• Carbon letters
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• v.19
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• pp.99-103
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• 2016

Porous carbons have attracted much attention for their novel application in gas storage. In this study, porous graphite nano-fiber (PGNFs)-based graphite nano fibers (GNFs) were prepared by KOH activation to act as adsorbents. The GNFs were activated with KOH by changing the GNF/KOH weight ratio from 0 through 5 at 900℃. The effects of the GNF/KOH weight ratios on the pore structures were also addressed with scanning electron microscope and N₂ adsorption/desorption measurements. We found that the activated GNFs exhibited a gradual increase of CO₂ adsorption capacity at CK-3 and then decreased to CK-5, as determined by CO₂ adsorption isotherms. CK-3 had the narrowest micropore size distribution (0.6–0.78 nm) among the treated GNFs. Therefore, KOH activation was not only a significant method for developing a suitable pore-size distribution for gas adsorption, but also increased CO₂ adsorption capacity as well. The study indicated that the sample prepared with a weight ratio of ‘3’ showed the best CO₂ adsorption capacity (70.8 mg/g) as determined by CO₂ adsorption isotherms at 298 K and 1 bar.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.323.2-323.2
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• 2007

• 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.

• Carbon letters
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 2007

Carbon nanofiber (CNF) grown catalytically was chemically activated with KOH to attain structural change of CNF. The structural changes of CNF through KOH activation were investigated by using BET and SEM. From the results of BET, it was found that KOH activation was effective to develop particular sizes of pores on the CNF surface, increasing the surface area of CNF. Activated CNF was applied as an anode catalyst support of fuel cell. The effects of different activation conditions including the activation temperature and the activation time on the specific surface area of the CNF activated with KOH were investigated to obtain appropriate structure as a catalyst support. The 60 wt% Pt-Ru catalyst prepared was observed by using TEM and XRD.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.296-301
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• 2007

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are non-microporous materials with a high surface area ($100{\sim}200m^2/g$) and high purity. Therefore, the material has a high potential for use as catalyst support. Activated carbon fibers (ACFs) are of increasing concern with regard to the levels of toxic air pollutants emitted from high-technology industry. Rayon-based CNFs and ACFs was subjected to thermal oxidation under a wide variety of temperature and air conditions to modify the surface properties. Rayon-based CNFs and ACFs were prepared by using thermal chemistry. CNFs were synthesized at temperatures above $600^{\circ}C$ in an air atmosphere and grew with increased temperature and air conditions. After heating at $800^{\circ}C$ for 72 hr, carbonized rayon with ACFs had $2,662m^2/g$ (BET) of surface area and $1.41cm^3/g$ of pore volume. The resulting ACFs had a 99% surface area in which pore size was 10 nm or less, and a 60 % surface area in which pore size was 2 nm or less.

• Carbon letters
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• v.24
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• pp.82-89
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• 2017

In this study, composite PAN-based ACNFs embedded with MgO and $MnO_2$ were prepared by the electrospinning method. The resultant pristine ACNFs, ACNF/MgO and $ACNF/MnO_2$ were characterized in terms of their morphological changes, SSA, crystallinity and functional group with FESEM-EDX, the BET method, XRD and FTIR analysis, respectively. Results from this study showed that the SSA of the ACNF/MgO composite ($1893m^2g^{-1}$) is significantly higher than that of the pristine ACNFs and $ACNF/MnO_2$ which is 478 and $430m^2g^{-1}$, respectively. FTIR analysis showed peaks of 476 and $547cm^{-1}$, indicating the presence of MgO and $MnO_2$, respectively. The FESEM micrographs analysis showed a smooth but coarser structure in all the ACNFs. Meanwhile, the ACNF/MgO has the smallest fiber diameter ($314.38{\pm}62.42nm$) compared to other ACNFs. The presence of MgO and $MnO_2$ inside the ACNFs was also confirmed with EDX analysis as well as XRD. The adsorption capacities of each ACNF toward $CH_4$ were tested with the volumetric adsorption method in which the ACNF/MgO exhibited the highest $CH_4$ adsorption up to $2.39mmol\;g^{-1}$. Meanwhile, all the ACNF samples followed the pseudo-second order kinetic model with a $R^2$ up to 0.9996.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.769-774
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• 2011

Porous carbon nanofibers(CNF) were synthesized via NaOH activation at 700~$900^{\circ}C$, and the porous CNF-supported PtRu catalysts were evaluated for the anode in direct methanol fuel cells. The change of surface characteristics by NaOH activation was examined by analyses of the specific surface area and pore size distribution. The morphological and structural modification was investigated under scanning electron microscopy. The activity of catalysts supported on porous CNFs was examined by cyclic voltammograms and single cell tests. The pore formation on CNF by the NaOH activation was discussed, concerning the catalyst activity, when they were applied as catalyst supports.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.93.2-93.2
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• 2011

In this work, graphite nanofibers (GNFs) were prepared for using catalyst supports in fuel cells. The GNFs were chemically activated to obtain high surface area and small pore diameter with different potassium hydroxide (KOH) amounts, i.e., 0, 1, 3, 4, and 5 g as an activating agent. And then Pt-Ru was deposited onto activated GNFs (A-GNFs) by chemical reduction method. The characteristics of Pt-Ru catalysts deposited onto A-GNFs were determined by specific surface area and pore size analyzer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and inductive coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The electrochemical properties of Pt-Ru/A-GNFs catalysts were also analyzed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments. From the results, the A-GNFs carbon supports activated with 4 g of KOH (A4g-GNFs) showed that the highest specific surface areas. In addition, the A4g-GNFs led to uniform dispersion of Pt-Ru onto A4g-GNFs, resulting in the enhancement of electrochemical activity of Pt-Ru catalysts.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

Adsorption is a plausible technology using solid adsorbents for dry capture of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$). In general, narrow size distribution of tiny pores and surface chemical functionalities of solid adsorbents enhance the adsorption capacity of gaseous $CO_2$ molecules. In order to utilize the advantages of fibrous adsorbents, this work prepared activated carbon nanofibers (ACNFs) via the electrospinning process using a polymer precursor of polyacylonitrile (PAN). The spun fibers were 390 nm to 580 nm in thickness with an average surface area of $27.3m^2/g$. The surface structure was improved by a programmed thermal activation at $800^{\circ}C$ in $CO_2$ atmosphere. It was also found that the nitrogen-groups including pyrrole and pyridine were created during the activation facilitaing the selective adsorption as forming enhanced active sites. The finally obtained adsorption capacities were 2.74 mmol/g for pure $CO_2$ flow and 0.74mmol/g for 3000 ppm.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.68-76
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• 2017

Flat membrane with $0.4{\mu}m$ pore size was prepared with PVdF (polyvinylidene fluoride) nanofiber, which has the advantages such as excellent strength, chemical resistance, non-toxicity, and incombustibility. The spiral wound module was manufactured with the flat membrane and a woven paper. Hybrid water treatment process was composed of the PVdF nanofibers spiral wound microfiltration and granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption column. Effect of GAC packing mass was investigated by comparing the case of recycling or discharging the treated water using the synthetic solution of kaolin and humic acid. After each filtration experiment, water back-washing was performed, and recovery rate and filtration resistances were calculated. Also, effect of GAC adsorption was compared by measuring turbidity and $UV_{254}$ absorbance. As a result, there was no effect of GAC packing mass on turbidity treatment rate; however, the treatment rate of $UV_{254}$ absorbance was 0.7~3.6% for recycling the treated water, and increased to 3.2-5.7% for discharging the treated water. In the case of recycling the treated water, reversible filtration resistance ($R_r$) and irreversible filtration resistance ($R_{ir}$) trended to decrease as increasing GAC packing mass; however, total fitration resistance ($R_t$) was almost constant, and recovery rate of water back-washing trended to increase a little.