• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2018

Ion exchange membrane can transfer only cation or anion in electrically conductive fluids. Recent studies have revealed that such selective ion transport can initiate electroconvective instability, resulting vortical fluid motions on the membrane. This so-called electroconvective vortex (a.k.a. electroconvection (EC)) has been in the spotlight for enhancing an ion flux in electrochemical systems. However, EC under shear flow has not been investigated yet, although most related systems operate under pressure-driven flows. In this study, we present the direct visualization platform of EC under shear flow. On the transparent silicone rubber, microscale channels were fabricated between ion exchange membranes, while allowing microscopic visualization of fluid flow and ion concentration changes on the membranes. By using this platform, not only we visualize the existence of EC under shear flow, its unique characteristics are also identified: i) unidirectional vortex pattern, ii) its advection along the shear flow, and iii) shear-sheltering of EC vortices.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.08a
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• pp.75.1-75.1
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• 2008

• Membrane Journal
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.143-150
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• 2002

Electrodialysis(ED) is a reliable and effective process for the separation and concentration of ionic compounds. However, commercial uses of ED are often hindered by the cost of the stack that mainly resulted from the ion-exchange membrane cost. In order to minimize the membrane cost, it is desired to operate ED at the highest practicable current density. In an actual ED system the high current operation is limited by the concentration polarization phenomenon. This article illustrates the transport phenomena of ions through ion exchange membranes using current-voltage relations as a characterizing method. Also recent studies on electroconvection and water-spitting phenomena caused by concentration polarization were reviewed.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2023

The electroconvection generated on the surface of an ion exchange membrane (IEM) is closely related to the electrical/chemical characteristics or topology of the IEM. In particular, when non-conductive regions are mixed on the surface of the IEM, it can have a great influence on the transfer of ions and the formation of nonlinear electroconvective vortices, so more theoretical and experimental studies are necessary. Here, we present a novel method for creating microscale non-conductive patterns on the IEM surface by laser ablation, and successfully visualize microscale vortices on the surface modified IEM. Microscale (~300 ㎛) patterns were fabricated by applying UV nanosecond laser processing to the non-conductive film, and were transferred to the surface of the IEM. In addition, UV nanosecond laser process parameters were investigated for obvious micro-pattern production, and operating conditions were optimized, such as minimizing the heat-affected zone. Through this study, we found that non-conductive patterns on the IEM surface could affect the generation and growth of electroconvective vortices. The experimental results provided in our study are expected to be a good reference for research related to the surface modification of IEMs, and are expected to be helpful for new engineering applications of electroconvective vortices using a non-conductive patterned IEM.