• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.377-381
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• 2009

Excessive presence of heavy metals in environment may contaminate plants and fruits grown in that area. Rapid on-site monitoring of heavy metals can provide useful information to efficiently characterize heavy metal-contaminated sites and minimize the exposure of the contaminated food crops to humans. This study reports on the evaluation of a bismuth-coated glassy carbon electrode for simultaneous determination of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in a NIST-SRM 1568a rice flour by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). The use of a supporting electrolyte 0.1 M $HNO_3$ at a dilution ratio (sample pretreated with acid digestion in a microwave oven: supporting electrolyte) of 1:1 provided well-defined, sharp and separate peaks for Cd and Pb ions, thereby resulting in strongly linear relationships between Cd and Pb concentrations and peak currents measured with the electrode ($R^2\;=\;0.97$, 0.99 for Cd and Pb, respectively). The validation test results for spiked standard solutions with different concentrations of Cd and Pb gave acceptable predictability for both spiked Cd and Pb ions with mean prediction errors of 6 to 30%. However, the applicability of the electrode to the real rice flour sample was limited by the fact that Cd concentrations spiked in the rice flour sample were overly estimated with relatively high variations even though Pb ion could be quantitatively measured with the electrode.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.250-257
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• 2016

Octahedral $Co_3O_4$/carbon nanofiber (CNF) composites are fabricated using electrospinning and hydrothermal methods. Their morphological characteristics, chemical bonding states, and electrochemical properties are used to demonstrate the improved photovoltaic properties of the samples. Octahedral $Co_3O_4$ grown on CNFs is based on metallic Co nanoparticles acting as seeds in the CNFs, which seeds are directly related to the high performance of DSSCs. The octahedral $Co_3O_4$/CNFs composites exhibit high photocurrent density ($12.73mA/m^2$), superb fill factor (62.1 %), and excellent power conversion efficiency (5.61 %) compared to those characteristics of commercial $Co_3O_4$, conventional CNFs, and metallic Co-seed/CNFs. These results can be described as stemmnig from the synergistic effect of the porous and graphitized matrix formed by catalytic graphitization using the metal cobalt catalyst on CNFs, which leads to an increase in the catalytic activity for the reduction of triiodide ions. Therefore, octahedral $Co_3O_4$/CNFs composites can be used as a counter electrode for Pt-free dye-sensitized solar cells.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.133-137
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• 2011

Gold have been used as an electrode materials having a good mechanical flexibility as well as electrical conductivity, however the stretchability of the gold on a flexible substrate is poor because of its small elastic modulus. To overcome this mechanical inferiority, the reinforcing gold is necessary for the stretchable electronics. Among the reinforcing materials having a large elastic modulus, carbon nanotube (CNT) is the best candidate due to its good electrical conductivity and nanoscale diameter. Therefore, similarly to ferroconcrete technology, here we demonstrated gold electrodes mechanically reinforced by inserting fabrics of CNTs into their bodies. Flexibility and stretchability of the electrodes were determined for various densities of CNT fabrics. The roles of CNTs in resisting electrical disconnection of gold electrodes from the mechanical stress were confirmed using field emission scanning electron microscope and optical microscope. The best mechanical stability was achieved at a density of CNT fabrics manufactured by 1.5 ml spraying. The concept of the mechanical reinforced metal electrode by CNT is the first trial for the high stretchable conductive materials, and can be applied as electrodes materials in various flexible and stretchable electronic devices such as transistor, diode, sensor and solar cell and so on.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.544-549
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• 2009

Activated carbon (AC) with very large surface area has high capacitance per weight. However, such activation methods tend to suffer from low yields, below 50%, and are low in electrode density and capacitance per volume. Carbon NanoFibers (CNFs) had high surface area polarizability, high electrical conductivity and chemical stability, as well as extremely high mechanical strength and modulus, which make them an important material for electrochemical capacitors. The electrochemical properties of immobilized CNF electrodes were studied for use as in electrical double layer capacitor (EDLC) applications. Immobilized CNFs on Ni foam grown by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) were successfully fabricated. CNFs had a uniform diameter range from 50 to 60 nm. Surface area was 56 m$^2$/g. CNF electrodes were compared with AC and multi wall carbon nanotube (MWNT) electrodes. The electrochemical performance of the various electrodes was examined with aqueous electrolyte of 2M KOH. Equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the CNF electrodes was lower than that of AC and MWNT electrodes. The specific capacitance of 47.5 F/g of the CNF electrodes was achieved with discharge current density of 1 mA/cm$^2$.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2011

In this work, fabrication and electrochemical analysis of an individual multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) electrode are carried out to confirm the applicability of electrochemical sensing. The reactive ion etching (RIE) process is performed to obtain sensitive MWNT electrodes. In order to characterize the electrochemical properties, an individual MWNT is cut by RIE under oxygen atmosphere into two segments with a small gap: one segment is applied to the working electrode and the other is used as a counter electrode. Electrical contacts are provided by nanolithography to the two MWNT electrodes. Dopamine is specially selected as an analytical molecule for electrochemical detection using the MWNT electrode. Using a quasi-Ag/AgCl reference electrode, which was fabricated by us, the nanoelectrodes are subjected to cyclic voltammetry inside a $2{\mu}L$ droplet of dopamine solution. In the experiment, RIE power is found to be a more effective parameter to cut an individual MWNT and to generate "broken" open state, which shows good electrochemical performance, at the end of the MWNT segments. It is found that the pico-molar level concentration of analytical molecules can be determined by an MWNT electrode. We believe that the MWNT electrode fabricated and treated by RIE has the potential for use in high-sensitivity electrochemical measurement and that the proposed scheme can contribute to device miniaturization.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.399-402
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• 2006

현재까지 연료전지 전해질 막으로는 Nafion으로 잘 알려져 있는 perfluorosulfonic acid(PFSA)막이 주를 이루고 있다. 이 막들은 $80^{\circ}C$ 이하의 낮은 온도의 연료전지에서 가장 좋은 성능을 보인다. PFSA 막들은 탄소-불소로 이루어진 사슬의 특성상 산화, 환원의 조건에서도 뛰어난 안정성을 보이며 이온 전도도가 0.1S/cm 이상으로 기존에 알려진 전해질 막들 중 가장 우수한 성능을 나타낸다. 하지만 연료전지의 작동온도가 $100^{\circ}C$ 이상의 높은 온도에서 는 막에 존재하던 수분이 제거되면서 수소이온 전도도가 떨어지며 기계적 물성도 떨어지는 문제점을나타낸다. $100^{\circ}C$ 이상의 온도에서 연료전지를 작동시키면 양쪽의 전극에서 일어나는 촉매반응의 속도가 향상되며, 물의 끓는점 이상에서 작동되므로, 전지 내에서 다양한 상을 고려하지 않고 기화된 물만을 고려하여 설계를 할 수가 있다. 따라서 최근 이러한 고온/저가습 운전을 위 한 전해질 막의 개발을 위해 기존의 Nafion 막에 전도성 무기 입자를 도입하는 연구들이 활발히 진행되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 전도성 무기 입자로서 $ZrO_2$나노입자를 합성하고, 이를 상용 10 wt.% Nafion 용액에 분산하여 solution casting 방법을 통해 $61{\mu}m$ 두께의 유기-무기 복합막을 제조하였다. 제조한 유기-무기 복합막의 성능 평가를 위하여 함수율, 이온 전도도, 당량무게 및 단위 전지를 이용한 전류-전압 곡선을 측정하여 상용 Nafion 112 막과 비교해 보았다. $ZrO_2$ 입자는 전도성이며 동시에 친수성을 나타내기 때문에 상용 막에 비하여 함수율 및 수소이온 전도도가 우수하게 나타났다. 복합막의 이러한 물성은 $100^{\circ}C$이상의 고온에서 전해질 막 내의 물 관리를 용이하게 한다. 단위 전지 운전 온도 $130^{\circ}C$, 상대습도 37%의 운전 조건에서도 상당히 우수한 전지 성능을 보임에 따라 고온/저가습 조건에서 상용 Nafion 112 막보다 우수한 막 특성을 나타냄을 확인하였다.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.25-29
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• 2001

This study examined the effects of carbon surface modification by the epoxy resin coating on the electrochemical performance. The mesocarbon microbeads(MCMB) carbon was surface-modified by coating the epoxy resin and its electrochemical properties as an anode was examined. The surface coating of MCMB was carried out by refluxing the MCMB powders in a dilute H2SO4 solution, and mixing them with the epoxy resin-dissolved tetrahydrofuran(THF) solution. Under heat-treatment of the coated MCMB at the temperature over $1000^{\circ}C$, the epoxy-resin coating layer was converted into amorphous phase which was identified by a high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). The epoxy resin coated MCMB has higher Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, higher charge/ discharge capacity and better cycleability than a raw MCMB without coating. The reason for the enhancement of cell performance by the epoxy resin coating were considered as the epoxy resin coating layer plays an important role to be a barrier for carbon reacting with electrolyte and to retard the formation of passivation layer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.683-686
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• 2004

In recent years, the supercapacitor and hybrid capacitor have related with substitutional energy source focused of many scientists because of their usage in power sources for electric vehicles, computers and other electric devices. The storage energy of electrical charge is based on electrostatic interactions in the electric double layer at the electrode/electrolyte interface, resulting in high rate capability and long cycle performance compared with batteries based on Faradaic electrode reactions. So we have been considered to carbon nanofibers as the ideal material for supercapacitors due to their high utilization of specific surface area, good conductivity, chemical stability and other advantages. In this work, we aimed to find out that the capacitance have increased because of electrochemical capacitance to provide by carbon nanofibers. Also carbon nanofibers based on chemical method and water treatment have been resulted larger capacitances and also exhibit better electrochemical behaviors about 15% than before of nontreated state. And also optical observations with treated and nontrteated carbon nanofibers discussed by the TEM, SEM, EDX, BET works and specific surface area analyzer. Their results also focused on the surface area of electrode and electrical capacitance was also improved by the effect of surface treatments.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.150-154
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• 2007

Redox complexes to transport electrodes from biomaterial to electrodes are very important part in commercial biosensor industry. A novel osmium redox complex was synthesized by the coordinating pyridine group with osmium metal. A novel osmium complex is described as $[Os(dme-bpy)_2(ap-im)Cl]^{+/2+}$. We have been studied the electrochemical characteristics of this osmium complex with electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperommetry. In order to immobilize osmium redox complexes on the electrode, we deposited gold nano-particles on screen printed carbon electrode(SPE). The electrical signal converts the osmium redox films into an electrocatalyst for glucose oxidation. The catalytic currents were monitored that the catalytic currents were linearly increased from 1 mM to 5 mM concentrations of glucose.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.11-25
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• 2009

Fuel cells are expected to be one of the major clean new energy sources in the near future. However, the slow kinetics of electrocatalytic hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and the high loading of Pt for the anode and cathode material are the urgent issues to be addressed since they determine the efficiency and the cost of this energy source. In this review paper, a new approach was developed for designing electrocatalysts for the HOR and ORR in fuel cells. It was found that the electronic properties of Pt could be fine-tuned by the electronic and geometric effects introduced by the substrate alloy metal and the lateral effects of the neighboring metal atoms. The role of substrate was found reflected in a volcano plot for the HOR and ORR as a function of their calculated d-band centers. This paper demonstrated a viable way to designing the electrocatalysts which could successfully alleviate two issue facing the commercializing of the fuel cell-the cost of electrocatalysts and their efficiency.