• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.667-673
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• 2009

The electrocatalytic characteristics of oxygen reduction reaction of the $PtxM_{(1-x)}$ (M = Co, Cu, Ni) supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have been evaluated in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). The $Pt_xM_{(1-x)}$/MWNTs catalysts with a Pt : M atomic ratio of about 3 : 1 were synthesized and applied to the cathode of PEMFC. The crystalline structure and morphology images of the $Pt_xM_{(1-x)}$ particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The results showed that the crystalline structure of the Pt alloy particles in Pt/MWNTs and $Pt_xM_{(1-x)}$/MWNTs catalysts are seen as FCC, and synthesized $Pt_xM_{(1-x)}$ crystals have lattice parameters smaller than the pure Pt crystal. According to the electrochemical surface area (ESA) calculated with cyclic voltammetry analysis, $Pt_{0.77}Co_{0.23}$/MWNTs catalyst has higher ESA than the other catalysts. The evaluation of a unit cell test using Pt/MWNTs or $Pt_xM_{(1-x)}$/MWNTs as the cathode catalysts demonstrated higher cell performance than did a commercial Pt/C catalyst. Among the MWNTs-supported Pt and $Pt_xM_{(1-x)}$ (M = Co, Cu, Ni) catalysts, the $Pt_{0.77}Co_{0.23}$/MWNTs shows the highest performance with the cathode catalyst of PEMFC because they had the largest ESA.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.443-446
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• 2006

Carbon-supported Platinum (Pt) is the potential electro-catalyst material for anodic and cathodic reactions in fuel cell. Catalytic activity of the metal strongly depends on the particle shape, size and distribution of the metal in the porous supportive network. Conventional preparation techniques based on wet impregnation and chemical reduction of the metal precursors often do not provide adequate control of particle size and shape. We have proposed a novel route for preparing nano sized Pt colloidal particles in solution by oxidation of ethylene glycol. These Pt nano particles were deposited on large surface area carbon support. The process of nano Pt colloid formation involves the oxidation of solvent ethylene glycol to mainly glycolic acid and the presence of its anion glycolate depends on the solution pH. In the process of colloidal Pt formation glycolate actsas stabilizer for the Pt colloidal particle and prevents the agglomeration of colloidal Pt particles. These mono disperse Pt particles in carbon support are found uniformly distributed in nearly spherical shape and the size distribution was narrow for both supported and unsupported metals. The average diameter of the Pt nano particle was controlled in the range off to 3 nm by optimizing reaction parameters. Transmission electron microscopy, CV and RRDE experiments were used to compliment the results.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2015

In this study, among in various scenarios of the duration degradation of the fuel cell, countermeasures for the cathode carbon carrier oxidation and the deactivation of catalyst by hydrogen / air interface formation have been studied. so the system was applied to the air cutoff valve. In terms of the component, the cold start performance, electrical stability, the airtight performance were mainly designed and their performance was confirmed. And in terms of the system, the air electrode flow is blocked off, so the oxygen concentration drops when system is powered off, As a result, By reducing unit cell voltage which affect the durability of the fuel cell reached up to 0.8V, the improved durability of the fuel cell was confirmed.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.2539-2545
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• 2012

In the present study, we suggest a new way to reactivate performance of direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) and explain its mechanism by employing electrochemical analyses like chronoamperometry (CA) and cyclic voltammogram (CV). For the evaluation of DFAFC performance, palladium (Pd) and platinum (Pt) are used as anode and cathode catalysts, respectively, and are applied to a Nafion membrane by catalyst-coated membrane spraying. After long DFAFC operation performed at 0.2 and 0.4 V and then CV test, DFAFC performance is better than its initial performance. It is attributed to dissolution of anode Pd into $Pd^{2+}$. By characterizations like TEM, Z-potential, CV and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, it is evaluated that such dissolved $Pd^{2+}$ ions lead to (1) increase in the electrochemically active surface by reduction in Pd particle size and its improved redistribution and (2) increment in the total oxidation charge by fast reaction rate of the Pd dissolution reaction.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.115.2-115.2
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• 2010

Autothermal reforming(ATR) processes of hydrocarbon liquids such as diesel fuels are spotlighted as methods to produce hydrogen for Fuel cell. However, the use of heavy hydrocarbons as feedstocks for hydrogen production causes some problems which increase the catalyst deactivation by the carbon deposition. Coking can be inhibited by increasing the water dissociation on the catalyst surface. This results in catastrophic failure of whole system. Performance degradation of diesel autothermal reforming leads to increase of undesirable hydrocarbons at reformed gases and subsequently decrease the performance. In this study, perovskite-based catalysts were investigated as alternatives to substitute the noble metal catalyst for the ATR of diesel. The investigated perovskite structure was based on LaCrO3. and metals were added at the A-site to enhance oxygen ion mobility, transition metals were doped on the B-site to enhance the reformation. Substituted Lanthanum chromium perovskite were made by aqueous combustion synthesis, which can produce high surface area. And for the homogeneous fuel supply, we made ultrasonic injection system for reforming. We compared durability of evaporation system and ultrasonic system for fuel injection.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.587-595
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• 2020

Nickel-based bimetallic catalysts were investigated for use in direct borohydride/hydrogen peroxide fuel cells. For anode and cathode, PdNi and AuNi catalysts were used, respectively. Nickel-based bimetallic catalysts have been investigated through various methods, such as inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The performance of the catalysts was evaluated through fuel cell tests. The maximum power density of the fuel cell with nickel-based bimetallic catalysts was found to be higher than that of the fuel cell with the monometallic catalysts. The nickel-based bimetallic catalysts also exhibited a stable performance up to 60 minutes.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.38-40
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• 2010

Carbon supported electrocatalysts are commonly used as electrode materials for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs). These kinds of electrocatalysts provide large surface area and sufficient electrical conductivity. The support of typical PEM fuel cell catalysts has been a traditional conductive type of carbon black. However, even though the carbon particles conduct electrons, there is still significant portion of Pt that is isolated from the external circuit and the PEM, resulting in a low Pt utilization. Herein, new types of carbon materials to effectively utilize the Pt catalyst are being evaluated. Carbon nanofiber/activated carbon fiber (CNF/ACF) composite with multifunctional surfaces were prepared through catalytic growth of CNFs on ACFs. Nickel nitrate was used as a precursor of the catalyst to synthesize carbon nanofibers(CNFs). CNFs were synthesized by pyrolysising $CH_4$ using catalysts dispersed in acetone and ACF(activated carbon fiber). The as-prepared samples were characterized with transmission electron microscopy(TEM), scanning electron microscopy(SEM). In TEM image, carbon nanofibers were synthesized on the ACF to form a three-dimensional network. Pt/CNF/ACF was employed as a catalyst for PEMFC. As the ratio of prepared catalyst to commercial catalyst was changed from 0 to 50%, the performance of the mixture of 30 wt% of Pt/CNF/ACF and 70wt% of Pt/C commercial catalyst showed better perfromance than that of 100% commercial catalyst. The unique structure of CNF can supply the significant site for the stabilization of Pt particles. CNF/ACF is expected to be promising support to improve the performance in PEMFC.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.383-385
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• 2009

비백금계 코발트 전이금속 촉매를 탄소지지체에 담지한 뒤, 암모니아 분위기에서 $500^{\circ}C$에서 3시간 동안 열처리하는 과정을 통해 코발트 질화물 촉매를 제조했다. 제조된 촉매들의 구조와 형태를 각각 XRD, HE-TEM등을 통해 분석하였고, 전위 측정기를 이용한 CV, LSV 결과로부터 촉매의 전기화학적 산소 환원특성을 분석하여, 기존의 연료전지 양극 촉매로 사용되는 고가의 백금촉매를 대체하기 위한 비백금계로서의 가능성을 확인하였다.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2013

In order to overcome the cost issue for commercialization of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), this research was conducted for replacing platinum cathode catalyst with non-precious metal catalyst. The non-precious metal catalyst (Co-PANI-C) was synthesized by the simple reduction method with polyaniline (PANI), carbon black, and cobalt precursor without any heat treatment. Characterization of new Co-PANI-C composite catalysts was done by the measurement of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for structure analysis and performed by rotating disk electrode (RDE) and rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) for electrochemical analysis. As a result, Co-PANI-C catalyst showed 60 mV lower on-set potential for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) than Pt/C catalyst, but the overall reduction current of Co-PANI-C catalysts by ORR was still smaller than that of Pt/C. In addition, the ORR behavior of Co-PANI-C catalysts depending on the rotation speed of electrode and the stability of Co-PANI-C catalyst under potential cycling and the performance of fuel cell conditions are also discussed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1965-1971
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• 2016

Livestock wastewater containing high concentrations of ammonium and nitrate ions was pretreated with microbubbles and an Fe/MgO catalyst prior to its application in microbial fuel cells because high ion concentrations can interfere with current generation. Therefore, tests were designed to ascertain the effect of pretreatment on current generation. In initial tests, the optimal amount of catalyst was found to be 300 g/l. When 1,000 ml/min $O_2$ was used as the oxidant, the removal of ammonium- and nitrate-nitrogen was highest. After the operating parameters were optimized, the removal of ammonium and nitrate ions was quantified. The maximum ammonium removal was 32.8%, and nitrate was removed by up to 75.8% at a 500 g/l catalyst concentration over the course of the 2 h reaction time. The current was about 0.5 mA when livestock wastewater was used without pretreatment, whereas the current increased to $2.14{\pm}0.08mA$ when livestock wastewater was pretreated with the method described above. This finding demonstrates that a 4-fold increase in the current can be achieved when using pretreated livestock wastewater. The maximum power density and current density performance were $10.3W/m^3$ and $67.5W/m^3$, respectively, during the evaluation of the microbial fuel cells driven by pretreated livestock wastewater.