• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.331-335
• /
• 2019

In this study we investigate catalytic activity and selectivity of mixture of Ag and ketjenblack according to their ratios by product analysis and electrochemical experiments, such as cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry and chronoamperometry. We reveal that catalytic activity toward CO₂ reduction to CO is improved by simple mixing Ag nanoparticle and ketjenblack because addition of ketjenblack suppresses aggregation of Ag nanoparticles and brings increase in electrochemical active surface area. However, excess amount of ketjenblack rather inhibit the CO₂ reduction to CO. These observations provide clues to develop highly active Ag catalyst or electrode toward electrochemical reduction of CO₂.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.163-170
• /
• 2008

Carbon nanofibers with nano-sized structures were evaluated as a active material using supercacitor electrode which could store electrochemical energy reversibly. A feasibility of EDLC electrode was estimated with specific surface area measurement by BET method and mesopore structure of carbon nanofiber surface could be explained electrochemical absorption-desorption in aqueous electrolyte. A capacitance of carbon nanofiber electrode was increased gradually, depending on the ratio of Ketjenblack as a conducting material. Ketjen Black $20{\sim}25\;wt.%$ ratio in electrode was observed a suitable amount of conducting material by cyclic voltametry results.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.163-168
• /
• 2018

Biomass waste-derived carbon is an attractive alternative with environmental benignity to obtain carbon material. In this study, we prepare carbon from coffee grounds as a biomass precursor using a simple, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly method through physical activation using only steam. The coffee-derived carbon, having a micropore-rich structure and a low extent of graphitization of disordered carbon, is developed and directly applied to lithium-ion battery anode material. Compared with the introduction of the Ketjenblack (KB) conducting agent (i.e., coffee-derived carbon with KB), the coffee-derived carbon itself achieves a reversible capacity of ~200 mAh/g (0.54 lithium per 6 carbons) at a current density of 100 mA/g after 100 cycles, along with excellent cycle stability. The origin of highly reversible lithium storage is attributed to the consistent diffusion-controlled intercalation/de-intercalation reaction in cycle life, which suggests that the bulk diffusion of lithium is favorable in the coffee-derived carbon itself, in the absence of a conducting agent. This study presents the preparation of carbon material through physical activation without the use of chemical activation agents and demonstrates an application of coffee-derived carbon in energy storage devices.