• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.847-853
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• 2016

Here has been examined a 3-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling in order to investigate the performance analysis of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells with serpentine flow fields. The present CFD model considers the isothermal transport phenomena in a fuel cell involving mass, momentum transport, electrode kinetics, and potential fields. Co-current flow patterns for a PEMFC are considered for various geometries in the single straight cell. Current density distribution from the calculated distribution of oxygen and hydrogen mass fractions has been determined, where the activation overpotential has been also calculated within anode and cathode. CFD results showed that profiles differ from those simulations subjected to each the calculated activation overpotential. It is interesting that the present serpentine flow field shows the specific distribution of current density with respect to the aspect ratio of depth to width and the ratio of reaction area for various serpentine geometries. Simulation results were considered reasonable with the other CFD results reported in literature and global comparisons of the PEMFC model.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.242-248
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• 2012

The measurement of residual chlorine as a disinfectant is very important to ensure the safety against the pathogenic microbes and to suppress injection. The portable free chlorine sensor was fabricated with a disposable strip format by a screen printing method. The strip sensors prepared with a carbon-Ag/AgCl(cathode-anode) combination exhibited less interfering responses towards combined chlorine species(especially $NHCl_2$) and oxygen than the sensors prepared with other metals(i.e., gold and platinum). Free chlorine was determined chronoamperometrically with carbon-based electrodes at an applied potential of -0.3 V(vs. Ag/AgCl). A channel was built on the strip-type electrode for easy sampling, and the resulting strip sensors were employed to determine the concentrations of residual free chlorine.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2000.02a
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• pp.167-167
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• 2000

전지 재료의 충방전 과정 연구에는 X-선 분말회절(x-ray powder diffraction techniques)과 중성자회절을 많이 사용하였다. 하지만 이러한 분석기술은 long-range order의 구조에 관한 정보를 제공하는데 유용하지만 atomic scale의 구조에 관한 정보를 얻기에는 한계가 있다. Li 전지에서의 전기화학적 반응에서는 cathode 물질에 포함된 전이금속의 산화, 환원 반응에 의한 Li 이온의 intercalation (charge process)과 deintercalation (discharge process) 현상이 일어난다. 이러한 충방전 과정은 알려지지 않은 다양한 형태의 위상 변화를 동반하게 되는데 x-선 이나 중성자를 이용한 powder diffraction techniques 로는 단지 정성적인 결정학적 정보를 얻을 수 있다. 따라서 최근에 원자 단위의 local structure에 관한 정보와 electrochemical state에 관한 정보를 동시에 얻을 수 있는 X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) 분석기술을 Li 전지분석에 활용하기 시작하였다. XAFS는 하나의 x-ray 흡수원자에 대해서 주변원자들의 원자구조에 관한 정보와 구성 원소의 electrochemical state에 관한 정보를 얻을 수 있는 분석방법이다. X-ray Induced Electron Emission Spectroscopy (XIEES)는 x-ray에 의해서 방출된 전자를 검출하여 스펙트럼을 얻는 기능을 함축적으로 나타낸 것으로, x-ray를 물질 표면에 조사하여 발생하는 광전자, Auger 전자, 이차전자 등을 전자검출기(Channel Electron Multiplier: CEM)로 검출하는 기능과, 시료를 투과한 x-ray와 시료에서 발생하는 형광 x-ray를 비례계수기로 검출하는 기능을 가지고 있다. 이러한 검출 능력을 바탕으로 EXAFS, XANES, Standing Wave Technique, Elemental Composition Analysis, DXRD, Total Reflection Technique 등을 이용하여 물질을 구성하고 있는 원소의 성분, 미세원자구조, 전자구조에 관한 정보를 얻을 수 있는 새로운 spectrometer이다. 본 연구에서는 자체 개발한 XIEES의 XAFS 기능을 이용하여 여러 가지 방법으로 제조한 LiMn2-xO4와 LiMnO2, MnO2에서 Mn K-absorption edge에 대한 chemical state 변화를 측정하였다. Absorption edge에서 chemical shift를 측정하기 위해서는 방사광 가속기 수준의 에너지 분해능(~0.3eV)이 필요하다. 이번 연구에서는 SiO2(3140) monochromator를 사용하고 여기에 맞는 적절한 parameter를 적용하여 x-ray 에너지 분해능을 포항방사광가속기 수준으로 개선하였다. XIEES에서 얻은 스펙트럼과 포항방사광가속기에서 얻은 스펙트럼을 비교하였다. Chemical shift가 일어나는 경향은 두 실험 결과가 잘 일치하였다.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.118-123
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• 2006

Degradation of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) that is facilitated by on/off cycles is one of the most important issues for commercialization of fuel cell vehicles. When a PEMFC stack is shut down, residual hydrogen and induce high voltage equivalent to open circuit voltage to the cathode side that might cause sintering of Pt catalyst and facilitate formation of hydrogen peroxide at the anode side that might decompose $Nafionc\'{A}$ membrane. In this study, degradation of PEMFC exposed to repetitive on/off cycles was investigated by measuring i-V characteristics, ac impedance, cyclic voltammograms, gas leak, cross-sectional SEM images, and TEM images. To prevent degradation of PEMFC caused by the residual gases, hydrogen was removed from anode gas channel by gas-purging and by using a dummy resistance, that were found to be a very effective method.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.337-350
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• 2016

Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries (LIBs) have garnered increasing attention with the rapid advancements in portable electronics, electric vehicles, and grid-scale energy storage systems which are expected to drastically change our future lives. This review describes a separator membrane, one of the key components in LIBs, in terms of porous structure and physicochemical properties, and its recent development trends are followed. The separator membrane is a kind of porous membrane that is positioned between a cathode and an anode. Its major functions involve electrical isolation between the electrodes while serving as an ionic transport channel that is filled with liquid electrolyte. The separator membranes are not directly involved in redox reactions of LIBs, however, their aforementioned roles significantly affect performance and safety of LIBs. A variety of research approaches have been recently conducted in separator membranes in order to further reinforce battery safeties and also widen chemical functionalities. This review starts with introduction to commercial polyolefin separators that are currently most widely used in LIBs. Based on this understanding, modified polyolefin separators, nonwoven separators, ceramic composite separators, and chemically active separators will be described, with special attention to their relationship with future research directions of advanced LIBs.