• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2002

본 연구는 Chemical hydride 형태의 수소발생제를 포함한 액체연료를 이용한 신개념의 알칼라인 연료전지의 특성을 분석하였다. Chemical hydride는 연료전지의 수소공급원으로써 사용될 수 있으며, 본 연구팀은 KOH 전해질에 수소발생제인 Sodium Borohydride ($NaBH_4$)를 첨가하여 제조된 액체연료를 알칼라인 연료전지에 공급함으서 상온에서 매운 우수한 전기 화학적 성능결과를 얻을 수 있었다. 이때 음극 찰물질로 $ZrCr_{0.8}Ni_{1.2}$ 수소저장합금이 사용되었으며, 양극은 방수처리된 카본지 위에 분산된 Pt/C 가 사용되었고, air가 latm으로 양극에 공급되었다. 음극에 대한 XRD 분석결과 음극에서의 산화에 의해 Sodium Borohydride ($NaBH_4$)가 분해되어 수소가 발생되며, 연속적으로 액체연료가 주입되어도 전지가 작동하는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 이때 에너지밀도는 6,000 Ah/kg (for $NaBH_4$ or $KBH_4$)이다.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.458-465
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• 2018

This study reports the fabrication of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) containing two kinds of functional groups: i) trimethylphosphite (TMP) and ii) trimethylamine (TMA). We carried out the synthesis of polymers to enhance thermal stability and ion conductivity. The alternative polymer was prepared using 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)propane and decafluorobiphenyl. The membrane was fabricated by solution casting method. The thermal stability of membranes was examined by TGA. The physiochemical properties of membranes were also investigated in terms of water uptake, swelling ratio, ion exchange capacity, and ion conductivity. The hydroxide ion conductivity of the membranes reached about 20.2 mS/cm for quaternary ammonium poly(arylene ether) (QA-PAE) containing TMA moiety and 5.1 mS/cm for quaternary phosphonium PAE (QP-PAE) containing TMP moiety at $90^{\circ}C$.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2022

Alkaline fuel cells using liquid fuels such as hydrazine and ammonia are gaining great attention as a clean and renewable energy solution possibly owing to advantages such as excellent energy density, simple structure, compact size in fuel container, and ease of storage and transportation. However, common shortcomings including cathode flooding, fuel crossover, side yield reactions, and fuel security and toxicity are still challenging issues. Real time monitoring of fuel concentrations integrated into a fuel cell device can help improving fuel cell performance via predicting any loss of fuels used at a cathode for efficient energy production. There have been extensive research efforts made on developing real-time sensing platforms for hydrazine and ammonia. Among these, recent advancements in electrochemical sensors offering high sensitivity and selectivity, easy fabrication, and fast monitoring capability for analysis of hydrazine and ammonia concentrations will be introduced. In particular, research trend on the integration of metallic and metal oxide nanoparticles and also their hybrids with carbon-based nanomaterials into electrochemical sensing platforms for improvement in sensitivity and selectivity will be highlighted.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.344-349
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• 2017

Alkaline fuel cells using polymer electrolyte membranes are expected to replace proton exchange membrane fuel cells, which have similar system configurations. In particular, in alkaline fuel cells, a low-cost non-platinium catalyst can be used. In this study, to fabricate high performance and high durability anion exchange membranes for alkaline fuel cell systems, two kinds of supports, polybenzoxazole and polyethylene supports, were impregnated with Fumion FAA ionomer, by which we tried to fabricate the support-impregnated membrane which has higher mechanical strength and higher ion conductivity than the Fumion series. Finally, the Pore-filling membranes were successfully fabricated and ionic conductivity and mechanical properties were different depending on the properties of the supports. In the pore-filling membranes with Fumion ionomer on the PE support, excellent mechanical properties were obtained, but ionic conductivity decreased. On the other hand, when the PBO support was impregnated with Fumion ionomer, high ionic conductivity was shown after impregnation due to high basicity of PBO, but the mechanical strength was relatively low as compared with Fumion-PE membrane. As a result, it was concluded that it is necessary to consider the characteristics of the support according to the operating conditions of the alkaline fuel cell during the preparation of the pore-filling membranes.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.652-658
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• 2019

Direct hydrazine fuel cells (DHFCs) have been considered to be one of the promising fuel cells because hydrazine as a liquid fuel possesses several advantages such as no emission of CO₂, relatively high energy density and catalytic activity over platinum group metal (PGM)-free anode catalysts. Judging from plenty of research works, however, regarding key components such as electrocatalysts as well as their physicochemical properties, it becomes quite necessary to understand better the underlying processes in DHFCs for the long term stability. Herein, we highlight recent studies of DHFCs in terms of a systematic approach for developing cost-effective and stable anode catalysts and electrode structures that incorporate mass transport characteristics of hydrazine, water and gas bubbles.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.371-383
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• 2021

Anion exchange membranes have been used for water electrolysis, which can produce hydrogen, and fuel cells, which can generate electrical energy using hydrogen fuel. Anion exchange membranes operate based on hydroxide ion (OH^-) conduction under alkaline conditions. However, since the anion exchange membrane shows relatively low ion conductivity and alkaline stability, there is still a limit to its commercialization in water electrolysis and fuel cells. To address these issues, it is important to develop novel anion exchange membrane materials by rationally designing a polymer structure. In particular, the polymer structure and synthetic method need to be controlled. By doing so, for polymers, the physical properties, ionic conductivity, and alkaline stability can be maintained. Among many anion exchange membranes, poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) is commercially available and easily accessible. In addition, the PPO has relatively high mechanical and chemical stability compared to other polymers. In this review, we introduce the recent development strategy and characteristics of PPO-based polymer materials used in anion exchange membranes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2018.06a
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• pp.28-28
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• 2018

수전해(electrochemical water splitting)는 연료전지의 가역적 역반응을 이용하여 물로부터 수소와 산소를 발생시키는 기술이다. 산소는 음극에서 발생하는데, 이 때 음극 표면은 고농도의 산소 음이온 및 라디칼에 장시간 노출된다. 때문에 기계적, 화학적 내구성이 우수한 전극재를 사용할 필요가 있다. 불용성 전극 (dimensionally stable anode, DSA)은 이러한 기술적 요구사항을 잘 만족하는 상용화 된 전극이다. 티타늄이나 티타늄 합금 표면에 촉매를 미량 반복 살포하여 산화물 형태의 매우 견고한 표면을 형성함으로서 내구성을 확보한다. 그러나, 보통 DSA 제조 기법의 특징에 따라 다공성 표면 구조를 사용하지는 않기 때문에 생산 과정이 복잡하고 비용이 많이 발생하는 문제를 여전히 나타내고 있다. 본 연구는 상기 문제를 개선하기 위한 수전해용 음극 제조 기술에 관한 연구이다. 티타늄과 티타늄 합금은 동일한 양극산화 기술 적용이 가능하다는 점을 이용하여 티타늄 기판으로부터 다공성 구조를 형성함으로써 바인더의 사용을 배제하였다. 단일공정양극산화기법 (single-step anodization)을 이용하여 $IrO_2$와 $RuO_2$를 도핑함으로써 TiO2에 촉매능을 부여하였다. 제조된 나노튜브들의 구조적 특징을 HR-TEM (High-resolution transmission electron microscope)과 FE-SEM (Field-emission scanning electron microscope)으로 분석하고 SAED (selective area electron diffraction) 패턴을 분석하여 전극재의 결정성을 확인하였다. 알칼라인 분위기에서 일으킨 산소발생반응 (oxygen evolution reaction, OER)의 LSV (linear sweep voltammetry) 결과를 XPS (X-ray photoelectron microscoscopy) 결과와 연관지어 촉매 표면 구조와 과전압의 관계를 해석하였다. LSV 결과로부터 Tafel 분석을 연달아 수행함으로써 전극의 속도결정단계를 정의하였다. 최종적으로 사이클 테스트 통하여 DSA로써의 성능을 평가하였다.