• 한국전기화학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국전기화학회 2002년도 연료전지심포지움 2002논문집
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• pp.129-134
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• 2002

The present paper highlights on the need to understand the correlation of the characteristics of the catalyst layer with the performance of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. The paper deals with the correlation of the platinum loading in the catalyst layer and the performance of the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell(PEMFC) and also the correlation of the required hydrophiliticityihydrophobicity in the catalyst layer to get the optimum performance under given operating conditions.

• 신재생에너지
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.46-52
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• 2010

Membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have been extensively studied to improve their initial performance as well as their durability and to facilitate the commercialization of fuel cell technology. To improve the MEA performance, particularly at low Pt loadings, many approaches have been made. In the present study, MEA performance improvement was performed by adding $TiO_2$ particles into the catalyst layer of MEA. Most of previous studies have focused on the MEA performance enhancement under low humidity conditions by adding metal oxides into the catalyst layer mainly due to the water keeping ability of those metal oxides particles such as $Al_2O_3$, $SiO_2$ and zeolites. However, this study mainly focused on the improvement of MEA performance under fully humidified normal conditions. In this study, the MEA was prepared by decal method aiming for a continuous MEA fabrication process. The decal process can make very thin and uniform catalyst layer on the surface of electrolyte membrane resulting in very low interfacial resistance between catalyst layer and the membrane surface and uniform electrode structure in the MEA. It was found that the addition of $TiO_2$ particles into the catalyst layer made by decal method can minimize water flooding in the catalyst layer, resulting in the improvement of MEA performance.

• 전기화학회지
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• 제4권4호
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• pp.172-175
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• 2001

마그네트론 스퍼터링 방법에 의하여 Nanophase 촉매층을 형성하여 Direct Methanol Fuel Cell(DMFC)에 적용하였다. 일반적인 박막 증착 방법보다 높은 압력 (Ar/He혼합기체)에서 금속 Target과 탄소 Target을 동시에 스퍼터링하여 내피온막 위에 직접 코팅함으로써 기공성 있는 PtRu혹은 Pt및 탄소입자를 포함한 새로운 구조의 촉매층을 형성하였다. 본 방법에 의하여 $1.5mg/cm^2$의 PtRu(Anode) 및 $1mg/cm^2$ Pt(Cathode) 로딩으로 2M Methanol, 1 Bar공기, $80^{\circ}C$조건에서 $45mW/cm^2$의 출력을 얻을 수 있었으며, 이는 기존의 상용방법에 의하여 제조된 전극보다 같은 조건에서 $30\%$의 성능향상을 제시한 것이다. 이는 Nanophase촉매층 구조로 인하여 초미세 분말을 적용하였고, 많은 량의 원자들이 입계에 배열하게 됨으로써 촉매반응을 원활하게 하고,연료의 공급을 효율적으로 해준 것에 기안한 것으로 판단된다. 그러므로, 본 연구의 결과를 응용할 경우 DMFC를 휴대용 전자기기에 적용함에 있어서 성능향상 및 가격경쟁력 확보에 도움을 줄 것으로 기대된다.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국신재생에너지학회 2010년도 추계학술대회 초록집
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• pp.86.2-86.2
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• 2010

In order to improve polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) durability, the durability of membrane electrode assemblies (MEA), in which the electrochemical reactions actually occur, is one of the vital issues. Many articles have dealt with catalyst layer degradation of the durability-related factors on MEAs in relation to loss of catalyst surface area caused by agglomeration, dissolution, migration, formation of metal complexes and oxides, and/or instability of the carbon support. Degradation of catalyst layer during long-term operation includes cracking or delamination of the layer which result either from change in the catalyst microstructure or loss of electronic or ionic contact with the active surface, can result in apparent activity loss in the catalyst layer. Membrane degradation of the durability-related factors on MEAs can be caused by mechanical or thermal stress resulting in formation of pinholes and tears and/or by chemical attack of hydrogen peroxide radicals formed during the electrochemical reactions. All of these effects, the mechanical damage of membrane and degradation of catalyst layers are more facilitated by uneven stress or improper MEA fabrication process. In order to improve the PEMFC durability, therefore, it is most important to minimize the uneven stress or improper MEA fabrication process in the course of the fabrication of MEA. We analyzed the effects of the MEA fabrication condition on the PEMFC durability with MEA produced using CCM (catalyst coated membrane) method. This paper also investigated the effects of MEA fabrication condition on the PEMFC durability by adding additional treatment process, hot pressing and pressing, on the MEA produced using CCM method.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.73-84
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• 2014

Fuel cells of proton exchange membrane type (PEMFC) working with hydrogen in the anode and ambient air in the cathode ('air breathing') have been prepared and characterized. The cells have been studied with variable thickness of the cathode catalyst layer ($L_{CL}$), maintaining constant the platinum and ionomer loads. Polarization curves and electrochemical active area measurements have been carried out. The polarization curves are analyzed in terms of a model for a flooded passive air breathing cathode. The analysis shows that $L_{CL}$ affects to electrochemical kinetics and mass transport processes inside the electrode, as reflected by two parameters of the polarization curves: the Tafel slope and the internal resistance. The observed decrease in Tafel slope with decreasing $L_{CL}$ shows improvements in the oxygen reduction kinetics which we attribute to changes in the catalyst layer structure. A decrease in the internal resistance with $L_{CL}$ is attributed to lower protonic resistance of thinner catalyst layers, although the observed decrease is lower than expected probably because the electronic conduction starts to be hindered by more hydrophilic character and thicker ionomer film.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.280-283
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• 2011

In the present work, a new approach is proposed for via interconnects of semiconductor devices, where multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are used instead of conventional metals. In order to implement a selective growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for via interconnect, the buried catalyst method is selected which is the most compatible with semiconductor processes. The cobalt catalyst for CNT growth is pre-deposited before via hole patterning, and to achieve the via etch stop on the thin catalyst layer (ca. 3nm), a novel 2-step etch scheme is designed; the first step is a conventional oxide etch while the second step chemically etches the silicon nitride layer to lower the damage of the catalyst layer. The results show that the 2-step etch scheme is a feasible candidate for the realization of CNT interconnects in conventional semiconductor devices.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.233-238
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• 2011

In the present work, a new approach is proposed for via interconnects of semiconductor devices, where multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are used instead of conventional metals. In order to implement a selective growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for via interconnect, the buried catalyst method is selected which is the most compatible with semiconductor processes. The cobalt catalyst for CNT growth is pre-deposited before via hole patterning, and to achieve the via etch stop on the thin catalyst layer (ca. 3nm), a novel 2-step etch scheme is designed; the first step is a conventional oxide etch while the second step chemically etches the silicon nitride layer to lower the damage of the catalyst layer. The results show that the 2-step etch scheme is a feasible candidate for the realization of CNT interconnects in conventional semiconductor devices.

• 한국정밀공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국정밀공학회 2007년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.735-736
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• 2007

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국신재생에너지학회 2010년도 추계학술대회 초록집
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• pp.75.2-75.2
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• 2010

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) have received a lot of attention as a power source for both stationary and mobile applications due to their attractive feature. In general, the performance of PEFCs is highly affected by the property of the electrodes. A PEFC electrode essentially consists of a gas diffusion layer and a catalyst layer. The gas difusion layer is highly porous and hydrophobicized with PTFE polymer. The catalyst layer usually contains electrocatalyst, proton conducting polymer, even PTFE as additive. Particularly, the proton conducting ionomer helps to increase the catalytic activity at three-phase boundary and catalyst utilization. Futhermore, it helps to retain moisture, resulting in preventing the electrodes from membrane dehydration. The most widely used proton conducting ionomer is perfluorinated sulfonic acid polymer, namely, Nafion from DuPont due to its high proton conductivity and good mechanical property. However, there are great demands for alternative ionomers based on non-fluorinated materials in terms of high temperature availability, environmental adaptability and production cost. In this study, the electrodes with the various content of the sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) ionomer in the catalyst layer were prepared. In addition, we evaluated electrochemical properties of the prepared electrodes containing the various amount of the ionomers by using the cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy to find an optimal ionomer composition in the catalyst layer.

• 한국정밀공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국정밀공학회 2012년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.791-792
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• 2012