INTERNATIONAL: INDIA IN THE WORLD: India Gifts Missile Corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam

Rajnath Singh holds talks with visiting Vietnamese counterpart .

India gifted the indigenously-built in-service missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam to enhance that country’s naval capabilities. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced this on June 19 after bilateral talks with his visiting Vietnamese counterpart General Phan Van Gang.

“Progress on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives was reviewed during the meeting, with both sides expressing satisfaction at the ongoing engagements,” a Defence Ministry statement said on the talks, stating that the two Ministers had focussed on enhancing cooperation between defence industries of both countries, and maritime security.

Both Ministers identified means to enhance existing areas of collaboration, especially in defence industry cooperation, maritime security and multinational cooperation, the Ministry said. As part of his engagements, General Phan also visited headquarters of the Defence Research and Development Organisation and discussed ways to enhance “defence industrial capabilities by cooperation in defence research and joint production”.

Earlier in the day, General Gang laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and was later given a Tri-Service guard of honour. He arrived in India on June 18 on a two-day visit.

INS Kirpan is a Khukri class missile corvette displacing 1,350 tonnes and was commissioned into the Navy on January 12, 1991. It has a displacement of close to 1,400 tonnes, a length of 91 metres, a beam of 11 metres, and is capable of speed in excess of 25 knots. The ship is fitted with a medium range gun, 30 mm close range guns, chaff launchers, and surface to surface missiles, enabling it to perform a wide variety of roles, including coastal and offshore patrol, coastal security, surface warfare, anti-piracy, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, according to the Navy.

In June 2022, India and Vietnam signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on mutual logistics support in the presence of the two Defence Ministers during Mr. Singh’s visit to the Southeast Asian nation, and the two Defence Ministers signed the “Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam defence partnership towards 2030”, which the Ministry had said would significantly enhance the scope and scale of existing defence cooperation.

Hanoi has procured 12 high speed patrol boats for the Vietnamese border guard force under a $100 million Line of Credit (LoC) extended in September 2014. In 2016, India extended another $500 million defence LoC, and discussions are under way to identify the equipment.

India has also announced gifting two simulators and monetary grant towards the setting up of a Language and IT Lab at the Air Force Officers Training School for capacity building in the Vietnamese armed forces.

India and Vietnam have shared a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since 2016 and defence cooperation is a key pillar of this partnership. Vietnam is an important partner in India’s ‘Act East’ policy and the Indo-Pacific vision, the statement added.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL RECORD: ARTS & CULTURE / DANCE: 16-year-old girl Srushti Sudhir Jagtap Dances Nonstop for 5 Days, sets World Record

Srushti’s feat, dancing continuously for an astounding “five days straight,” has garnered her a well-deserved place in the prestigious Guinness World Records.

In an extraordinary display of talent and endurance, a 16-year-old girl named Srushti Sudhir Jagtap has accomplished a feat that has left the world in awe. This remarkable young dancer, originating from Latur, Maharashtra, has shattered the existing record for the longest dance marathon, leaving an indelible mark on the global stage.

Srushti’s feat, dancing continuously for an astounding “five days straight,” has garnered her a well-deserved place in the prestigious Guinness World Records. The official announcement states that Srushti Sudhir Jagtap has not only broken the previous record but has surpassed it by an impressive margin, achieving a staggering time of 127 hours. The previous record holder, Bandana Nepal, a talented dancer from Nepal, held the distinction of dancing relentlessly for 126 hours.

The dance marathon, as governed by its rules, required Srushti to keep her feet constantly in motion, synchronized with the rhythm and melody of the music. It demanded an unparalleled level of dedication, stamina, and passion for dance, all of which Srushti exemplified throughout her extraordinary journey.

Srushti’s astounding achievement was not solely the result of her innate talent and determination. She received comprehensive training from her grandfather, Baban Mane, who imparted his knowledge of Yoga Nidra, a form of guided meditation that is also known as ‘yogic sleep.’ This rigorous training regimen, undertaken for a span of 15 months, played a pivotal role in preparing Srushti for her ambitious record attempt. It provided her with the mental and physical strength necessary to endure the demanding dance marathon.

When asked about her motivation behind breaking this grueling record, Srushti passionately shared her aspiration to represent India through the mesmerizing art of dance. She saw this remarkable feat as an opportunity to showcase her talent and bring glory to her country on a global platform. Srushti’s unwavering commitment to her craft, coupled with her relentless pursuit of excellence, has made her an exemplary role model for aspiring dancers worldwide.

Srushti Sudhir Jagtap’s name will forever be etched in the annals of dance history, serving as a testament to the human spirit’s indomitable nature. Her awe-inspiring accomplishment serves as a reminder to us all that with passion, perseverance, and unwavering determination, we can transcend boundaries and achieve greatness.

source/content: dnaindia.com (headline edited)

Badminton | India’s Rankireddy and Shetty triumph in Indonesia Open, create history

The Indians, who were also Asian champions, defeated the current world champions in 43 minutes.

The Indian duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty on Sunday won a historic men’s doubles title at the Indonesia Open here, becoming the first doubles pair from the country to claim a Super 1000 event.

The world No. 6 pair, who won a gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and bronze at the world championships last year, thrashed Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yika of Malaysia in straight games 21-17, 21-18.

Earlier, the 2022 world championships bronze medallists had become the first ever Indian pair to reach the final of any Super 1000 tournament after a sensational comeback to get the better of the Korean combination of Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae 17-21, 21-19 21-18 in a thrilling semi-final.

The Indians, who were also Asian champions, defeated the current world champions in 43 minutes.

The BWF (Badminton World Federation) World Tour is divided into six levels, namely World Tour Finals, four Super 1000, six Super 750, seven Super 500, and 11 Super 300. One more category of tournament, the BWF Tour Super 100 level, also offers ranking points.

Each of these tournaments offers different ranking points and prize money. The highest points and prize pool is offered at the Super 1000 level.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

1st dad-daughter pilot duo flies sky-high!

Then came the year 2016 when the IAF’s first women fighter pilots entered service, convincing Ananya that her dream was coming true.

The month of May 2022 saw a rare record set in the sky: Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma and Flying Officer Ananya Sharma took off on their Advanced Jet Trainer Hawk-132 for a variety of manoeuvres together. They became the first pair of father-daughter who flew in the same formation at the Air Force Station in Bidar (Karnataka), where Ananya was training.

Ananya has been quite lucky. As a child when she showed interest in the combat jet, the Indian Air Force (IAF) did not have any plans for women to join the fighter stream. But, her father never said no to her. Whenever she would bug her dad about it, he would reassure her: “Don’t worry.”

Then came the year 2016 when the IAF’s first women fighter pilots entered service, convincing Ananya that her dream was coming true. For Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma, her decision to join the challenging career in the IAF came as a pleasant surprise as she had already begun her professional journey in the corporate sector.

After completing her BTech in Electronics & Communication, Ananya joined KPMG. Around the same time, she also filled out the form and cleared the written exam and the Services Selection Board (SSB) in 2020. She was commissioned into the force in December 2021.

The gruelling IAF training is divided into STAGE I, II and III. Each stage gradually takes you from fundamental to more complex levels of aviation. Before the training begins, a candidate is first exposed to technical training on the trainer aircraft. This involves imparting theoretical understanding and then a practical demonstration of all systems of the aircraft. This also includes undertaking a programme in aviation medicine.

Ananya did her pre-flying at Air Force Academy for six months before commencing STAGE-I–I 24-week training. She was allotted the fighter branch. It is at this stage that pilot trainees are trifurcated into fighter, transport and helicopter streams. Then comes STAGE-II 24-week training in their respective flying training establishments. After STAGE-II training, successful pilot trainees are commissioned as officers and undergo STAGE–III training. On completion of STAGE–III training, they begin operational flying at the squadrons/units assigned to them.

“Even if one wants to join the fighter branch, it doesn’t happen easily. A board does the tri-furcation which considers your preference, performance at the academy and the instructor’s recommendations,” says Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma.

“After getting commissioned as a fighter pilot, Ananya came and saluted me. It made me really proud,” says a beaming Air Commodore. “It was the biggest day of my life when I flew with Ananya,” he says in a video put out by the IAF. This year she completed her training in the AJT Hawk and has been lucky to get selected to fly frontline Sukhoi 30.

The Air Commodore vividly remembers the joint-flying with Ananya. “I was posted in Air HQ and she was undergoing Hawk flying and was to complete solo flying and enter the formation flying phase,” says Air Commodore. The Air Force permitted it and the rest is history as the two flew in one formation.

The Air Commodore was commissioned in the fighter stream in 1989. He has had an extensive experience in fighter operations, having commanded a MiG-21 squadron as well as a frontline fighter. He recently superannuated from the IAF.

Mother Sonal Sharma said, “I am extremely happy and proud. I can’t explain my feelings when both Sanjay and Ananya got airborne in the same formation… It was a feeling way beyond any happiness or satisfaction that I ever experienced.”

“She is a good flier; I can say without a doubt. I have seen her grow as a child; I can judge her capabilities. Self-motivation makes things easy, else it is hard. Ananya is self-motivated,” says her proud father. Ananya’s elder sister is also a part of the force; she is married to an Army Officer.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Google Doodle today: Who was Kamala Sohonie, first Indian woman to get PhD in science? Know her story

Google is celebrating the life and works of Indian scientist Kamala Sohonie, who was the first woman to get accepted into the top college IISc in India.

Google Doodle June 18: On June 18, 2023, Google is celebrating the life and works of Indian scientist Kamala Sohonie, who was one of the first prominent female scientists in India. Google is celebrating Sohonie’s life on her 112th birthday through a whimsical Google Doodle.

The Google Doodle today shows Indian scientist Kamala Sohonie as a colorful animated illustration on her 112th birthday, with illustrations of a microscope, scientific slides, and plants around her to signify her works in the field of science.

Scientist Kamala Sohonie was the first woman in India to get into the prestigious Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (IISc), which is considered to be the best institute in the country. Sohonie also became the first Indian woman ever to get a Ph.D. in a scientific disciple.

Celebrating her remarkable works and feat in Indian science, Google wrote, “Today’s Doodle celebrates Indian biochemist Kamala Sohonie, who was the first Indian woman to get a Ph. D in a scientific discipline, paving the way for women to pursue degrees in STEM.”

Dr Kamala Sohonie became a pioneer for all women in India and took a major step forward, diminishing gender bias in the field of science. She got accepted into the IISc Bangalore, but the authorities doubted her capabilities because she was a woman.

Despite the stringent conditions posed to her, she overcame gender bias and became one of the best students in IISc, paving the way for other women to follow in her footsteps. She later started exploring how different proteins in legumes could provide nourishment for children.

Dr Kamala Sohonie’s landmark work was developing an affordable diet and nutrition supplement made using palm nectar. This drink was called Neera, and was rich in Vitamin C and other nutrients, providing nourishment to pregnant women and malnourished.

source/contents: dnaindia.com (headline edited)

UNGA adopts resolution introduced by India to honour fallen peacekeepers, PM Modi thanks countries for support

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj introduced the draft resolution titled ‘Memorial wall for fallen United Nations peacekeepers’.

The UN General Assembly has adopted a draft resolution introduced by India to establish a memorial wall in the UN Headquarters to honour fallen peacekeepers.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj introduced the draft resolution titled ‘Memorial wall for fallen United Nations peacekeepers’ on Wednesday in the UN General Assembly hall.

The resolution was co-sponsored by nearly 190 UN Member States and was adopted by consensus.

It welcomed the initiative of Member States to “establish at a suitable and prominent place at United Nations Headquarters in New York a memorial wall to honour the memory of fallen peacekeepers, giving due consideration to the modalities involved, including the recording of the names of those who have made the supreme sacrifice.”

While introducing the resolution, Ms. Kamboj said the memorial wall will be a testimony to the importance that the UN bestows on peacekeeping.

She said it will remind people of not only the sacrifices of the fallen but also be a “constant reminder of the cost of our decisions.”

The resolution was submitted by 18 countries including Bangladesh, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Nepal, Rwanda and the U.S..

“Peacekeepers are not born. They are forged through the crucible of sacrifice. Their unwavering commitment and selfless acts pave the way for a world where peace must triumph over conflict,” Ms. Kamboj said.

The resolution stipulates that the wall be completed within three years of the text’s adoption.

In 2015, the Permanent Mission of India to the UN launched a virtual memorial wall, dedicated to the Indian troops who made the supreme sacrifice while doing active service as UN peacekeepers.

The initiative was a precursor to the eventual construction of the Peacekeepers Memorial Wall. India had proposed the construction of the memorial wall as an appropriate way to commemorate all the troops from UN member states who had given their lives while on duty under the Blue Flag of the United Nations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping hosted by then U.S. President Barack Obama at the UN Headquarters in September 2015 during the high-level General Assembly week, paid homage to the peacekeepers who laid down their lives in defending the highest ideals of the United Nations.

“It would be most fitting if the proposed memorial wall to the fallen peacekeepers is created quickly. India stands ready to contribute, including financially, to this objective,” Mr. Modi had said.

PM Modi thanks countries for support to resolution

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the countries that supported the UNGA resolution.

“Delighted that the Resolution to establish a new Memorial Wall for fallen Peacekeepers, piloted by India, has been adopted in the UN General Assembly,” the Prime Minister wrote on Twitter.

“The Resolution received a record 190 co-sponsorships. Grateful for everyone’s support,” he said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Amroha dholak and Kalpi handmade paper from UP make it to elite GI club 

Uttar Pradesh’s tally of Geographical Indication (GI) certified products has gone up to 52 with the addition of four new goods.

Uttar Pradesh’s tally of Geographical Indication (GI) certified products has gone up to 52 with the addition of four new goods. Baghpat home furnishing, Amroha dholak, Kalpi handmade paper and Barabanki handloom have now joined this elite club. 

According to GI expert Padma Shri Rajni Kant, whose organisation Human Welfare Association (HWA) provides technical facilitation to procure the certification, the GI tag was granted to these goods covered under ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) on Wednesday.

He said that the applications for the GI registration of those four products were sent to GI Registry, Chennai during the pandemic in 2019 -2020. “After long legal and technical procedures, the four ODOP products got GI status on June 14, and now they have been included in the intellectual property of the country,” he added.

According to Kant, Kalpi handmade paper is the first to get the GI tag in the handmade paper category. The reference to Kalpi’s handmade papers is found in the verses from folk songs. He claimed that UP is first in terms of GI-tagged handicrafts with 40 crafts of 52 products to its credit.

In the Varanasi region alone, 18 GI-tagged products out of 23 belong to the handicraft category. “Uttar Pradesh is not only the biggest exporter of GI-tagged products but it also involves the largest number of manpower in this sector, making the highest annual turnover in the country,” said Kant.

In the recent G20 meet in Varanasi, Kashi’s GI crafts attracted foreign guests while artisans and weavers showcased their skills. About 50 lakh people in the state are engaged in the production of 52 GI products. 
The registration process of 27 more products of UP for GI is in the final stage, which is likely to be completed by December, this year. Earlier three ODOP crafts, Mainpuri tarkashi, Mahoba Gaura stone craft and Sambhal horn craft, had received GI certification.

First state to get in GI-tagged handicrafts
GI expert Padma Shri Rajni Kant claimed that UP is first in terms of GI-tagged handicrafts with 40 crafts of 52 products to its credit. In Varanasi region alone, 18 GI-tagged products out of 23 belong to the handicraft category. UP also involves the largest number of manpower in this sector, making the highest annual turnover in the country.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Drugs Controller approves first indigenously developed animal-derived tissue engineering scaffold for skin wounds healing

The concept of using animal-derived materials as advanced wound care products is not new.

An advanced wound care product developed by the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), named Cholederm, has won the approval of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) as a Class D medical device.

Cholederm is a wound healing material derived from the extracellular matrix of de-cellularised gall bladder of pig and tissue engineered as membrane forms of scaffold, by the researchers at the Division of Experimental Pathology in the Biomedical Technology wing of SCTIMST.

The research team was led by T.V. Anilkumar, Scientist G (Veterinary Pathology) and Head of the Division of Experimental Pathology.

Cholederm healed different types of skin wounds including burn and diabetic wounds in rats, rabbits or dogs faster than similar products currently available in the market, with minimal scarring. In 2017, SCTIMST transferred the technology to M/s Alicorn Medical Pvt Ltd, a start-up biopharmaceutical firm. However, the pandemic delayed the firm’s clearance for obtaining a manufacturing licence for commercial production and sale.

‘Milestone achievement’

Harikrishna Varma, the Head of Biomedical Technology wing, in a statement here said that given the stringent requirements that have to be met under the 2017 Medical Devices Rules, the development of animal-derived Class D medical devices was not considered to be an easy or practical proposition. The CDCSO approval for Cholederm is thus a milestone achievement for the SCTIMST and M/s Alicorn Medical Pvt Ltd., Dr. Varma said.

Though the concept of using animal-derived products for manufacturing advanced wound care material is not new, Cholederm is the first indigenously developed product to meet all regulatory requirements. “However, indigenous technology was so far not available for fabricating quality products that satisfy the requirements of the Drugs Controller General. Therefore, such products were imported making them expensive,” said the Central Government.

Cost-effective

It is expected that with the introduction of Cholederm to the Indian market, the treatment cost can be reduced from Rs 10,000/- to Rs 2,000/- making it more affordable to the common man. Moreover, the technology for recovering extracellular matrix from the gallbladder is not available to others and it gives a fair chance for competition in the international market.

Researchers said that the scaffold modulated or mitigated the scarring reactions in subcutaneous, skeletal-muscle and cardiac tissues and that it had the ability to mitigate fibrotic scarring in rats suffering experimental myocardial infarction.

Since the application of scaffold to treat cardiac injuries was a cumbersome process, the team is now attempting to develop injectable gel formulations of the scaffold, according to SCTIMST.

Speaking about their future plans Prof. T.V. Anilkumar said that since the application of membrane forms of the scaffold for treating cardiac injury was cumbersome, the team is developing injectable gel formulations of the scaffold that permits transvenous on-site delivery of the scaffold and for surface modification of polymeric medical devices. “Further investigations in multiple species of animals are necessary to confirm the claim,’’ he said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: ARTS & CULTURE / CINEMA: Anurag Kashyap named ‘Head of the Jury for Official Competition Category’ of ’70th Sydney Film Festival’

Anurag will be joined by Mia Wasikowska, Dorothee Wenne, Larissa Behrendt and Visakesa Chandrasekaram as fellow jury members.

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, whose film Kennedy received a seven-minute standing ovation at the 76th Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, has been named the head of the jury for the ongoing 70th Sydney Film Festival’s Official Competition category.

“The ultimate film fan long weekend continues!🍿 The Official Competition jury and filmmakers galore made their way to @statetheatreau for screenings. Meanwhile, The Hub was buzzing all day and night with talks and a special party with our friends Discoteca Tropical🥳,” the official Twitter handle of the festival wrote, sharing photos of the jury members on Monday.

Actor Mia Wasikowska (Australia), film curator-journalist Dorothee Wenne (Germany), writer-director Larissa Behrendt (Australia) and filmmaker Visakesa Chandrasekaram (Australia/Sri Lanka) are part of the jury that Anurag heads.

They will be judging the 12 films shortlisted for the Official Competition category. These films celebrate “courageous, audacious and cutting-edge cinema”, according to the festival organisers. The best film in this category will win a AUD 60,000 cash prize. Sydney Film Festival also presents eight other cash awards over the course of the festival.

Written and directed by Anurag, Kennedy will also be screened at the 70th Sydney Film Festival. Itwas the first Indian film that was screened at the midnight section at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Anurag had previously presented films such as Raman Raghav 2.0, Ugly, Bombay Talkies and the two-part gangster drama Gangs of Wasseypur at the Cannes Film Festival.

Starring Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone, Kennedy is based on an insomniac cop who dwells in different circumstances while looking for redemption.

The film festival that began on June 7 will conclude on June 18.

source/contents: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: GREEN ENERGY : IIT-Madras Generates Hydrogen from Seawater using Solar Energy

The researchers have optimised all the parameters so that water electrolyte can directly use photovoltaic-derived voltage and current density to split water and generate hydrogen.

Researchers from the Department of Physics at IIT-Madras have developed critical components for a highly efficient, cost-effective way to electrolyze seawater to generate hydrogen. The results were published in the journal ACS Applied Energy Materials.

State-of-the-art alkaline water electrolyser technology is energy-intensive, requires an expensive oxide-polymer separator, and uses fresh water for electrolysis. The IIT-Madras team led by Dr. Ramaprabhu Sundara has addressed each of these challenges by developing simple, scalable and cost-effective alternatives that are highly efficient in splitting seawater and generating hydrogen. 

In place of pure or fresh water, the team has developed an electrolyser using alkaline seawater. They used a carbon-based support material for the electrodes instead of metals to almost eliminate the possibility of corrosion. They also designed and developed transition metal-based catalysts that can catalyse both oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions. The catalyst enhances the production of both hydrogen and oxygen even when impurities and chemical deposition on one of the electrodes takes place. Also, the researchers have developed a cellulose-based separator that is very economical and serves the purpose of allowing hydroxide ions to pass through but prevents oxygen and hydrogen that are generated from crossing-over. Finally, the researchers have optimised all the parameters such that the water electrolyser can directly use photovoltaic-derived voltage to split seawater and generate green hydrogen and oxygen, oxygen can be used elsewhere.

The reactions

Alkaline water electrolyser consists of two half-reactions occurring at the anode and cathode. At the cathode, water dissociates into H+ and hydroxide ions, and the H+ ions get converted into hydrogen. The hydroxide ions produced at the cathode permeate through the separator and oxygen is generated at the anode.

When seawater is used for electrolysis, hypochlorite formation occurs at the anode. Hypochlorite is responsible for corrosion of the electrode support material, and competes with the oxygen evolution reaction thus reducing the amount of oxygen produced. At the cathode, the hydrogen evolution reaction is slowed down when several impurities get adsorbed on the electrode surface.

The electrodes have a support material that is coated with a catalyst. “Since conventional metal support materials get easily corroded when seawater is used, we developed a carbon-based support material,” says Prof. Sundara. “The support material is used in both the anode and cathode, and is coated with the catalyst. The catalyst allows enhanced and simultaneous production of hydrogen at the cathode and oxygen at the anode.”

According to Prof. Sundara, the transition bimetals present in the catalyst are more selective towards oxygen evolution reaction than hypochlorite formation. Thus the challenge of hypochlorite formation reducing oxygen production is taken care of. Similarly, even while the cathode continues to adsorb impurities, the catalyst promotes the hydrogen evolution reaction, which helps in the increased production of hydrogen. 

The separator

Another unique feature is the novel separator that has been developed by the team. When alkaline electrolyte is used, the anode and cathode are separated with a separator. Since zirconium oxide-based material that is routinely used is expensive, they came up with a cellulose-based separator which allows the hydroxide ions to pass through from the cathode to the anode. But it minimises the crossover of hydrogen and oxygen that is generated.

“We found our separator is highly resistant to seawater degradation,” says Sana Fathima, one of the co-authors of the paper.

“Using the assembled electrolyser, we have demonstrated an overall seawater splitting voltage of 1.73 V at 10 mA/sq.cm (a benchmark current density corresponding to about 12% efficient solar-to-fuel conversion device under 1 sun illumination) at 26 degrees C,” says Anamika Ghosh from IIT Madras and the first author of the paper. “We have optimised all the parameters such that the water electrolyser can directly use photovoltaic-derived voltage and work at 10mA/sq.cm current density to split seawater for green hydrogen production.” 

The team has developed two prototypes of different dimensions to assess the viability of the catalysts. “In the case of the smaller electrolyser (16 sq.cm dimension) hydrogen is produced at a rate of 250 ml per hour, while in the larger one (391 sq.cm dimension) hydrogen is produced at a rate of about one litre per hour at an applied voltage of 2 V,” Ms. Ghosh says. “We also fabricated a stack consisting of three such cells and hydrogen produced is about four litres per hour at an applied voltage of 2 V per cell.” All the measurements were done at ambient pressure and room temperature. 

“All the cells have shown a shelf-life of more than six months, and the study is continuing,” says Ms. Fathima.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)