• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2003

For the development of low temperature anode-supported planar solid oxide fuel cell, the planar anode supports with the thickness of 0.8 to 1 mm and the area of 25, 100 and $150\;cm^2$ were fabricated by the tape casting method. The strength, porosity, gas permeability and electrical conductivity of the planar anode support were measured. The porosity of anode supports sintered at $1400^{\circ}C$ and then reduced in$H_2$ atmosphere was increased from $45.8\%\;to\;53.9\%$. The electrical conductivity of the anode support was $900 S/cm\;at\; 850^{\circ}C$ and its gas permeability was 6l/min at 1 atm in air atmosphere. The electrolyte layer and cathode layer were fabricated by slurry dip coating method and then had examined the thickness of $10{\mu}m$ and the gas permeability of 2.5 ml/min at 3 atm in air atmosphere. As preliminary experiment, cathode multi-layered structure consists of LSM-YSZ/LSM/LSCF. At single cell test using the electrolyte layer with thickness of 20 to $30{\mu}m$, we achieved $300\;mA/cm^2$ and 0.6V at $750^{\circ}C$

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.749-753
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• 2012

In present work, anode support for micro-tubular SOFC was fabricated with outer diameter of 3 mm and characterized with microstructure, mechanical properties and gas permeability. The microstructure of surface and cross section of a porous anode support were analyzed by using SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) image. The gas permeability and the mechanical strength of anode support was measured and analysed by using differential pressure at the flow rates of 50, 100, 150 cc/min. and using universal testing machine respectively. The unit cell composed of NiO-YSZ, YSZ, YSZ-LSM/LSM/LSCF was fabricated and operated with reaction temperature and fuel flow rate and showed maximum power density of $1095mW/cm^2$ on the condition of $800^{\circ}C$. The performance of single cell for micro-tubular SOFC increased with the increasing the reaction temperature due to the decrement of ohmic resistance of cell by the increment of the ionic conductivity of electrolyte through the evaluation of electrochemical impedance analysis for single cell with reaction temperature.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.389-398
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• 2017

The most important characteristic of the polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) for fuel cells, the proton conducting ability is mainly influenced by the distribution and morphology of the water channels inside the PEMs. Non-perfluorinated hydrocarbon PEMs are known to have weaker water channels than perfluorinated PEM, Nafion, and thus relatively low proton conducting ability. In this study, we used a mesoscale simulation technique to observe the water channel formation and phase separation behavior of hydrocarbon PEM, sulfonated polyimides, under the humidification condition. It was observed that the water molecules were distributed evenly through the entire hydrophilic region, and clear water clusters were formed only in the sulfonated polyimide having high sulfonation degree. In addition, it was observed that sulfonated polyimides have a difficulty in forming water channel under the low hydrated condition. These results clearly support the theories of the formation of water channels in non-perfluorinated hydrocarbon PEMs, and also well explain the tendency of proton conducting abilities of sulfonated polyimides. Thus, it is confirmed that mesoscale simulation techniques can be very effective in analyzing phase separation behavior and water channel formation in PEMs for fuel cells and elucidating the ion conducting abilities.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.562-566
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• 2012

A novel design of tubular segmented-in-series(SIS) solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) sub module was presented in this paper. The tubular ceramic support was fabricated by the extrusion technique. The NiO-YSZ anode and the yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte were deposited onto the ceramic support by dip coating method. After sintering at $1350^{\circ}C$ for 5 h, a dense and crack-free YSZ film was successfully fabricated. Also, the multi-layered cathode composed of LSM-YSZ composite, LSM and LSCF were coated onto the sintered ceramic support by dip coating method and sintered at $1150^{\circ}C$. The performance of the tubular SIS SOFC cell and sub module electrically connected by the Ag-glass interconnect was measured and analysed with different fuel flow and operating temperature.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.344-349
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• 2017

Alkaline fuel cells using polymer electrolyte membranes are expected to replace proton exchange membrane fuel cells, which have similar system configurations. In particular, in alkaline fuel cells, a low-cost non-platinium catalyst can be used. In this study, to fabricate high performance and high durability anion exchange membranes for alkaline fuel cell systems, two kinds of supports, polybenzoxazole and polyethylene supports, were impregnated with Fumion FAA ionomer, by which we tried to fabricate the support-impregnated membrane which has higher mechanical strength and higher ion conductivity than the Fumion series. Finally, the Pore-filling membranes were successfully fabricated and ionic conductivity and mechanical properties were different depending on the properties of the supports. In the pore-filling membranes with Fumion ionomer on the PE support, excellent mechanical properties were obtained, but ionic conductivity decreased. On the other hand, when the PBO support was impregnated with Fumion ionomer, high ionic conductivity was shown after impregnation due to high basicity of PBO, but the mechanical strength was relatively low as compared with Fumion-PE membrane. As a result, it was concluded that it is necessary to consider the characteristics of the support according to the operating conditions of the alkaline fuel cell during the preparation of the pore-filling membranes.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.345-350
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• 2018

Nanomaterials have considerable potential to solve several key challenges in various electrochemical devices, such as fuel cells. However, the use of nanoparticles in high-temperature devices like solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is considered problematic because the nanostructured surface typically prepared by deposition techniques may easily coarsen and thus deactivate, especially when used in high-temperature redox conditions. Herein we report the synthesis of a self-regenerated Pd metal nanoparticle on the perovskite oxide anode surface for SOFCs that exhibit self-recovery from their degradation in redox cycle and $CH_4$ fuel running. Using Pd-doped perovskite, $La(Sr)Fe(Mn,Pd)O_3$, as an anode, fairly high maximum power densities of 0.5 and $0.2cm^{-2}$ were achieved at 1,073 K in $H_2$ and $CH_4$ respectively, despite using thick electrolyte support-type cell. Long-term stability was also examined in $CH_4$ and the redox cycle, when the anode is exposed to air. The cell with Pd-doped perovskite anode had high tolerance against re-oxidation and recovered the behavior of anodic performance from catalytic degradation. This recovery of power density can be explained by the surface segregation of Pd nanoparticles, which are self-recovered via re-oxidation and reduction. In addition, self-recovery of the anode by oxidation treatment was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.324-329
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• 2018

Needle-like NiO protecting layers on NiCrAl alloy foam, used as support for hydrogen production, are introduced through electroplated Ni and subsequent microwave annealing. To improve the stability of the NiCrAl alloy foam, oxygen concentration of microwave annealing to form a needle-like NiO layer with good chemical stability and corrosion resistance is controlled in a range of 20 and 50 %. As the oxygen concentration increases to 50 %, needle-like NiO forms a dense coating layer on the NiCrAl alloy foam; this layer formation can be attributed to accelerated growth of the (200) plane. In addition, the increased oxygen concentration causes increased NiO/Ni ratio of the resultant coating layer on NiCrAl alloy foam due to improved rate of the oxidation reaction. As a result, the introduction of dense needle-like NiO layers formed at 50 % oxygen concentration improves the chemical stability of the NiCrAl alloy foam by protecting the direct electrochemical reaction between the electrolyte and the foam. Thus, needle-like NiO can be proposed as a superb protecting layer to improve the chemical stability of NiCrAl alloy form.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.241.1-241.1
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• 2011

Numerous possible applications for $ZrO_2$ nanotubes exist such as for catalyst support structures, for sensing or for applications as a solid state electrolyte. Especially, because of a large specific surface area, high efficiency for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) application at low temperature can be expected for nanotublar structures in even small size. A zirconium precursor, Tetrakis (ethylmethylamino) zirconium, TEMAZr and $H_2O$ oxidant were used to deposit$ZrO_2$ thin films on an anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) templates having sub-100nm cylindrical pores by atomic layer deposition (ALD) in the temperature range of 150~250$^{\circ}C$. The crystalline structures of as-prepared and post-annealed $ZrO_2$ nanotubes were characterized by x-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The as-prepared samples at $150^{\circ}C$ and $200^{\circ}C$ were showed amorphous, whereas a mixed phase of tetragonal, monoclinic and amorphous polymorph was observed at $250^{\circ}C$. In the bulk, zirconia remains monoclinic phase up to $1,175^{\circ}C$, however, $ZrO_2$ nanotubes were showed tetragonal phase upon post thermal treatments merely at $400^{\circ}C$. This trend may be indicative of high-curvature surfaces of nanotubes and thereby the presence of intrinsic compressive strain. The amount of amorphous structures in the mixed phase as well as as-grown $ZrO_2$ nanotubes were also gradually decreased by subsequent heat treatment.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.42.2-42.2
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• 2011

$TiO_2$ films were modified by adding a glass frit as a light scattering particle and applied to an anode electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to enhance the adhesion between $TiO_2$ and fluorine doped transparent oxide (FTO). Low melting point glass frits at contents of (3 to 7wt%) were added to the nano crystalline $TiO_2$ films. The light scattering properties, photovoltaic properties and microstructures of the photo electrodes were examined to determine the role of the low glass transition temperature ($T_g$) glass frit. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method and scratch test were conducted to support the results. The DSSC with the $TiO_2$ film containing 3wt% low Tg glass frit showed optimal performance (5.1%, energy conversion efficiency) compared to the $TiO_2$-based one. The photocurrent density slightly decreased by adding 3wt% of the frit due to its large size and non conductivity. However, the decrease of current density followed by the decrease of electron transfer due to the large frit in $TiO_2$ electrode was compensated by the scattering effect, high surface area and reduced the electron transfer impedance at the electrolyte-dye-$TiO_2$ interface. The stability of the photo electrodes was improved by the frit, which chemically promoted the sintering of $TiO_2$ at relatively low temperature ($450^{\circ}C$).

• Membrane Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2010

In this study, high porous PVdF flat sheet membranes were prepared to obtain reinforced membrane support for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. Nano-size laponite was randomly dispersed in the membranes to improve mechanical property which lowered by the high porosity. The morphology and porosity of prepared PVdF/Laponite composite membranes were examined using the SEM analysis and the weight method and all membranes showed over 60% porosity. The membrane thermal stability depending on the laponite contents in the composite membranes was evaluated by membrane heat shrinkage at $105^{\circ}C$ and $135^{\circ}C$. MD and TD heat shrinkage of the PVdF composite membrane containing 5 wt% laponite was 2~3% and 2~3.5% at $135^{\circ}C$, respectively. The mechanical strength was enhanced after incorporating laponite particles and 30% increase in the modulus compared to pure PVdF membrane was obtained.