• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 1999

Copper-containig enzyme, laccase (Rhus vernicifera) was immobilized onto gold electrode using self-assembly technique and its surface properties and catalytic activities were examined. Laccase is an oxidoreductase capable to oxidize diphenols or diamines by 4-electron reduction of molecular oxygen without superoxide or peroxide intermediates. The electrode surface were modified by $\beta-mercaptopropionate$ to have a net negative charge in neutral solution and positively charged laccase (pI=9) was immobilized by electrostatic interaction. The successful immobilization was confirmed by cyclic voltammograms which showed typical surface-confined shapes and behaviors. The amount of charge to reduce the surface was similar to the charge calculated assuming the surface being covered by monolayer. The activity of the immobilized enzyme was tested by the capbility of oxidizing a substrate, ABTS (2,2-azine-bis-(3-ethylbenzthioline-6-sulfonic acid) and it was maintained for $2\~3$ days at $4^{\circ}C$. The immobilzed laccase showed about $10\~15\%$ activity compared to that in solution. The laccase-modified electrode showed the activity of elefoocatalytic reduction of oxygen in the presence of mediator, $Fe(CN)_6^{3-}$ The addtion of azide which is an inhibitor of laccase compeletly eliminated the catalytic current.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2011

In this work, mesoporous carbons (CMK-3) were prepared by a conventional templating method using mesoporous silica (SBA-15) for using catalyst supports in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The CMK-3 were chemically activated to obtain high surface area and small pore diameter with different potassium hydroxide (KOH) amounts, i.e., 0, 1, 3, and 4 g as an activating agent. And then Pt-Ru was deposited onto activated CMK-3 (K-CMK-3) by a chemical reduction method. The characteristics of Pt-Ru catalysts deposited onto K-CMK-3 were determined by surface area and pore size analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and inductive coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The electrochemical properties of Pt-Ru/K-CMK-3 catalysts were also analyzed by cyclic voltammetry (CV). From the results, the K3g-CMK-3 carbon supports activated with 3 g KOH showed the highest specific surface areas. In addition, the K3g-CMK-3 led to uniform dispersion of Pt-Ru onto K-CMK-3, resulted in the enhancement of elelctro-catalystic activity of Pt-Ru catalysts.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2011

In this work, the effect of surface treatment on mesoporous carbons (MCs) supports was investigated by analyzing surface functional groups. MCs were prepared by a conventional templating method using mesoporous silica (SBA-15) for using catalyst supports in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The MCs were treated with different phosphoric acid ($H_3PO_4$) concentrations i.e., 0, 1, 3, 4, and 5 M at 343 K for 6 h. And then Pt-Ru was deposited onto surface treated MCs (H-MCs) by chemical reduction method. The characteristics of Pt-Ru catalysts deposited onto H-MCs were determined by specific surface area and pore size analyzer, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron, transmission electron microscopy, and inductive coupled plasma-mass spectrometer. The electrochemical properties of Pt-Ru/H-MCs catalysts were also analyzed by cyclic voltammetry experiments. From the results of surface analysis, an oxygen functional group was introduced to the surface of carbon supports. From the results, the H4M-MCs carbon supports surface treated with 4 M $H_3PO_4$ led to uniform dispersion of Pt-Ru onto H4M-MCs, resulting in enhancing the electro-catalytic activity of Pt-Ru catalysts.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.263-271
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• 2018

In this study, we analyzed the removal efficiency of ammonia nitrogen and phosphate dependant on the column depths using various absorbents such as zeolite silica sand, and activated carbon through the column test. In addition, we analyzed electrochemical adsorption behaviors of ammonia nitrogen and phosphate through the quantum mechanical calculation based on density functional theory calculation. Experimental results represent the removal efficiency of ammonia nitrogen and phosphate are zeolite > activated carbon > silica sand, and activated carbon > zeolite > silica sand, respectively. Zeolite shows high adsorption property for ammonia nitrogen over 90%, regardless of the column depth, while activated carbon exhibits high adsorption property for both ammonia nitrogen and phosphate as the column depth for filter media increases. Theoretical findings using DFT calculation for the adsorption behaviors of adsorbents (activated carbon and silica sand) and nutrients ($PO_4{^{3-}}$, $NH_4{^{+}}$) show that activated carbon represented narrower HOMO-LUMO band gap with high adsorption energy, and even more favorable environment for electron adsorption than silica sand, which leads to the effective removal of nutrients.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.493-498
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• 2019

In polymer exchange membrane fuel cells, it is crucial to fabricate a highly active and thin Pt catalyst layer for the smooth mass transport of dissolved oxygen and water. Although a highly loaded platinum (Pt) catalyst based on the hydrothermal synthesis has been reported in several studies, its growing behaviors and kinetics were yet to be understood. In this study, we investigated the growth of Pt crystal in suspension after the reduction step depending on a stirring time and evaluated the electrochemical activity. For only a couple of hours in the early stage, Pt colloids were adsorbed on the Pt-carbon catalyst and the Pt crystal was grown. After that, the small Pt colloid was formed by another nucleation step, which did not involve the growth of Pt crystal. We reveal that the Pt-Carbon catalyst with stirring for 6 h showed a high activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.297-301
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• 2007

In this work, polymer/(layered silicate) nanocomposites (PLSN) based on poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO), ethylene carbonate (EC) as a plasticizer, lithium salt ($LiClO_4$), and sodium montmorillonite ($Na^+-MMT$) or organic montmorillonite (organic MMT) clay were fabricated. And the effects of organic MMT on the polymer matrix were investigated as a function of ionic conductivity. For the application to electrolytes an Li batteries, polymer electrolytes containing the organic nanoclays were used in this work. As a result, the spacing between layers and hydrophobicity of the organic nanoclays were increased, affecting on the exfoliation behaviors of the MMT layers in clay/PEO nanocomposites. From ion-conductivity results, the organic-MMT showed higher values than those of $Na^+-MMT$, and the MMT-20A sample that was treated by methyl dihydrogenated tallow ammonium, showed the highest conductivity in this system.

• Composites Research
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.34-39
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• 2005

The relationship between strain and applied potential was derived for composite actuators consisting of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and conductive polymers (CPs). During deriving the relationship, an electrochemical ionic approach is utilized to formulate the electromechanical actuation of the composite film actuator. This relationship can give us a direct understanding of the actuation of a nanoactuator. The results show that the well-aligned SWNTs composite actuator can give good actuation responses and high actuating forces available. The actuation is found to be affected by both SWNTs and CPs components and the actuation of SWNTs component has two kinds of influences on that of the CPs component: reinforcement at the positive voltage and abatement at the negative voltage. Optimizations of SWNTs-CPs composite actuator may be achieved by using well-aligned nanotubes as well as choosing suitable electrolyte and input voltage range.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1403-1409
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• 2005

A sensitive and selective electrochemical method was developed for the amperometric determination of ascorbic acid (AA) at a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with single-wall carbon nanotubesdihexadecyl hydrogen phosphate (SWNT-DHP) composite film. The SWNT-DHP composite film modified GCE was characterized with SEM. The SWNT-DHP composite film modified GCE exhibited excellent electrocatalytic behaviors toward the oxidation of AA. Compared with the bare GCE, the oxidation current of AA increased greatly and the oxidation peak potential of AA shifted negatively to about -0.018 V (vs. SCE) at the SWNT-DHP composite film modified GCE. The experimental parameters, which influence the oxidation current of AA, were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the amperometric measurements were performed at a applied potential of -0.015 V and a linear response of AA was obtained in the range from 4 ${\times}$ $10^{-7}$ to 1 ${\times}$ $10^{-4}$ mol $L^{-1}$ and with a limit of detect (LOD) of 1.5 ${\times}$ $10^{-7}$ mol $L^{-1}$. The interferences study showed that the SWNT-DHP composite film modified GCE exhibited good sensitivity and excellent selectivity in the presence of high concentration uric acid and dopamine. The proposed procedure was successfully applied to detect AA in human urine samples with satisfactory results.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.476-480
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• 2009

A polymer composite electrolyte of a blend of poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as a host polymer, the ethylene carbonate as a solvent, and $LiClO_4$ as a salt was studied. The crystallinity of the polymer electrolytes was evaluated using differential scanning calorimeter(DSC). The ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolytes was measured by frequency response analyzer(FRA) method. The effect of PEO/PMMA blend ratios on the ionic conduction in these electrolytes was investigated. The electrolyte films showed a phase separation due to immiscibility of the PMMA with the PEO. The PMMA-rich phase and the PEO-rich phase were produced during a film casting. The ionic conductivity of blend electrolyte was dependent on the content of PMMA and showed the highest value at 20 wt.%. However, when PMMA content exceeds 20 wt.%, the ionic conductivity was decreased due to the slow ionic transport through the PMMA-rich phase.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.536-541
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• 2015

Copper has been used extensively as an electric wire or as a base material in various types of machineries owing to its good electrical and thermal conductivity and good fabricating property, as well as its good corrosion resistance compared to iron. Furthermore, the copper-nickel alloy has significant corrosion resistance in severely corrosive environments. Although, cupro-nickel alloy shows better corrosion resistance than the brass and bronze series, this alloy also corroded in severely corrosive environments, including aggressive chloride ions, dissolved oxygen, and condition of fast flowing seawater. In this study, and annealing treatment at various annealing temperatures was carried out on the cupro-nickel (Cu-10%Ni) alloy, and the effects of annealing were investigated using electrochemical methods, such as measuring the polarization and impedance behaviors under flowing seawater conditions. The corrosion resistance increased by annealing compared to non heat treatment in the absence of flowing seawater. In particular, the sample annealed at $200^{\circ}C$ exhibited the best corrosion resistance. The impedance in the presence of flowing seawater showed higher values than in the absence of flowing seawater. Furthermore, the highest impedances was observed in the sample annealed at $800^{\circ}C$, irrespective of the present of flowing seawater. Consequently, the corrosion resistance of cupro-nickel (Cu-10%Ni) alloy in a severely corrosive environment can be improved somewhat by annealing.