• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2011.05a
• /
• pp.118.2-118.2
• /
• 2011

In order to increase the energy conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), we employed a counter electrode that was platinum coated using a doctor blade technique on synthesized ZnO nanostructures on fluorinedoped tin oxide (FTO). The ZnO nanostructures possessing high electrochemical activity and large surface area of the counter electrode were grown by a chemical bath deposition (CBD) method at various times, 2, 4, and 8 h. The efficiency of DSSC with the Pt-ZnO counter electrode was improved 7.01% (grown for 2 h), 7.63% (grown for 4 h), and 6.13% (grown for 8 h), respectively. Compared with a standard DSSC without ZnO nanostructures, whose efficiency was 6.27%, the energy conversion efficiency increased approximately 22% for the DSSC with the Pt-ZnO (grown for 4 h) electrode. It indicates that the Pt coated on the ZnO nanostructure improves the electrocatalytic activity of the counter electrode.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2006.11a
• /
• pp.316-319
• /
• 2006

There is a worldwide interest in the development and commercialization of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) for vehicular and stationary applications. One of the major objectives is the reduction of loaded electrode materials, which is comprise of the Pt-based noble metals. In this paper, a novel chemical strategy is described for the preparation and characterization of carbon-supported and surface-alloys, which were prepared by using a successive reduction process. After preparing Au colloid nanoparticles, the deposition of Au colloid nanoparticles occurred spontaneously in the carbon black-dispersed aqueous solution. Then nano-scaled active materials were formed on the surface of carbon-supported Au nanoparticles. The structural and electrochemical analyses indicate that the active materials were deposited on the surface of Au nanoparticles selectively and that an at toying process occurred during the successive reducing process The carbon-supported & surface-alloys showed the higher electrocatalytic activity than those of the particle-alloys and commercial one (Johnson-Matthey) for the reaction of methanol and formic acid oxidation. The increased electrocatalytic activity might be attributed to the effective surface structure of surface-alloys, which have a high utilization of active materials for the surface reaction of electrode.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.17 no.11
• /
• pp.593-600
• /
• 2007

Aluminum was anodized in a $H_2SO_4$ solution, and titanium (IV) oxide ($TiO_2$) was electrodeposited into nanopores of anodic porous alumina in a mixed solution of $TiOSO_4$ and $(COOH)_2$. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared film was analyzed for photodegradation of methylene blue aqueous solution. Consequently, we found it was possible to electrodeposit $TiO_2$ onto anodic porous alumina, and synthesized it into the nanopores by hydrolysis of a titanium complex ion under AC 8-9 V when film thickness was about $15-20{\mu}m$. The photocatalytic activity of $TiO_2$-loaded anodic porous alumina ($TiO_2/Al_2O_3$) at an impressed voltage of 9 V was the highest in every condition, being about 12 times as high as sol-gel $TiO_2$ on anodic porous alumina. The results revealed that anodic porous alumina is effective as a substrate for photocatalytic film and that high-activity $TiO_2$ film can be prepared at low cost.

• New & Renewable Energy
• /
• v.2 no.4 s.8
• /
• pp.64-69
• /
• 2006

There is a worldwide interest in the development and commercialization of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells [PEMFCs] for vehicular and stationary applications. One of the major objectives is the reduction of loaded electrode materials, which is comprise of the Pt-based noble metals. In this paper, a novel chemical strategy is described for the preparation and characterization of carbon-supported and surface-alloys, which were prepared by using a successive reduction process. After preparing Au colloid nanoparticles, the supporting of Au colloid nanoparticles occurred spontaneously in the carbon black-dispersed aqueous solution. Then nano-scaled active materials were formed on the surface of carbon-supported Au nanoparticles. The structural and electrochemical analyses indicate that the active materials were deposited on the surface of Au nanoparticles selectively and that an alloying process occurred during the successive reducing process. The carbon-supported & surface-alloys showed the higher electrocatalytic activity than those of the particle-alloys and commercial one [Johnson-Matthey] for the reaction of methanol and formic acid oxidation. The increased electrocatalytic activity might be attributed to the effective surface structure of surface-alloys, which have a high utilization of active materials for the surface reaction of electrode.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.18 no.8
• /
• pp.401-405
• /
• 2008

Pt-loaded carbon black for the catalyst of a PEM fuel cell was synthesized with different molar ratios of polyvinylpyrrolidone and $H_2PtCl_6$ solution to improve the dispersion of Pt nanoparticles on carbon black and decrease the size of Pt nanoparticles. From transmission electron microscopy results, Pt nanoparticles of a size of approximately 2 nm were highly dispersed when the polyvinylpyrrolidone concentration was 10mM. The electrochemical activity of the synthesized Pt/C catalysts was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, showing that the as-synthesized Pt-loaded carbon black catalyst had the best activity at a polyvinylpyrrolidone concentration of 10 mM.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.319-324
• /
• 2009

The deposition behavior and structural and magnetic properties of electroless Co-B and Co-Fe-B deposits, as well as the amorphous ribbon substrates, were investigated. These Co-based alloy deposits exhibited characteristic polycrystalline structures and surface morphology and magnetic properties that were dependent on the type of amorphous substrates. The catalytic activity sequence of the amorphous ribbon electrodes for anodic oxidation of DMAB was estimated from the current density-potential curve in the anodic partial electrolytic bath that did not contain the metal ions. Both the deposition rate and potential in the initial region were obtained in order of the catalytic activity, depending on the alloy compositions of the substrates. The deposition rate linearly varied against the deposition time. The initial deposition potential may have also determined the structural and magnetic properties of the deposit based on the thickness of ${\mu}m$ order. Furthermore, a basic study of the electroless deposition processes on an amorphous ribbon substrate has been carried out in connection with the structural and magnetic properties of the deposits.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.57 no.5
• /
• pp.701-705
• /
• 2019

Oxygen-evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media has been considered as a key process for various energy applications. Many types of catalysts have been developed to reduce high overpotential in OER, such as metal alloys, metal oxides, perovskite, or spinel. Nickel oxide (NiO) has high potential to increase OER activity according to volcano plots. The exact mechanisms for OER has not been discovered, but defects such as cation or anion vacancy typically act as an active site for diverse electrochemical reactions. In this study, nitrogen was doped into NiO by using ethylenediamine for formation of Ni vacancy, and the effects of N doping on OER activity and stability was studied.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.106-112
• /
• 2021

Catalyst poisoning by ionomers in membrane electrode assemblies of alkaline membrane fuel cells has been reported recently. We tried to improve the membrane electrode assembly's performance by controlling the solvent's ratio during electrode manufacturing. 4 Different mixing ratios of N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and ethylene glycol (EG) gave four different cathode electrodes with platinum and Fuma-Tech ionomers. The electrode with higher EG improved polarization performance by about 36% compared to the NMP-based commercial ionomer. The dependence of the ionomer's dispersibility on the solvent seems responsible for the difference, which means that the non-uniform distribution of ionomers improves the performance of the electrode. High-frequency resistance, internal resistance corrected polarization curve, Tafel slope, mass activity, and impedance spectroscopy characterized the electrode. We can find that the existence of poor solvent improves cathode electrode performance. It seems to be the result of reduced poisoning of the catalyst according to the particle size distribution of the ionomer.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2004

Objective : This study was designed to examine the effects of orally administered Prunus persica water extract (PPE), which is used as herbal medicine, for treatment of Yu Xue (stasis of blood) and tacrine on the basal concentration of extracellular acetylcholine in the hippocampus of rats. Methods: To investigate the effects of PPE and tacrine on concentration of extracellular acetylcholine in the hippocampus of rats, the microdialysis technique, under the same experimental conditions, was used. And we used male Wistar rats which were 7 weeks of age and 210-290 g. PPE was extracted with boiling water, and the rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital Na. Their skulls were exposed and a hole was drilled for implantation of a microdialysis probe. In order to increase the recovery of acetylcholine, a probe with a long membrane was used. One day after surgery, the microdialysis probe was perfused with Ringer's solution at a flow rate of 1.5 l/min. The acetylcholine concentration in dialysis samples was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection. AChE activity was measured using the radiometric method, as described by Sherman. Results : The comparative effects of PPE and tacrine on hippocampal extracellular acetylcholine concentration was that these cholinesterase inhibitors produced dose-dependent increases in the extracellular acetylcholine concentration. And the effect of PPE and tacrine on rat brain AChE activity was that PPE produced maximal inhibition at 1 h after administration, when AChE activity was 44% of the intact level. AChE activity gradually recovered thereafter, and reached 78% of the intact level at 12 h after administration. Conclusion : In this study, PPE has a potent activity and a long-lasting effect on the central cholinergic system, in terms of the basal concentration of extracellular acetylcholine in the hippocampus and the AChE activity in the brain of rats. And oral administration of PPE increased dose-dependently the basal concentration of extracellular acetylcholine in the hippocampus of rats. PPE may be one of the more useful cholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.24
• /
• pp.103-110
• /
• 2017

Carbon-based magnetic nanostructures in several instances have resulted in improved physicochemical and catalytic properties when compared to multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and magnetic nanoparticles. In this study, magnetic MWCNTs with a structure of $Ni_xZn_xFe_2O_4/MWCNT$ as peroxidase mimics were fabricated by the one-pot hydrothermal method. The structure, composition and morphology of the nanocomposites were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The magnetic properties were investigated with a vibrating sample magnetometer. The peroxidase-like catalytic activity of the nanocomposites was investigated by colorimetric and electrochemical tests with 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and $H_2O_2$ as the substrates. The results show that the synthesis of the nanocomposites was successfully performed. XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline structures of the $Ni_xZn_xFe_2O_4/MWCNT$ nanohybrids and MWCNTs. The main peaks of the $Ni_xZn_xFe_2O_4/MWCNT$s crystals were presented. The $Ni_{0.25}Zn_{0.25}Fe_2O_4/MWCNT$ and $Ni_{0.5}Zn_{0.5}Fe_2O_4/MWCNT$ nanocatalysts showed nearly similar physicochemical properties, but the $Ni_{0.5}Zn_{0.5}Fe_2O_4/MWCNT$ nanocatalyst was more appropriate than the $Ni_{0.25}Zn_{0.25}Fe_2O_4/MWCNT$ nanocatalyst in terms of the magnetic properties and catalytic activity. The optimum peroxidase-like activity of the nanocatalysts was obtained at pH 3.0. The $Ni_{0.5}Zn_{0.5}Fe_2O_4/MWCNT$ nanocatalyst exhibited a good peroxidase-like activity. These magnetic nanocatalysts can be suitable candidates for future enzyme-based applications such as the detection of glucose and $H_2O_2$.