• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.153-156
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• 2012

In this study, two different methods were studied to prepare Pt-Pd catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells in order to enhance the electrochemical efficiency. The catalysts were compared with simultaneously deposited Pt-Pd and sequentially deposited Pt-Pd. The electrocatalysts contained 20 wt% of metal loading on carbon black and 1 : 2 of Pt : Pd atomic ratio. Electrochemical properties of the catalysts were compared by measuring cyclic voltammetries and average sizes and lattice parameters were measured by transmission electron microscopy images and x-ray diffraction. As a result, sequentially deposited Pt-Pd/C catalysts showed better electrochemical properties than those of simultaneously deposited Pt-Pd/C catalysts.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.90-96
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• 2020

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, which convert the chemical reaction energy of hydrogen into electric power directly, are a type of eco-friendly power for future vehicles. Due to the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction and costly Pt catalyst in the cathode, the research related to the replacement of Pt-based catalysts has been vitally carried out. In this case, however, the performance is significantly different from each other and a variety of factors have existed. In this review paper, we rearrange and summarize relevant papers published within 5 years approximately. The selection of precursors, synthesis method, and co-catalyst are represented as a core factor, while the necessity of research for the further enhancement of activity may be raised. It can be anticipated to contribute to the replacement of precious metal catalysts in the various fields of study. The final objective of the future research is depicted in detail.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.411.2-411.2
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• 2016

직접 메탄올 연료전지 (DMFCs)는 친환경적이고 낮은 작동 온도로 인한 빠른 구동, 높은 에너지 밀도 등 다양한 장점을 가지고 있어 차세대 에너지 변환소자로 많은 관심을 받고 있다. 직접 메탄올 연료전지는 메탄올을 연료로 사용하며, 메탄올이 보유하고 있는 화학적 에너지를 전기 에너지로 변환하는 장치로써 음극에서는 백금 촉매로 인한 메탄올 산화반응, 양극에서는 환원 반응이 일어나며 전기화학적 구동을 하게 된다. 하지만 일산화탄소 피독으로 인한 촉매 활성 저하, 메탄올의 cross over, 백금 촉매 사용으로 인한 고비용 등의 문제점을 가지고 있다. 따라서 많은 연구자들이 백금 사용량을 줄이고 백금 촉매를 고르게 분포하기 위해 값이 저렴하고 넓은 비표면적을 갖는 탄소계 (graphite, graphene, carbon nanotube, carbon nanofiber 등) 지지체 재료를 도입하고 있다. 이 중 탄소나노섬유 (carbon nanofibers, CNFs)는 우수한 전기전도도와 열적/화학적 안정성을 가지고 있으며, 특히 넓은 비표면적을 가지고 있어 백금 촉매의 지지체로서 많은 연구가 진행되고 있다[1]. 따라서 우리는 전기방사법을 활용하여 넓은 비표면적을 보유하는 다공성 탄소나노섬유를 성공적으로 합성하였다. 또한, 이를 백금 촉매의 지지체로 도입하여 직접 메탄올 연료전지를 위한 다공성 탄소나노섬유에 담지된 고분산성 백금 촉매를 제조하였다. 제조한 다공성 탄소나노섬유의 형상 및 구조 분석은 주사전자 현미경 (field-emission scanning electron microscopy)와 투과전자 현미경 (transmission electron microscopy)를 이용하여 분석하였고, 결정구조와 화학적 결합상태는 X-선 회절분석 (X-ray diffraction) 및 X-선 광전자 분광법 (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy)를 이용하여 규명하였다. 전기화학적 특성은 순환 전압 전류법 (cyclic voltammetry)를 이용하였다. 이러한 실험 결과들을 바탕으로 다공성 탄소나노섬유에 담지된 고분산성 백금 촉매의 자세한 특성을 본 학회에서 다루도록 하겠다.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.94.1-94.1
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• 2011

In this work, ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs) were prepared by the conventional templating method using mesoporous silica (SBA-15) for Pt-Ru catalyst supports in fuel cells. The influence of surface modification on carbon supports on the electrochemical activities of Pt-Ru/OMCs was investigated with different pH. The neutral-treated OMCs (N-OMCs), base-treated OMCs (B-OMCs), and acid-treated OMCs (A-OMCs) were prepared by treating OMCs with 2 M $C_6H_6$, 2 M KOH, and 2 M $H_3PO_4$, respectively. The surface characteristic of the carbon supports were determined X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical activities of the Pt-Ru catalysts had been enhanced when the OMCs supports were treated by basic or neutral agents, while the electrochemical activities had been decayed for the A-OMCs supported Pt-Ru.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.64-70
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• 2023

Global warming is getting worse since a dramatic increase in greenhouse gas emissions recently. As a result, the necessity and implementation of carbon neutrality is required more urgently. To do this, among various new and renewable energies, attention in hydrogen arises. Hydrogen as a carbon-free power source is an abundant resource on Earth and is eco-friendly. Eventually, perfectly eco-friendly hydrogen can be obtained through electrolysis of water. However, the catalyst used in the oxygen evolution reaction is rare and expensive, and has a durability issue. Consequently, the development of a non-precious metal catalyst is necessary. In this review paper, we summarize and introduce Co- and Mo- based catalysts among recently announced oxygen evolution catalysts. This will help understand the design of catalyst to increase the activity and durability of non-precious metal catalysts.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.341-347
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• 2023

In PEMFC, PtCo/C alloy catalysts are widely used because of good performance and durability. However, few studies have been reported on the durability of carbon supports of PtCo/C evaluated at high voltages (1.0~1.5 V). In this study, the durability of PtCo/C catalysts and Pt/C catalysts were compared after applying the accelerated degradation protocol of catalyst support. After repeating the 1.0↔1.5V voltage change cycles, the mass activity, electrochemical surface area (ECSA), electric double layer capacitance (DLC), Pt dissolution and the particle growth were analyzed. After 2,000 cycles of voltage change, the current density per catalyst mass at 0.9V decreased by more than 1.5 times compared to the Pt/C catalyst. This result was because the degradation rate of the carbon support of the PtCo/C catalyst was higher than that of the Pt/C catalyst. The Pt/C catalyst showed more than 1.5 times higher ECSA reduction than the PtCo/C catalyst, but the corrosion of the carbon support of the Pt/C catalyst was small, resulting in a small decrease in I-V performance. In order to improve the high voltage durability of the PtCo/C catalyst, it was shown that improving the durability of the carbon support is essential.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.479-485
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• 2011

Pt-Bi/C catalysts supported on carbon black with various Pt/Bi ratios were synthesized by a reduction method. Chloroplatinic acid hydrate ($H_2PtCl_6{\cdot}xH_2O$) and bismuth (III) nitrate pentahydrate ($Bi(NO_3)_3{\cdot}5H_2O$) were used as precursors for Pt and Bi, respectively. Before loading metal on carbon, heat treatment and pretreatment of carbon black in an acidic solution was conducted to enhance the degree of dispersion. The physical property of the synthesized catalysts was investigated by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The XRD pattern of untreated Pt-Bi/C catalyst showed BiPt and $Bi_2Pt$ peaks in addition to Pt peaks. These results imply that Bi atoms were incorporated into the Pt crystal lattice by Pt-Bi alloy formation. The catalytic activity for methanol oxidation was measured using cyclic voltammetry in a mixture of 0.5 M $H_2SO_4$ and 0.5 M $CH_3OH$ aqueous solution. The addition of proper amount of Bi was found to significantly improve catalytic activity for methanol oxidation. The catalytic activity for methanol oxidation was closely related to the stability between electrode and electrolyte. In order to investigate the stability of catalysts, chronoamperometry analysis was carried out in the same solution at 0.6 V.

• Clean Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2024

Efforts are actively underway to address the issues related to the high cost of Pt-based catalysts for oxygen reduction reactions by designing high-performance Pt-based alloys through the control of their nanostructures. In this study, a method was proposed to control the nanostructure of Pt-based alloys, either hollow or core-shell, by adjusting the pH of the solution during the galvanic replacement reaction between the carbon-supported nickel-nickel nitride composite and the Pt ions. The physical characteristics, including the state, quantity, and morphology of the metal particles under different preparation conditions, were evaluated through X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and inductively coupled plasma. When the prepared catalysts were employed for the oxygen reduction reaction, they exhibited an improvement in area specific-activity compared to a commercial Pt/C, with a 1.7 and 1.9-fold enhancement for the hollow and core-shell structured catalysts, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.313-318
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• 2008

The influence of the particle size of platinum(Pt) on the stability and activity was studied. The particle size of platinum was controlled in the range of $3.5{\sim}9\;nm$ by heat treatment of commercial Pt/C and confirmed by XRD and TEM. An accelerated degradation test was performed to evaluate the stability of platinum catalysts. Oxygen reduction reaction was monitored for the measurement of activity. As increasing the Pt particle size, the stability of Pt/C electrode was enhanced and the activity was reduced. It was confirmed that the stability of Pt/C electrode was in inverse proportion to the activity. PtCo/C alloy catalyst was used to improve the activity and stability of large-sized platinum particle. The maximum power density of commercial Pt/C was $507.6\;mV/cm^2$ and PtCo/C alloy catalyst was $585.8\;mV/cm^2$. The decrement of electrochemical surface area showed Pt/C(60%) and PtCo/C alloy catalyst(24%). It was possible to enhance both of stability and activity of catalyst by the combination of particle size control and alloying.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.57.2-57.2
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• 2012

산소 이온 전도성 세라믹을 이용한 고체 산화물 연료전지의 전극은 원활한 전기화학반응을 위해, 이온 전도도, 전자 전도도 및 전기화학적 활성을 동시에 가지고 있어야 한다. 이를 위해 복합체 전극을 사용하며, 특히 음극의 경우 니켈(Nickel)과 Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ)로 이루어진 복합체 전극을 혼합 및 소결을 통해 제조하여 사용하였다. 하지만, 니켈의 경우 탄화 수소 연료에서의 탄소 침적 문제와 열악한 산화환원 안정성(redox stability)등의 문제점을 가지고 있다. 따라서 니켈대신 전도성 세라믹을 사용한 세라믹 복합체 음극 개발이 활발히 이루어지고 있으며, 그 중 침투법(infiltration method)을 이용한 복합체 전극 제조 방법을 소개한다. 실제로 니켈 금속과 유사한 높은 전기 전도도를 갖는 Sr-doped Lanthanum Vanadate (LSV)을 이용해, YSZ-LSV 복합체 전극을 침투법을 이용해 제조하고, 소량의 촉매을 첨가하여, 이온전도도, 전자 전도도 및 촉매 활성을 갖는 복합체 음극을 제조하였다. 이 복합체 음극의 탄화수소에서의 연료전지 성능 및 redox stability을 측정하였다.