• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.141-145
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• 2007

Due to their excellent catalytic activity with respect to methanol oxidation on platinum at low temperature, platinum nanosized catalysts have been a topic of great interest for use in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Since pure platinum is readily poisoned by CO, a by-product of methanol electrooxidation, and is extremely expensive, a number of efforts to design and characterize Pt-based alloy nanosized catalysts or Pt nanophase-support composites have been attempted in order to reduce or relieve the CO poisoning effect. In this review paper, we summarize these efforts based upon our recent research results. The Pt-based nanocatalysts were designed by chemical synthesis and thin-film technology, and were characterized by a variety of analyses. According to bifunctional mechanism, it was concluded that good alloy formation with $2^{nd}$ metal (e.g., Ru) as well as the metallic state and optimum portion of Ru element in the anode catalyst contribute to an enhanced catalytic activity for methanol electrooxidation. In addition, we found that the modified electronic properties of platinum in Pt alloy electrodes as well as the surface and bulk structure of Pt alloys with a proper composition could be attributed to a higher catalytic activity for methanol electooxdation. Proton conducting contribution of nanosized electrocatalysts should also be considered to be excellent in methanol electrooxidation (Spillover effect). Finally, we confirmed the ensemble effect, which combined all above effects, in Pt-based nanocatalsyts especially, such as PtRuRhNi and $PtRuWO_{3}$, contribute to an enhanced catalytic activity.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.367-373
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• 2014

In this study, the reducing agent hydrazine and precipitator NaOH were used with $NiCl_2$ as a starting material in order to compound Ni-based material with spherical nano characteristics; resulting material was used as an anode for SOFC. Synthetic temperature, pH, and solvent amounts were experimentally optimized and the synthesis conditions were confirmed. Also, a 0 ~ 0.15 mole ratio of metal(Co, Fe) was alloyed in order to increase the catalyst activation performance of Ni and finally, spherical nano $Ni_{(1-x)}-M_{(x=0{\sim}0.15)}$(M = Co, Fe) alloy materials were compounded. In order to evaluate the catalyst activation for hydrocarbon fuel, fuel gas(10%/$CH_4$+10%/Air) was added and the responding gas was analyzed with GC(Gas Chromatography). Catalyst activation improvement was confirmed from the 3% hydrogen selectivity and 2.4% methane conversion rate in $Ni_{0.95}-Co_{0.05}$ alloy; those values were 4.4% and 19%, respectively, in $Ni_{0.95}-Fe_{0.05}$ alloy.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.308-320
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• 2022

The high internal resistance (R_int) that develops across the sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFC) limits their power production (~4/10 mW m^-2) that can be recovered from an initial oil-contaminated sediment (OCS). In the anolyte, R_int is related to poor biodegradation activity, quality and quantity of contaminant content in the sediment and anode material. While on the catholyte, R_int depends on the properties of the catholyte, the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and the cathode material. In this work, the main factors limiting the power output of the SMFC have been minimized. The power output of the SMFC was increased (47 times from its initial value, ~4 mW m^-2) minimizing the SMFC R_int (28 times from its initial value, 5000 ohms), following the main modifications. Anolyte: the initial OCS was amended with several amounts of gasoline and kerosene. The best anaerobic microbial activity of indigenous populations was better adapted (without more culture media) to 3 g of kerosene. Catholyte: ORR was catalyzed in birnessite/carbon fabric (CF)-cathode at pH 2, 0.8M Na₂SO₄. At the class level, the main microbial groups (Gammaproteobacteria, Coriobacteriia, Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria) with electroactive members were found at C-anode and were associated with the high-power densities obtained. Gasoline is more difficult to biodegrade than kerosene. However, in both cases, SMFC biodegradation activity and power output are increased when ORR is performed on birnessite/CF in 0.8 M Na₂SO₄ at pH 2. The work discussed here can focus on bioremediation (in heavy OCS) or energy production in future work.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1360-1366
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• 2018

The fungi associated with termites secrete enzymes such as laccase (multi-copper oxidase) that can degrade extracellular wood matrix. Laccase uses molecular oxygen as an electron acceptor to catalyze the degradation of organic compounds. Owing to its ability to transfer electrons from the cathodic electrode to molecular oxygen, laccase has the potential to be a biocatalyst on the surface of the cathodic electrode of a microbial fuel cell (MFC). In this study, a two-chamber MFC using the laccase-producing fungus Galactomyces reessii was investigated. The fungus cultured on coconut coir was placed in the cathode chamber, while an anaerobic microbial community was maintained in the anode chamber fed by industrial rubber wastewater and supplemented by sulfate and a pH buffer. The laccase-based biocathode MFC (lbMFC) produced the maximum open circuit voltage of 250 mV, output voltage of 145 mV (with a $1,000{\Omega}$ resistor), power density of $59mW/m^2$, and current density of $278mA/m^2$, and a 70% increase in half-cell potential. This study demonstrated the capability of laccase-producing yeast Galactomyces reessii as a biocatalyst on the cathode of the two-chamber lbMFC.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.279-282
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• 2007

When reformer for fuel cell is used, CO in hydrogen gas leads to a seriously decreased membrane electrode assembly (MEA) performance by catalyst poisoning. The effect of CO on performance of modified MEA by sputtering method is studied in this paper. The experimental results show that sputtered Pt and Ru thin film improve a single cell performance of MEA and sputtered metal thin film has a CO tolerance. The air injection process on anode show improved CO tolerance test result. Moreover, Pt, Ru and PtRu thin film by sputtering had influence on the CO tolerance with air injection process.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.773-776
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• 2009

In this paper, new concept of the diesel fuel processing is introduced for the stable operation of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Heavier hydrocarbons than $CH_4$, such as ethylene, ethane, propane, and etc., induce the carbon deposition on anode of SOFCs. In the reformate of heavy hydrocarbons (diesel, gasoline, kerosene, and JP-8), concentration of ethylene is usually higher than low hydrocarbons such as ethane, propane, and butane. So, removal of low hydrocarbons (over C1-hydrocarbons), especially ethylene, at the reformate gases is important for stable operation of SOFCs. New methodology as named "post-reformer" is introduced for removing the low hydrocarbons at the reformate gas stream. Catalyst of the NECS-PR4 is selected for post-reforming catalyst because the catalyst of NECS-PR4 shows the high selectivity for removing low hydrocarbons and achieving the high reforming efficiency. The diesel reformer and post-reformer are continuously operated for about 200 hours as integrated mode. The reforming performance is not degraded and low hydrocarbons in the diesel reformate are completely removed.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.75-79
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• 2007

The cathode design is one of the most important parts in order to enhance the performance of fuel cells. A 3-D model of the porous oxygen reducing cathode with perforated current collectors is analysed for the enhanced design in fuel cells. Simulation is performed using equations of electric potential balance, momentum balance, and mass balance. The gas concentrations are quite large and are significantly affected by the reactions that take place. The weight fraction of oxygen, velocity field for the gas phase, and local overvoltage are illustrated in the porous reactive cathode layer. The current density is also analysed and the result shows the distribution and variation are stated in a wide range. It is found that the rate of reaction and the current production is higher beneath the orifice, and decreases as the distance to the gas inlet increases. The significance of the results is discussed in the viewpoint of the mass transportation phenomena, which is inferred that the mass transport of reactants dictates the efficiency of the electrode in this design and at these conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.43 no.12 s.295
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• pp.823-828
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• 2006

One of the main issues of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) is to reduce the operating temperature to $750^{\circ}C$ or less. It has advantages of improving the life of component parts and the long-term stability of a system, so the production cost could be decreased. In order to achieve that, the ohmic and polarization loss of a single cell should be minimized first. This paper presents.to fabricate anode-supported single cells with controlling microstructure as a function of particle size and volume of graphite and NiO-YSZ weight ratio. By means of optimizing the manufactural condition through microstructure analysis and performance evaluation, the single cell which had NiO-YSZ=6:4, graphite volume of 24% and graphite size of $75{\mu}m$ as the anode composition showed a distinguished power density of $510mW/cm^2$ at $650^{\circ}C$ and $810mW/cm^2$ at $700^{\circ}C$, respectively.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.307-312
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• 2017

In this study, the electrochemical performance of surface modified carbon using the PFO (pyrolyzed fuel oil) was investigated by chemical activation with KOH and $K_2CO_3$. PFO was heat treated at $390{\sim}400^{\circ}C$ for 1~3h to prepared the pitch. Three carbon precursors (pitch) prepared by the thermal reaction were 3903 (at $390^{\circ}C$ for 3h), 4001(at $400^{\circ}C$ for 1h) and 4002 (at $400^{\circ}C$ for 2h). Also, the effect of chemical activation catalysts and mixing time on the development of porosity during carbonization was investigated. The prepared carbon was analyzed by BET and FE-SEM. It was shown that chemical activation with KOH could be successfully used to develop carbon with specific surface area ($3.12m^2/g$) and mean pore size (22 nm). The electrochemical characteristics of modified carbon as the anode were investigated by constant current charge/discharge, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance tests. The coin cell using pitch (4002) modified by KOH has better initial capacity (318 mAh/g) than that of other pitch coin cells. Also, this prepared carbon anode appeared a high initial efficiency of 80% and the retention rate capability of 2C/0.1 C was 92%. It is found that modified carbon anode showed improved cycling and rate capacity performance.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.534-538
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• 2017

In this study, the molecular weight controlled pitches derived from pyrolyzed fuel oil (PFO) were prepared using solvent extraction and were carbonized. Electrochemical characteristics of lithium battery anode materials were investigated using these petroleum pitches. Three pitch samples prepared by the thermal reaction were 3903 (at $390^{\circ}C$ for 3 h), 4001 (at $400^{\circ}C$ for 1 h) and 4002 (at $400^{\circ}C$ for 2 h). The prepared hexane insoluble pitches were analysed by XRD, TGA, SEM and Gel permeation Chromatography (GPC). The electrochemical characteristics of the PFO-derived pitch as an anode material were investigated by constant current charge/discharge, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance tests. The coin cell using pitch (4001) and the electrolyte of $LiPF_6$ in organic solvents (EC : DMC = 1 : 1 vol%, VC 3 wt%) has better initial capacity (310 mAh/g) than that of other pitch coin cells. Also, this carbon anode showd a high initial efficiency of 82%, retention rate capability at 2 C/0.1 C of 90% and cycle retention of 85%. It was found that modified pitches improved the cycling and rate capacity performance.