Dr. Vishal Mahesh DHAVALE
Principal Scientist, Associate Professor (AcSIR)
Research Interests:
Nano-Material Science
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell
Electro-catalysis
Liquid Fuel Oxidation
Aqueous Zn-air and Zn-ion Batteries
Functional Materials: Design, Discovery & Development (FMD3)
Electrochemistry
Principal Scientist (Scientist-E), CSIR-Central Electro-chemical Research Institute - Chennai Unit (Nov. 2024 - till date)
Senior Scientist, CSIR- Central Electro-Chemical Research Institute - Chennai unit (Nov. 2021- Nov. 2024)
Scientist, CSIR-Central Electro-Chemical Research Institute - Chennai Unit (Nov. 2017- Nov. 2021)
DST-Inspire Faculty, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology - Hyderabad (Nov. 2016 to Nov. 2017)
Post-doctoral Researcher, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan (Jun. 2015 to Oct. 2016)
Project Assistant, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune (Jan. 2009 to Apr. 2012)
Ph.D., CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory - Pune & Academy of Scientific and Industrial Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, India, 2015
Supervisor: Dr. Sreekumar Kurungot
M.Sc., Solapur University, Solapur, Maharashtra, India, 2008
B.Sc., Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India, 2004
International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), DoS US in July 2025.
Highest ECF Earning Scientist (Grant-in-Aid) for the year 2022-2023.
Outstanding Reviewers for Journal of Materials Chemistry A - 2021. Link
Outstanding Reviewers for Journal of Materials Chemistry A - 2020. Link
Assistant Professor, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) (From May 2018)
Life membership in the International Association for Hydrogen Energy (IAHE)
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) (Feb-2017)
Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology (KAST), Japan-Post doctoral Fellowship (Jun-2015)
CSIR-Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) (April-2012)
First Rank in M.Sc. (Physical Chemistry) at Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Solapur, Solapur, Maharashtra, India (June 2008).
Project Investigator
Development of an Efficient Scale-Up Strategy for Roll-to-Roll Fabrication of Catalyst-Coated Membranes via Optimization of Catalyst Slurry Composition and Coating Parameters, (July 2026-July 2031), CSIR-ULIP
Indigenization of the HT-PEMFC technology at the raw materials and sub-component level by establishing pre-production scale manufacturing facilities, (Dec. 2022- Dec. 2026), DST-AHFC (143.32 Lakhs)
Demonstration and validation of indigenously developed electrocatalyst for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (Apr. 2022 - March 2025), CSIR-Hydrogen Mission (H2T) (221.63 Lakhs)
Pt-Free and Active Sites Enriched Metal-Carbon Alloy Electrocatalysts for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (Dec. 2021 - March 2025), SRB - CRG (30.84 Lakhs)
Non-Precious Electro Catalysts for Fuel Cells and Metal-air Battery (2016 - 2022), DST-INSPIRE (38 Lakhs)
Modulated Metal- Complexes for electrochemical Conversion of Water-to-Dioxygen (Feb. 2018 - Feb. 2019), CSIR-CECRI (2 Lakhs)
Co-Project Investigator
Development of a 20 kW Fuel Cell Stack and 15 kWh Battery Pack suited for e-tractor application, (July 2026-July 2031), CSIR-ULIP
Development of Fuel Cell Powered High Endurance UAV's for Niche Strategic and Societal Applications, (Dec. 2025 - Dec. 2028), MNRE - under NGHM, (165.53 Lakhs)
Design and Development of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Cargo 3-Wheeler, (Nov. 2025 - Nov. 2027), MEDA (44 Lakhs)
Reinforced perflurosulfonic acid and short chained ionomers and sulfophenylated polyphenylenes with radical scavengers and expanded substrate support via self polymerization- its impact as a composite membrane in polymer electrolyte fuel cells, (Jan. 2024 - Jan. 2027) SERB-CRG (27.91 Lakhs)
Ultra-low platinum alloy catalyst for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, (June 2024 - June 2026), CSIR-NCP (78 Lakhs)
Fuel cell E-tractor-development of drive train, (Apr. 2024 - March 2026), CSIR - FTT (45.86 Lakhs)
Scale-up of short side chain PFSA composite membrane for low humidity polymer electrolyte fuel cells, (Apr. 2024 - March 2026), CSIR-FTT (159.4 Lakhs)
Indigenous proton exchange membrane for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (Apr. 2022 - March 2025), CSIR-Hydrogen Mission (H2T) (105.36 Lakhs)
Next-generation low temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell - Technology (Apr. 2022 - March 2025), CSIR-Hydrogen Mission (H2T) (765.75 Lakhs)
Development of Precious Metal Single-Atom Catalyst and Its Theoretical Validation for Low-Cost Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (Jan. 2021 - Mar. 2023), CSIR (75 Lakhs)
Evaluation and optimization of PTFE polymer binder for processed activated carbon to be supplied by industry... (March 2023 - Sept. 2023), Industry sponsored (5.9 Lakhs)
Testing of MEAs for LT-PEMFCs (Apr. 2022 - Mar. 2023), Industry Sponsored (2 Lakhs)
Team Member
Demonstration and validation of hydrogen ecosystem for stationary power backup application for telecommunication towers, (Sept. 2019 - March 2024), DST-HFC (211.2 lakhs)
Development and validation of 1 kW open cathode LT-PEMFC stack (Jan. 2019 - Dec. 2020), Industry Sponsored (59 Lakhs)
Demonstration and validation of a LT-PEMFC system for automotive application (Jun. 2016 - Mar. 2020), CSIR-IOP (301.2 Lakhs)
Heat and energy balance study for 2.4 kW air cooled stack via modelling, (Dec. 2024 - May 2025), Industry Sponsored
Preparation of technical feasibility report of LT-PEM fuel cell technology for application in autonomous under vehicle (AUV), Industry Sponsored
