Prof. Nagappan Ramaswamy

Prof. Nagappan Ramaswamy
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Date: February 18, 2026
Time: 1000-1100h ET

Heavy-Duty Vehicles (HDV) powered by hydrogen-based Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells offer a cleaner alternative to the diesel-powered internal combustions engine vehicles for decarbonization of long-haul transportation sectors. The development path of sub-components for HDV fuel cell applications is guided by the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis of the truck. TCO analysis suggests that the cost of the hydrogen fuel consumed over the lifetime of the HDV is more dominant due to the operation of the trucks for longer mileage (~a million miles) than the fuel cell stack Capital Expense (CapEx). Commercial HDV applications consume more H2 fuel and demand higher durability and hence the TCO of the vehicle is largely related to the fuel cell efficiency and durability of catalysts. This article is written to bridge the gap between the industrial requirements and academic activity for advanced cathode catalysts with an emphasis on durability. From a materials perspective, the underlying nature of the carbon support, Pt-alloy crystal structure, stability of the alloying element, cathode ionomer volume fraction, and catalyst-ionomer interface play a critical role in improving performance and durability. We provide our perspective on four major approaches, namely, mesoporous carbon supports, ordered PtCo intermetallic alloys, thrifting ionomer volume fraction, and shell-protection strategies that are currently being pursued. While each approach has its merits and demerits, their key developmental needs for the future are highlighted.

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ECS Sensors Plus seeks contributions for a focus issue on electrochemical biofilm sensing.

Biofilms, which are widespread in natural systems and engineered applications, play important roles in industrial water treatment, the food industry, medical applications, and environmental sustainability. In these contexts, biofilm development often causes operational efficiency problems, product or equipment contamination, and adverse effects on human and environmental health. Conventional methods for biofilm detection are often time-consuming and non-real time. Electrochemical methods possess unique properties in sensitivity and speed and can work with miniaturized devices. New advances in materials science and microfabrication technology, and the development of advanced data analytics over the last few years, have further broadened the capabilities of electrochemical sensors for real-time monitoring of biofilms. (more…)

It’s election season! Help shape the future of our organization.

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It’s that exciting time of year again—officer elections are here! As members of our organization, we all share a responsibility to shape its future.

Why Your Vote Matters

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The Electrochemical Society (ECS) invites nominations for an Associate Editor (AE) position for the ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology (JSS).

JSS publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed research spanning fundamental and applied advances in solid state science and technology. ECS seeks respected scholars who actively contribute to their fields and are committed to voluntary service in support of the scholarly community. Ideal nominees demonstrate excellence in research, peer review, and editorial judgment, and share ECS’s commitment to scientific rigor, integrity, and fairness in publishing. (more…)

Thanks for your commitment of time, energy, and expertise to ECS Meetings. As a Symposium Organizer, here are some important dates for your 2026 ECS Meeting planning.

249th ECS Meeting
Seattle, WA, US
May 24–28, 2026

• Scheduling begins Friday, January 9, 2026. Keep an eye out for a Scheduling Instructions email with detailed directions on how to create your meeting schedule.
• Meeting schedules are due Monday, January 19, 2026.

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