Knowledge From a Pencil Trace | Prabhuraj Balakrishnan | TEDxEdinburghNapierUniversity

[Applause]

[Applause] it is interesting fascinating to carry

it is interesting fascinating to carry

it is interesting fascinating to carry out research activities as a chemical

out research activities as a chemical

out research activities as a chemical engineer the history of technological

engineer the history of technological

engineer the history of technological development have seen the advent of

development have seen the advent of

development have seen the advent of different materials one such material

different materials one such material

different materials one such material that is making a tremendous impact in

that is making a tremendous impact in

that is making a tremendous impact in all fields of science today is graphene

all fields of science today is graphene

all fields of science today is graphene so this graphene is available from our

so this graphene is available from our

so this graphene is available from our day-to-day activities which we use today

day-to-day activities which we use today

day-to-day activities which we use today which is the pencil

which is the pencil

which is the pencil so this graphene has exceptional

so this graphene has exceptional

so this graphene has exceptional physical and chemical properties that

physical and chemical properties that

physical and chemical properties that has been discovered from the pencil

has been discovered from the pencil

has been discovered from the pencil trace and is expected to make remarkable

trace and is expected to make remarkable

trace and is expected to make remarkable changes on the contribution to human

changes on the contribution to human

changes on the contribution to human society so graphene is discovered by the

society so graphene is discovered by the

society so graphene is discovered by the school of physics professors and her guy

school of physics professors and her guy

school of physics professors and her guy and casiano Oslo so they just

and casiano Oslo so they just

and casiano Oslo so they just synthesized this graphene by just using

synthesized this graphene by just using

synthesized this graphene by just using a piece of pencil and just marking them

a piece of pencil and just marking them

a piece of pencil and just marking them as a layer and by using a simple scotch

as a layer and by using a simple scotch

as a layer and by using a simple scotch tape by extracting the layer by layer of

tape by extracting the layer by layer of

tape by extracting the layer by layer of this graphite and finally they get the

this graphite and finally they get the

this graphite and finally they get the graphene if you could see the end

graphene if you could see the end

graphene if you could see the end material graphene is just a single sheet

material graphene is just a single sheet

material graphene is just a single sheet of carbon as you could see the structure

of carbon as you could see the structure

of carbon as you could see the structure is just a plain sheet which makes the

is just a plain sheet which makes the

is just a plain sheet which makes the transport of substances across the

transport of substances across the

transport of substances across the surface much more faster with less

surface much more faster with less

surface much more faster with less resistance than other conventional

resistance than other conventional

resistance than other conventional carbon materials available today as a

carbon materials available today as a

carbon materials available today as a result of this structure this material

result of this structure this material

result of this structure this material has found to be extensive properties

has found to be extensive properties

has found to be extensive properties like the best electrical conductor the

like the best electrical conductor the

like the best electrical conductor the better mechanical strength than steel

better mechanical strength than steel

better mechanical strength than steel and Mac and best endurance and other

and Mac and best endurance and other

and Mac and best endurance and other stability characteristics so as a result

stability characteristics so as a result

stability characteristics so as a result of this physical and chemical properties

of this physical and chemical properties

of this physical and chemical properties this graphene is getting enhanced

this graphene is getting enhanced

this graphene is getting enhanced retention in

retention in

retention in different applications like smartphones

different applications like smartphones

different applications like smartphones electronic sensors are medical and

electronic sensors are medical and

electronic sensors are medical and biological fits except on etc my project

biological fits except on etc my project

biological fits except on etc my project is based on using this graphene for

is based on using this graphene for

is based on using this graphene for energy applications and how we are going

energy applications and how we are going

energy applications and how we are going to use in a safe and environmental

to use in a safe and environmental

to use in a safe and environmental friendly manner

yes energy energy is playing a dominant

yes energy energy is playing a dominant role in our day-to-day activities we

role in our day-to-day activities we

role in our day-to-day activities we need this electrical energy to power our

need this electrical energy to power our

need this electrical energy to power our laptops smartphones to run our house

laptops smartphones to run our house

laptops smartphones to run our house code and even industrial appliances did

code and even industrial appliances did

code and even industrial appliances did we notice that the demand for energy

we notice that the demand for energy

we notice that the demand for energy keeps increasing day by day so we use

keeps increasing day by day so we use

keeps increasing day by day so we use the different sorts of devices like the

the different sorts of devices like the

the different sorts of devices like the batteries internal combustion engines

batteries internal combustion engines

batteries internal combustion engines and super capacitors to power our needs

and super capacitors to power our needs

and super capacitors to power our needs but all these devices have significant

but all these devices have significant

but all these devices have significant drawbacks in one or more different forms

drawbacks in one or more different forms

drawbacks in one or more different forms if you take the case of batteries and

if you take the case of batteries and

if you take the case of batteries and internal combustion engines we have the

internal combustion engines we have the

internal combustion engines we have the severe problem of the pollution and

severe problem of the pollution and

severe problem of the pollution and material disposal techniques some may

material disposal techniques some may

material disposal techniques some may argue that we have like renewable energy

argue that we have like renewable energy

argue that we have like renewable energy sources like the tidal and solar energy

sources like the tidal and solar energy

sources like the tidal and solar energy yes we do have but they are expensive at

yes we do have but they are expensive at

yes we do have but they are expensive at the same time we have the problem with

the same time we have the problem with

the same time we have the problem with engineering installation I mean they

engineering installation I mean they

engineering installation I mean they have severe problems when it comes to

have severe problems when it comes to

have severe problems when it comes to end-user applications so what are the

end-user applications so what are the

end-user applications so what are the impact or the result of using these

impact or the result of using these

impact or the result of using these devices it’s a pollution we have been

devices it’s a pollution we have been

devices it’s a pollution we have been using them for a long time so what is

using them for a long time so what is

using them for a long time so what is our target of the human society its

our target of the human society its

our target of the human society its energy in a safe and environmentally

energy in a safe and environmentally

energy in a safe and environmentally friendly manner so we need to look for a

friendly manner so we need to look for a

friendly manner so we need to look for a new device and one such device is a fuel

new device and one such device is a fuel

new device and one such device is a fuel cell in which my project is based on the

cell in which my project is based on the

cell in which my project is based on the review else’ll is a device which

review else’ll is a device which

review else’ll is a device which produces electrical energy by using

produces electrical energy by using

produces electrical energy by using simple liquid fuels as alcohols

simple liquid fuels as alcohols

simple liquid fuels as alcohols so you just feed alcohol into system

so you just feed alcohol into system

so you just feed alcohol into system until end you get electrical energy so

until end you get electrical energy so

until end you get electrical energy so this fuel cell operates in a safe and

this fuel cell operates in a safe and

this fuel cell operates in a safe and environmental friendly manner that there

environmental friendly manner that there

environmental friendly manner that there is no release of harmful pollutants

is no release of harmful pollutants

is no release of harmful pollutants during its operation then this operates

during its operation then this operates

during its operation then this operates in a zero noise mode that there is no

in a zero noise mode that there is no

in a zero noise mode that there is no noise generator during its operation

noise generator during its operation

noise generator during its operation which is like significant when you take

which is like significant when you take

which is like significant when you take the case of internal combustion engines

the case of internal combustion engines

the case of internal combustion engines you generate like heavy noise when you

you generate like heavy noise when you

you generate like heavy noise when you go for start-up on end and the

go for start-up on end and the

go for start-up on end and the infrastructure it is much more simpler

infrastructure it is much more simpler

infrastructure it is much more simpler and very simple to make it to an

and very simple to make it to an

and very simple to make it to an end-user application so these factors

end-user application so these factors

end-user application so these factors make the fuel cell has an edge or an

make the fuel cell has an edge or an

make the fuel cell has an edge or an advantage over conventional energy

advantage over conventional energy

advantage over conventional energy sources use these days if you take the

sources use these days if you take the

sources use these days if you take the closer look into the operation of the

closer look into the operation of the

closer look into the operation of the fuel cell this is the engine room of the

fuel cell this is the engine room of the

fuel cell this is the engine room of the fuel cell the consists of mechanical

fuel cell the consists of mechanical

fuel cell the consists of mechanical components like electrodes and the

components like electrodes and the

components like electrodes and the membranes assemble together to form the

membranes assemble together to form the

membranes assemble together to form the engine room so I just feed the methanol

engine room so I just feed the methanol

engine room so I just feed the methanol solution and I can utilize air which

solution and I can utilize air which

solution and I can utilize air which available abundant in our atmosphere so

available abundant in our atmosphere so

available abundant in our atmosphere so as a result of this chemical reaction

as a result of this chemical reaction

as a result of this chemical reaction taking place we have the flow of the

taking place we have the flow of the

taking place we have the flow of the electrons and the protons which are

electrons and the protons which are

electrons and the protons which are responsible for the output power output

responsible for the output power output

responsible for the output power output so we researchers work with different

so we researchers work with different

so we researchers work with different materials to enhance the rate of the

materials to enhance the rate of the

materials to enhance the rate of the reaction just to improve the power

reaction just to improve the power

reaction just to improve the power efficiency of the fuel so that’s the

efficiency of the fuel so that’s the

efficiency of the fuel so that’s the fuel cells have a significant edge or

fuel cells have a significant edge or

fuel cells have a significant edge or advantage one of the main entrance or

advantage one of the main entrance or

advantage one of the main entrance or the obstacle preventing the commercial

the obstacle preventing the commercial

the obstacle preventing the commercial aspect of the fuel cells is a crossover

aspect of the fuel cells is a crossover

aspect of the fuel cells is a crossover phenomena because we use the liquid fuel

phenomena because we use the liquid fuel

phenomena because we use the liquid fuel one of the drawbacks here is the liquid

one of the drawbacks here is the liquid

one of the drawbacks here is the liquid fuel has a tendency to diffuse from one

fuel has a tendency to diffuse from one

fuel has a tendency to diffuse from one region to another region as a result of

region to another region as a result of

region to another region as a result of this diffusion we have the undesired

this diffusion we have the undesired

this diffusion we have the undesired reaction taking place in an ideal case

reaction taking place in an ideal case

reaction taking place in an ideal case this methanol should react only on one

this methanol should react only on one

this methanol should react only on one side but this has the tendency to move

side but this has the tendency to move

side but this has the tendency to move to the other side as a result I have the

to the other side as a result I have the

to the other side as a result I have the undersea reaction so one of the

undersea reaction so one of the

undersea reaction so one of the strategies I just used force I had a

strategies I just used force I had a

strategies I just used force I had a barrier layer just to prevent the

barrier layer just to prevent the

barrier layer just to prevent the passage or the movement of the methanol

passage or the movement of the methanol

passage or the movement of the methanol but we in a membrane aspect to we as a

but we in a membrane aspect to we as a

but we in a membrane aspect to we as a research has faced several problems we

research has faced several problems we

research has faced several problems we have to take care of two things one is

have to take care of two things one is

have to take care of two things one is the good guy which is transfer of the

the good guy which is transfer of the

the good guy which is transfer of the the proton and we also need to prevent

the proton and we also need to prevent

the proton and we also need to prevent the movement of methanol so researchers

the movement of methanol so researchers

the movement of methanol so researchers are facing we have been facing four

are facing we have been facing four

are facing we have been facing four difficulties for so many decades to

difficulties for so many decades to

difficulties for so many decades to create a balance of this good guy and to

create a balance of this good guy and to

create a balance of this good guy and to prevent undersea reaction so we have

prevent undersea reaction so we have

prevent undersea reaction so we have been using like so many materials like

been using like so many materials like

been using like so many materials like nanotubes the Quechan block I mean like

nanotubes the Quechan block I mean like

nanotubes the Quechan block I mean like forefathers of the graphene material so

forefathers of the graphene material so

forefathers of the graphene material so our idea based on discussions with the

our idea based on discussions with the

our idea based on discussions with the School of Physics at the National

School of Physics at the National

School of Physics at the National graphene Institute we found the

graphene Institute we found the

graphene Institute we found the properties of graphene can be also be

properties of graphene can be also be

properties of graphene can be also be tuned for the fuel cell application

tuned for the fuel cell application

tuned for the fuel cell application which can make great impact for energy

which can make great impact for energy

which can make great impact for energy industries so what we did was we used

industries so what we did was we used

industries so what we did was we used the single layer of graphene on one side

the single layer of graphene on one side

the single layer of graphene on one side of the the fuel cell just to impede the

of the the fuel cell just to impede the

of the the fuel cell just to impede the flow of methanol and to a surprise we

flow of methanol and to a surprise we

flow of methanol and to a surprise we found so tremendous improvement in

found so tremendous improvement in

found so tremendous improvement in performance of energy system up to 50

performance of energy system up to 50

performance of energy system up to 50 percent

percent

percent this is considered remarkable

this is considered remarkable

this is considered remarkable improvement when you compare to other

improvement when you compare to other

improvement when you compare to other carbon materials or other materials used

carbon materials or other materials used

carbon materials or other materials used so far in the history of you also so as

so far in the history of you also so as

so far in the history of you also so as you could see this is the actual power

you could see this is the actual power

you could see this is the actual power performance scope of the fuel cell this

performance scope of the fuel cell this

performance scope of the fuel cell this fuel cell produces power so we

fuel cell produces power so we

fuel cell produces power so we characterized them in terms of power

characterized them in terms of power

characterized them in terms of power density we extract the energy and we get

density we extract the energy and we get

density we extract the energy and we get is the power density the blue one

is the power density the blue one

is the power density the blue one indicates the engine-room using the

indicates the engine-room using the

indicates the engine-room using the materials supplied from the company the

materials supplied from the company the

materials supplied from the company the standard system so when they added the

standard system so when they added the

standard system so when they added the graphene layer to the standard system

graphene layer to the standard system

graphene layer to the standard system the power was shooting from 50 to 75

the power was shooting from 50 to 75

the power was shooting from 50 to 75 milli watt per cm square this has been

milli watt per cm square this has been

milli watt per cm square this has been considered a significant milestone in

considered a significant milestone in

considered a significant milestone in the fuel cell research at the same time

the fuel cell research at the same time

the fuel cell research at the same time we need to remember that the graphene is

we need to remember that the graphene is

we need to remember that the graphene is a first 2d material ever discovered the

a first 2d material ever discovered the

a first 2d material ever discovered the thickness it can be determined like

thickness it can be determined like

thickness it can be determined like maybe thousand times ten

maybe thousand times ten

maybe thousand times ten than the human hair so when I used a

than the human hair so when I used a

than the human hair so when I used a fuel cell using the graphene actually I

fuel cell using the graphene actually I

fuel cell using the graphene actually I can’t determine the thickness from bein

can’t determine the thickness from bein

can’t determine the thickness from bein naked ice so I need to go for highly

naked ice so I need to go for highly

naked ice so I need to go for highly sophisticated techniques to actually

sophisticated techniques to actually

sophisticated techniques to actually conform the thickness so remember so

conform the thickness so remember so

conform the thickness so remember so apart from this tremendous performance

apart from this tremendous performance

apart from this tremendous performance improvement there is a possibility for

improvement there is a possibility for

improvement there is a possibility for all the energy devices use these days to

all the energy devices use these days to

all the energy devices use these days to undergo a massive reduction in size

overall of using the graphene in the

overall of using the graphene in the fuel cell we get enhanced power output

fuel cell we get enhanced power output

fuel cell we get enhanced power output in a safe and environmentally friendly

in a safe and environmentally friendly

in a safe and environmentally friendly manner also we generate the water which

manner also we generate the water which

manner also we generate the water which is the characteristic the future of the

is the characteristic the future of the

is the characteristic the future of the fuel cell apart from the in addition to

fuel cell apart from the in addition to

fuel cell apart from the in addition to all these things we have the possibility

all these things we have the possibility

all these things we have the possibility for all these devices to undergo a

for all these devices to undergo a

for all these devices to undergo a thousand times reduction in size imagine

thousand times reduction in size imagine

thousand times reduction in size imagine you can think of the laptops the smart

you can think of the laptops the smart

you can think of the laptops the smart phones or any other devices that

phones or any other devices that

phones or any other devices that produces power to undergo your massive

produces power to undergo your massive

produces power to undergo your massive reduction in size so based on the

reduction in size so based on the

reduction in size so based on the results obtained we are trying to

results obtained we are trying to

results obtained we are trying to collaborate with the companies to use

collaborate with the companies to use

collaborate with the companies to use this actual fuel cell for the automotive

this actual fuel cell for the automotive

this actual fuel cell for the automotive industrial and like mobile applications

industrial and like mobile applications

industrial and like mobile applications as well so if this graphene is properly

as well so if this graphene is properly

as well so if this graphene is properly utilized and more research is carried

utilized and more research is carried

utilized and more research is carried out this graphene could make the fuel

out this graphene could make the fuel

out this graphene could make the fuel cell stand as a significant energy

cell stand as a significant energy

cell stand as a significant energy device when as under the competitor 2

device when as under the competitor 2

device when as under the competitor 2 batteries super capacitors or internal

batteries super capacitors or internal

batteries super capacitors or internal combustion engines and even renewable

combustion engines and even renewable

combustion engines and even renewable energy sources the future could be

energy sources the future could be

energy sources the future could be realized in such a way that piece of

realized in such a way that piece of

realized in such a way that piece of graphene paper could be used to power

graphene paper could be used to power

graphene paper could be used to power our homemade and industrial appliances

our homemade and industrial appliances

our homemade and industrial appliances in a safe and a friendly manner so we

in a safe and a friendly manner so we

in a safe and a friendly manner so we below this graphene could make a

below this graphene could make a

below this graphene could make a remarkable changes to the human society

remarkable changes to the human society

remarkable changes to the human society in which we perceive the energy device

in which we perceive the energy device

in which we perceive the energy device thank you