• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.28-38
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• 2014

The organic-inorganic composite membrane in polymer exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have several fascinating technological advantages such as a proton conductivity, thermal stability and mechanical properties. As the inorganic filler, silicon carbide (SiC) fiber have been used in various fields due to its unique properties such as thermal stability, conductivity, and tensile strength. In this study, composite membrane was successfully fabricated by modified-silicon carbide fiber. Modified process, as a novel process in SiC, takes reaction by phosphoric acid after oxidation process (generated homogeniusly $SiO_2$ layer on SiC fiber). The mechanical property which was conducted by tensile test of the 5wt% modified-$SiO_2@SiCf$ composite membrane was better than that of Aquivion casting membrane as well as ion cxchange capacity(IEC) and proton conductivity. In addition, the single cell performance was observed that the 5wt% modified-$SiO_2@SiCf$ composite membrane was approximately $0.2A/cm^2$ higher than that of a Aquivion casting electrolyte membrane and electrochemical impedance was improved with the charge transfer resistance and membrane resistance.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.540-544
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• 2013

During start up and shut down of a proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), the performance and lifetime of PEMFC were reduced. In this study, effect of startup and shutdown were investigated in dead-end type PEMFC using oxygen as a cathode gas with polarization curve, impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Dummy load which eliminates residual hydrogen and oxygen during startup and shutdown operation should be applied to mitigated the degradation of PEMFC performance. At 50% relative humidity (RH) under the repetitive on/off cycling, the cell performance decayed faster than at 100% RH because of corrosion of the cathode carbon support. Water suppling into cell reduced the degradation rate of dead-end type PEMFC during start up and shut down cycling at 50% RH.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.227-232
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• 2007

The corrosion behavior of carbon steel (N80) in carbon dioxide saturated 1%NaCl solution with and without acetic acid or acetate was investigated by weight-loss test, electrochemical methods (polarization curve, Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy). The major objective is to make clear that the effect of acetic acid and acetate on the corrosion of carbon steel in $Co_2$ environments. The results indicate that either acetic acid or acetate accelerates cathodic reducing reaction, facilitates dissolution of corrosion products on carbon steel, and so promotes the corrosion rate of carbon steel in carbon dioxide saturated NaCl solution. All Nyquist Plots are consisting of a capacitive loop in high frequency region, an inductive loop in medial frequency region and a capacitive arc in low frequency region. The high frequency capacitive loop, medial frequency inductive loop and low frequency capacitive arc are corresponding to the electron transfer reaction, the formation/adsorption of intermediates and dissolution of corrosion products respectively. All arc of the measured impedance reduced with the increase of the concentration of Ac-, especially HAc. However, the same phenomenon is not notable after reducing pH value by adding HCl. HAc is a stronger proton donor and can be reduced directly by electrochemical reaction firstly. Ac- can't participate in electrochemistry reaction directly, but $Ac^-$ an hydrate easily to create HAc in carbon dioxide saturated environments. HAc is as catalyst in $Co_2$ corrosion. As a result, the corrosion rate was accelerated in the presence of acetate ion even pH value of solution increased.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.203-210
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• 2020

The corrosion behavior of super austenitic stainless steel was studied by examining the characteristics of the sigma phase formed in the steel. A range of experimental and analytical methods was employed, including potentiodynamic polarization tests, critical pitting temperature tests, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Three steel samples with different sigma phase levels were obtained by intentionally adjusting the manufacturing process. The results showed that the corrosion resistance of the samples was strongly dependent upon the size and distribution of the sigma phase precipitated in the samples. The larger the size of the sigma phase, the higher the Mo content in the sigma phase and the higher the depletion level of Mo at the interface between the matrix/sigma phase, the more samples with a coarse-sized sigma phase were susceptible to localized pitting corrosion at the interface. These results suggest that various manufacturing processes, such as welding and the post-heat treatment of the steel, should be optimized so that both the size and fraction of the sigma phase precipitated in the steel are small to improve the resistance to localized corrosion.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2003

Poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) samples were implanted by using high energy (MeV)F$^{2+}$ and Cl$^{2+}$ ions. We observed that AC dielectric constant of the ion-implanted PVDF samples decreased from 10.5 to 2.5 at 1 kHz as the ion dosage increased from 10$^{11}$ to 3 $\times$ 10$^{14}$ ions/$\textrm{cm}^2$. From differential scanning calorimetry experiments, we observed that PVDF samples become more disordered state through the ion implantation. The decrease of the number of bonding of C-H and C-F and the increase of unsaturated bonding were observed from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments. The emission of HF and H$_2$ molecules during the ion implantation was detected by residual gas analyzer spectrum. Based upon the results, we analyzed that the low AC dielectric constant of the MeV ion-implanted PVDF samples originated from the reduction of polarization due to the structural change of the CF$_2$ molecules in the MeV ion-implanted PVDF samples.les.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.51-54
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• 2006

Cathode material, $(Ba_{0.5}Sr_{0.5})_{0.99}Co_{0.8}Fe_{0.2}O_{3-{\delta}}$, for low temperature SOFC was prepared by the glycine-nitrate synthesis process (GNP). The characteristics of the synthesized powders were studied with controlling pH of a precursor. The synthesis BSCF powders with pH were agglomeration state and calcinations temperature has not influence on particles. Highly acidicprecursor solution increased a single phase forming the temperature. Also, synthesis BSCF powder was show result for thermal analysis and alteration of difference crystal with pH. It is considered that Ba and Sr cannot complex by carboxylic acid group of glycine, because under highly acidic condition the caboxylic group mainly combined with $H^+$ insead of alkali and alkaline earth cations. In case of using precursor solution with pH $2{\sim}3$, a single perovskite phase was obtained at $1000^{\circ}C$. Polarization resistance of $(Ba_{0.5}Sr_{0.5})_{0.99}Co_{0.8}Fe_{0.2}O_{3-{\delta}}$ was measured by AC impedance spectroscopy from the two electrode symmetric cell. Area specific resistance of the $(Ba_{0.5}Sr_{0.5})_{0.99}Co_{0.8}Fe_{0.2}O_{3-{\delta}}$ air electrode at $500^{\circ}C\;and\;600^{\circ}C$ were $0.96{\Omega}?cm^2$ and $0.16{\Omega}?cm^2$, respectively.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.383-389
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• 2018

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is an innovative environmental and energy system that converts organic wastewater into electrical energy. For practical implementation of MFC as a wastewater treatment process, a number of limitations need to be overcome. Improving cathodic performance is one of major challenges, and introduction of a current collector can be an easy and practical solution. In this study, three types of current collectors made of stainless steel (SS) were tested in a single-chamber cubic MFC. The three current collectors had different contact areas to the cathode (P $1.0cm^2$; PC $4.3cm^2$; PM $6.5cm^2$) and increasing the contacting area enhanced the power and current generations and coulombic and energy recoveries by mainly decreasing cathodic charge transfer impedance. Application of the SS mesh to the cathode (PM) improved maximum power density, optimum current density and maximum current density by 8.8%, 3.6% and 6.7%, respectively, comparing with P of no SS mesh. The SS mesh decreased cathodic polarization resistance by up to 16%, and cathodic charge transfer impedance by up to 39%, possibly because the SS mesh enhanced electron transport and oxygen reduction reaction. However, application of the SS mesh had little effect on ohmic impedance.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2019

To maximize the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in the electrolysis of water, nano-grade $IrO_2$ powder with a low specific surface was prepared as a catalyst for a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) system, and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) was prepared with a catalyst loading as low as $2mg\;cm^{-2}$ or less. The $IrO_2$ catalyst was composed of heterogeneous particles with particle sizes ranging from 20 to 70 nm, having a specific surface area of $3.8m^2g^{-1}$. The anode catalyst layer of about $5{\mu}m$ thickness was coated on the membrane (Nafion 117) for the MEA by the decal method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) confirmed strong adhesion at the interface between the membrane and the catalyst electrode. Although the loading of the $IrO_2$ catalyst was as low as $1.1-1.7mg\;cm^{-2}$, the SPE cell delivered a voltage of 1.88-1.93 V at a current density of $1A\;cm^{-2}$ and operating temperature of $80^{\circ}C$. That is, it was observed that the over-potential of the cell for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) decreased with increasing $IrO_2$ catalyst loading. The electrochemical stability of the MEA was investigated in the electrolysis of water at a current density of $1A\;cm^{-2}$ for a short time. A voltage of ~2.0 V was maintained without any remarkable deterioration of the MEA characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.691-699
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• 2008

Electrochemical characteristics of Ti-30Ta-xZr alloys coated with HA/TiN by using magnetron sputtering method were studied. The Ti-30Ta containing Zr(3, 7, 10 and 15wt%) were 10 times melted to improve chemical homogeneity by using a vacuum furnace and then homogenized for 24hrs at $1000^{\circ}C$. The specimens were cut and polished for corrosion test and coating, and then coated with HA/TiN, respectively, by using DC and RF-magnetron sputtering method. The analyses of coated surface and coated layer were carried out by using optical microscope(OM), field emission scanning electron microscope(FE-SEM) and X-ray diffractometer(XRD). The electrochemical characteristics were examined using potentiodynamic (-1,500 mV~ + 2,000 mV) and A.C. impedance spectroscopy(100 kHz ~ 10 mHz) in 0.9% NaCl solution at $36.5{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. The microstructure of homogenized Ti-30Ta-xZr alloys showed needle-like structure. In case of homogenized Ti-30Ta-xZr alloys, a-peak was increased with increasing Zr content. The thickness of TiN and HA coated layer showed 400 nm and 100 nm, respectively. The corrosion resistance of HA/TiN-coated Ti-30Ta-xZr alloys were higher than that of the non-coated Ti-30TaxZr alloys, whic hindicate better protective effect. The polarization resistance($R_p$) value of HA/TiN coated Ti-30Ta-xZr alloys showed $8.40{\times}10^5{\Omega}cm^2$ which was higher than that of non-coated Ti-30Ta-xZr alloys.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2023

In this work, we developed a Nafion polymer-coated impedance sensor with two gold electrode configurations to measure the ion concentration in solution samples. The gold electrodes were fabricated through the sputtering process, followed by surface modification using Nafion polymer. The resulting sensors enable the prevention of the polarization phenomenon on the electrode surface, resulting in stable measurement of electrochemical signals. Spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy measurements revealed that the thin film of Nafion was coated uniformly onto the surface of the gold electrode. The Nafion-coated sensor exhibited more stable impedance signals than the conventional gold electrode. It showed a highly reliable calibration curve (R² = 0.983) of the impedance sensor using a standard sodium chloride solution. In addition, a comparison experiment between the impedance sensor and a commercial conductivity sensor was performed to measure the ion concentration of artificial tears, showing similar results for the two sensors.