations for further research and areas on which to expand such as finding optimal parameters for GDY synthesis and trying more doping ratios.

Comments

Co-authored with:

Camila Castillo Cedeño

Tumelo Cornelius Allmon

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Restricted

Restricted to Campus until

6-10-2027

Download

Available for download on Thursday, June 10, 2027

Share

COinS