• Korean Membrane Journal
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.52-56
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• 2007

A proton exchange membrane was prepared by ${\gamma}-irradiation-induced$ grafting of styrene into poly(tetrafluoro-ethylene-co-perfluoropropyl vinyl ether) (PFA) and subsequent sulfonation reaction. The degree of grafting (DOG) increased with an increase in the absorbed dose. The prepared membranes showed high ion exchange capacity reaching 3.0 meq/g, which exceeded the performance of commercially available perfluorosulfonic acid membranes such as Nafion. The proton conductivity of PFA-g-PSSA membrane increased with the DOG and reached 0.17 S/cm for the highest sample at room temperature. The DMFC performance of the prepared membranes with 50% DOG was comparable to that of Nafion membrane.

• 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.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.537-541
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• 2010

Pt-Sn with various ratios was supported on carbon black after pretreatment in an acidic solution by a reduction method. The Pt/Sn ratio was controlled by varying the concentration of each component in the solution, and the influence of the composition on the electrocatalytic activities was investigated. The crystallinity of the synthesized materials was investigated by XRD (X-ray Diffraction), and the oxidation states of both the platinum and tin were determined by XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy). SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy)-EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy) was utilized to examine the morphology and composition of the synthesized electrode, and the particle size of the Pt-Sn was analyzed by TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy). The electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction was evaluated in a 0.5 M $H_2SO_4$ solution using a rotating disk electrode system. The activity and stability were found to be strongly dependent on the electrode composition (Pt/Sn ratio). The catalytic activity and stability for methanol oxidation were also measured using cyclic voltammetry (CV) in a mixture of 0.5 M $H_2SO_4$ and 0.5 M $CH_3OH$ aqueous solution. The addition of proper amount of Sn was found to significantly improve both catalytic activity and stability for methanol oxidation.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.165-174
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• 2005

Sulfonated poly(styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene) (SSEBS)-clay hybrid membranes were prepared by solution method. In the preparation of hybrid membrane, the amount of clay content was fixed to 5 phr and montmorillonite (MMT) was fully exfoliated by the SEBS and it was confirmed by X-ray diffraction method. D-spacing of the characteristic peak from MMT plate in WAXD was fully diminished. Gas permeability, mechanical properties and thermal properties of the SSEBS-clay hybrid membranes were investigated. Gas permeability through the SSEBS-clay hybrid membranes decreased due to increased tortuosity made by exfoliation of clay in SEBS.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.435-439
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• 2010

Pt-$MoO_3$ electrodes were fabricated on ITO-coated glass by electrodeposition method using 20 mM hydrogen hexachloroplatinate ($H_2PtCl_6$) and 10 mM Mo-peroxo electrolyte. Deposition order was varied, and catalytic activities of synthesized electrodes were compared with that of pure Pt electrode. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was utilized to examine surface morphology. The crystallinity of synthesized films was analyzed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and the oxidation state of both the platinum and molybdenum were determined by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The catalytic activity and stability for methanol oxidation were measured using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) in a mixture of 0.5 M $H_2SO_4$ and 0.5 M $CH_3OH$ aqueous solution. $MoO_3$ electrodeposited on the surface of Pt showed much higher catalytic acitivity and stability than pure Pt electrode due to the good contact between Pt and $MoO_3$.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.727-731
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• 2008

Mesoporous Pt-Au alloy films were successfully fabricated on ITO-coated glass by electrodeposition method using tri-blockcopolymer (P123) as a templating agent. The electrolyte consisted of 10 mM hydrogen hexachloroplatinate ($H_2PtCl_6$), 10 mM hydrogen tetrachloroaurate ($HAuCl_4$), and proper amount of P123. For comparison, control samples were electrodeposited without $HAuCl_4$ and P123. Film composition was determined by EDS(Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy), and the mesoporous structure was confirmed by TEM(Transmission Electron Microscopy). SEM(Scanning Electron Microscopy) was utilized to examine surface morphology, and it was observed that the addition of P123 affected the particle growth, resulting in the significant change of surface morphology. Methanol oxidation and CO oxidation were carried out to investigate electrocatalytic activities of synthesized samples. It was observed that the catalytic activity was strongly dependent on the film compositions. Compared with nonporous electrode prepared without P123 templating, mesoporous films prepared with P123 templating showed much higher catalytic activities and stability for both methanol oxidation and CO oxidation. These enhanced electrocatalytic activities were due to the high surface area and facilitated charge transfer of mesoporous films.