• Carbon letters
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2013

In this study, PtRu nanoparticles deposited on binary carbon supports were developed for use in direct methanol fuel cells using carbon blacks (CBs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The particle sizes and morphological structures of the catalysts were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, and the PtRu loading content was determined using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer. The electrocatalytic characteristics for methanol oxidation were evaluated by means of cyclic voltammetry with 1 M $CH_3OH$ in a 0.5 M $H_2SO_4$ solution as the electrolyte. The PtRu particle sizes and the loading level were found to be dependent on the mixing ratio of the two carbon materials. The electroactivity of the catalysts increased with an increasing MWCNT content, reaching a maximum at 30% MWCNTs, and subsequently decreased. This was attributed to the introduction of MWCNTs as a secondary support, which provided a highly accessible surface area and caused morphological changes in the carbon supports. Consequently, the PtRu nanoparticles deposited on the binary support exhibited better performance than those deposited on the single support, and the best performance was obtained when the mass ratio of CBs to MWCNTs was 70:30.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.113-118
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• 2015

To improve the methanol electro-oxidation in direct methanol fuel cells(DMFCs), Pt electrocatalysts embedded on porous carbon nanofibers(CNFs) were synthesized by electrospinning followed by a reduction method. To fabricate the porous CNFs, we prepared three types of porous CNFs using three different amount of a styrene-co-acrylonitrile(SAN) polymer: 0.2 wt%, 0.5 wt%, and 1 wt%, respectively. A SAN polymer, which provides vacant spaces in porous CNFs, was decomposed and burn out during the carbonization. The structure and morphology of the samples were examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and their surface area were measured using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller(BET). The crystallinities and chemical compositions of the samples were examined using X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties on the methanol electro-oxidation were characterized using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Pt electrocatalysts embedded on porous CNFs containing 0.5 wt% SAN polymer exhibited the improved methanol oxidation and electrocatalytic stability compared to Pt/conventional CNFs and commercial Pt/C(40 wt% Pt on Vulcan carbon, E-TEK).

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.288-288
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• 2012

The oxidation characteristics of tungsten line pattern during the carbon-based mask layer removal process using oxygen plasmas and the reduction characteristics of the WOx layer formed on the tungsten line surface using hydrogen plasmas have been investigated for sub-50 nm patterning processes. The surface oxidation of tungsten line during the mask layer removal process could be minimized by using a low temperature ($300^{\circ}K$) plasma processing instead of a high temperature plasma processing for the removal of the carbon-based material. Using this technique, the thickness of WOx on the tungsten line could be decreased to 25% of WOx formed by the high temperature processing. The WOx layer could be also completely removed at the low temperature of $300^{\circ}K$ using a hydrogen plasma by supplying bias power to the tungsten substrate to provide an activation energy for the reduction. When this oxidation and reduction technique was applied to actual 40 nm-CD device processing, the complete removal of WOx formed on the sidewall of tungsten line could be observed.

• Composites Research
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.16-23
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• 2002

In this work, the effect of anodic oxidation on surface characteristics of high strength PAN-based carbon fibers was investigated in mechanical interfacial properties of composites. The surface properties of the carbon fibers were determined by acid-base values, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and contact angles. And their mechanical interfacial properties of the composites were studied in interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and critical stress intensity factor ($K_{IC}$). As a result, the acidity or the $O_{ls}/C_{ls}$ ratio of carbon fiber surfaces was increased, due to the development of the oxygen functional groups. Consequently, the anodic oxidation led to an increase in surface free energy of the carbon fibers, mainly due to the increase of its specific (or polar) component. The mechanical interfacial properties of the composites, including ILSS and $K_{IC}$, had been improved in the anodic oxidation on fibers. These results were explained that good wetting played an important role in improving the degree of adhesion at interfaces between fibers and epoxy resin matrix.

• Carbon letters
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2005

Isotropic pitch based carbon fibers were exposed to isothermal oxidation in carbon dioxide gas to study the activation kinetics under the temperature of 800~$1100^{\circ}C$. The kinetic equation $f=1-{\exp}(-at^b)$ was introduced and the constant b was obtained in the range of 0.92~1.25. It was shown that the activated carbon fiber shows the highly specific surface area (SSA) when the constant b comes close to 1. The activation kinetics were evaluated by the reaction-controlling regime (RCR) according to changes of the apparent activation energy with changes of the conversion. It was observed that the activation energies increase from 47.6 to 51.2 kcal/mole with the conversion increasing from 0.2 to 0.8. It was found that the pores of the activated carbon fiber under the chemical reaction were developed well through the fiber.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.159-159
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• 2009

In this work, nitrogen and oxygen functionalities was introduced to the graphite nanofibers (GNFs) and their effect on electrocatalytic performance of the GNF supports for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) was invesigated. The nitrogen and oxygen groups were introduced through the urea treatments and acid treatment, respectively. And, PtRu catalysts deposited on modified GNFs were prepared by a chemical reduction method. The catalysts were characterized by means of elemental analysis, nitrogen adsorption, and X-ray photoelectron spetroscopy (XPS). The structure and morphological characteristics of the catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). As a result, the Pt-Ru nanoparticles were impregnated on GNFs with good formation in 3-5 nm. And, the cyclic voltammograms for methanol oxidation revealed that the methanol oxidation peak varied depending on changes of surface functional groups. It was thus considered that the PtRu deposition was related to the reduction of PtRu and surface characteristics of the carbon supports. The changes of surface functional groups were related to PtRu reduction, significantly affect the methanol oxidation activity of anode electrocatalysts in DMFCs.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 2013

In this work, the anodic oxidation of carbon fibers was carried out to enhance the mechanical interfacial properties of carbon fibers-reinforced epoxy matrix composites. The surface characteristics of the carbon fibers were studied by FTIR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Also, the mechanical interfacial properties of the composites were studied with interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), critical stress intensity factor ($K_{IC}$), and critical strain energy release rate ($G_{IC}$). The anodic oxidation led to a significant change in the surface characteristics of the carbon fibers. The anodic oxidation of carbon fiber improved the mechanical interfacial properties, such as ILSS, $K_{IC}$, and $G_{IC}$ of the composites. The mechanical interfacial properties of the composites anodized at 20% sulfuric/nitric (3/1) were the highest values among the anodized carbon fibers. These results were attributed to the increase of the degree of adhesion at interfaces between the carbon fibers and the matrix resins in the composite systems.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.936-941
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate formaldehyde removals by silver nano-particles attached on the surface of granular activated carbon (Ag-AC) and to compare the results to those obtained with ordinary activated carbon (AC). The BET analysis showed that the overall surface area and the fraction of micropores (less than $20{\AA}$ diameter) of the Ag-AC were significantly decreased because the silver particles blocked the small pores on the surface of the Ag-AC. The formaldehyde removal capacity of the Ag-AC determined using the Freundlich isotherm was higher than that of AC. Despite the decreased BET surface area and micropore volume, the Ag-AC had the increased removal capacity for formaldehyde, presumably due to catalytic oxidation by silver nano-particles. In contrast, the adsorption intensity of the Ag-AC, estimated by 1/n in the Freundlich isotherm equation, was similar to that of the ordinary AC, indicating that the surface modification using silver nano-particles did not affect the adsorption characteristics of AC. In a column experiment, the Ag-AC also showed a longer breakthrough time than that of the AC. Simulation results using the homogeneous surface diffusion model (HSDM) were well fitted to the breakthrough curve of formaldehyde for the ordinary AC, but the predictions showed substantial deviations from the experimental data for the Ag-AC. The discrepancy was due to the catalytic oxidation of silver nano-particles that was not incorporated in the HSDM. Consequently, a new numerical model that takes the catalytic oxidation into accounts needs to be developed to predict the combined oxidation and adsorption process more accurately.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.430-436
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• 2003

The nanoocrystalline Ni-l5W(at.%) coating electrodeposited on the high carbon steel was oxidized at 700 and $800^{\circ}C$ in air, and the resultant oxidation properties were investigated using XRD, EPMA, TGA and TEM. The oxidation resistance of the coating was not so good that most of the coating was oxidized after oxidation at $800^{\circ}C$ for 5 hrs. The oxidation led to the formation of the outer, thin NiO oxide scale and the inner, porous, rather thick ($NiWO_4$＋NiO) mixed layer containing a bit of $WO_2$. During oxidation, substrate elements such as Fe and Cr diffused outwardly toward the coating, according to the concentration gradient.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.90-95
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• 2006

Nitriding or carburizing of carbon steels results in good mechanical properties such as high surface hardness and wear resistance but it has no affection on the corrosion resistance. Corrosion properties of nitriding and carburizing steels could be deteriorated. So, recently, there have been great demand for oxi-nitriding to enhance both mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. In this study, the corrosion resistance of carbon steel, S35C, and free cutting steel, SUM222, are prepared by vacuum nitriding and vacuum post-oxidation were compared with those treated by nitriding. After vacuum post-oxidation, $5{\mu}m$ oxide layer was formed on the nitride layer with $20{\sim}30{\mu}m$ depth. Potentio-dynamic polarization curve in corrosion test showed that the corrosion potential after post oxidation was increased from 200 mV to 800 mV in S35C and from 600 mV to 1200 mV in SUM222. SEM analyses showed that pores was increased and surface roughness became rougher with post oxidation. However, the formation of $Fe_3O_4$ resulted in the enhanced corrosion resistance of steels.