• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.118-123
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• 2006

Degradation of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) that is facilitated by on/off cycles is one of the most important issues for commercialization of fuel cell vehicles. When a PEMFC stack is shut down, residual hydrogen and induce high voltage equivalent to open circuit voltage to the cathode side that might cause sintering of Pt catalyst and facilitate formation of hydrogen peroxide at the anode side that might decompose $Nafionc\'{A}$ membrane. In this study, degradation of PEMFC exposed to repetitive on/off cycles was investigated by measuring i-V characteristics, ac impedance, cyclic voltammograms, gas leak, cross-sectional SEM images, and TEM images. To prevent degradation of PEMFC caused by the residual gases, hydrogen was removed from anode gas channel by gas-purging and by using a dummy resistance, that were found to be a very effective method.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.157-162
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• 2014

In this research, we investigate electrical performance and electrochemical properties of carbon supported Pt (Pt/C) that is synthesized by polyol method. With the Polyol_Pt/C that is adopted for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) as cathode of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), their catalytic activity and ORR performance and electrical performance are estimated and compared with commercial Pt/C(Johnson Mattey) catalyst. Their electrochemically active surface (EAS) area are measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV), respectively. On the other hand, regarding ORR activity and electrical performance of the catalysts, (i) linear sweeping voltammetry by rotating disk electrode and (ii) PEMFC single cell tests are used. The CV measurement demonstrate EAS of Polyol_Pt/C is compared with commercial JM_Pt/C. In case of Polyol_Pt/C, its half-wave potential, kinetic current density are excellent. Based on data obtained by half-cell test, when PEMFC single cell tests are carried out, current density measured at 0.6V and maximum power density of the PEMFC single cell employing Polyol_Pt/C are better than those employing commercial Pt/C. Conclusively, Polyol_Pt/C synthesized by modified polyol process shows better ORR catalytic activity and PEMFC performance than other catalysts.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.379-386
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• 1996

Photosensitive compound, 1-methyl-4-[2-(4-diethylacetylphenyl)ethenyl] pridinium methosulfate(SbQ-A salt), was synthesized from dimethyl sulfate, terephthalaldehyde mono-(diethylacetal) and 4-picoline. SbQ-A salts were reacted with poly(vinyl alcohol)s, (PVA) in aqueous solution with phosphoric acid as catalyst to give photosensitive PVA-SbQ with different SbQ content and molecular weight. Relative photosensitivity of PVA-SbQ was determined by gray scale(GS) method. The rotative sensitivity of PVA-SbQ increased with increasing amount of bound SbQ in the case of high molecular weight(MW=77,000-79,000g/mol) as substrate and decreased with decreasing molecular weight of PVA with about constant(1.3mol%) amount of bound SbQ. The most sensitive polymer was obtained when SbQ group content in PVA-SbQ reached about 2.63mol% in the case of high molecular weight(77,000-79,000g/mol) PVA. This sample showed 90 times greater sensitivity than dichromated PVA as reference photosensitive system. PVA-SbQ photosensitive polymer synthesized was applied to the photolithographic screening process of phosphor on the panel of cathode ray tube(CRT). Phosphor slurry was made with PVA-SbQ, phosphor, a small amount of surfactant and other additives using water as medium. The slurry was coated onto panel, dried by heater, exposed to UV light and then developed by distilled water. When a small amount of cationic surfactant such as cetyltrimethylammonium chloride was used in the slurry formulation, the sharpness of phosphor pattern was equal to or better than that of dichromated PVA photosensitive polymer system used currently.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.242-248
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• 2016

The overall reaction rate of fuel cell is governed by oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in the cathode due to its slowest reaction compared to the oxidation of hydrogen in the anode. The ORR efficiency can be readily evaluated by examining the adsorption strength of atomic oxygen on the surface of catalysts (i.e., known as a descriptor) and the adsorption energy can be controlled by transforming the surface geometry of catalysts. In the current study, the effect of the surface geometry of catalysts (i.e., strain effect) on the adsorption strength of atomic oxygen on platinum catalysts was analyzed by using density functional theory (DFT). The optimized lattice constant of Pt ($3.977{\AA}$) was increased and decreased by 1% to apply tensile and compressive strain to the Pt surface. Then the oxygen adsorption strengths on the modified Pt surfaces were compared and the electron charge density of the O-adsorbed Pt surfaces was analyzed. As the interatomic distance increased, the oxygen adsorption strength became stronger and the d-band center of the Pt surface atoms was shifted toward the Fermi level, implying that anti-bonding orbitals were shifted to the conduction band from the valence band (i.e., the anti-bonding between O and Pt was less likely formed). Consequently, enhanced ORR efficiency may be expected if the surface Pt-Pt distance can be reduced by approximately 2~4% compared to the pure Pt owing to the moderately controlled oxygen binding strength for improved ORR.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.301-305
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• 2007

The performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell could be decreased due to coolant leaked from connection part. Micro pump was used to put small amount of coolant and investigate the effect on fuel cell. The stoichiometric ratio of hydrogen/air was 1.5/2.0, both side of gas was fully humidified, and current density of $400mA/cm^2$ was used as standard condition in this experiment. Constant current method was used to check performance recovery from coolant effect in 3 cell stack. The performance was recovered when coolant was injected in cathode side. On the other hand, the performance was not recovered when coolant was injected in anode side. Ethylene glycol could be converted to CO in oxidation process and cause poisoning effect on platinum catalyst or be adhered on GDL and cause gas diffusion block effect resulting performance decrease. Water with nitrogen gas was supplied in anode side to check performance recovery. Polarization curve, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to check performance, and gas chromatography was used to check coolant concentration. Constant current method was not enough in full recovery of performance. However, water injection method was proved good method in full recovery of performance.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.613-620
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• 2021

A flow channel shape of PEMFC has an influence on the internal flow uniformity. If the reactant distribution in a flow path is not uniform during operation, both catalyst deactivation and mechanical damage of membrane could occur resulting in decreasing the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) durability. Numerous studies concerning flow design have been conducted to make smooth supply and uniform distribution of reactants in fuel cells. The baffle of flow path could improve fuel cell performance through the forced convection effect. A sub-channel, as an additional air flow path, could increase the reactant concentration and reduce the mass transfer loss via a smooth water discharge. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to analyze the effect of blocks and sub-channels on the current density and oxygen concentration of the fuel cell. As a result, the limit current density and oxygen concentration at a rear block increased when using blocks and sub-channels in a flow channel. In particular, the current density increased significantly when the sub-channel was placed between two blocks. Also, the sub-channel position was optimized by analyzing the oxygen concentration, and the oxygen concentration was recovered at a rear block in the fuel cell.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.60-67
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• 2019

A valuable metal recovery from waste resources such as spent rechargeable secondary batteries is of critical issues because of a sharp increase in the amount of waste resources. In this context, it is necessary to research not only recycling waste lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but also reusing valuable metals (e.g., Li, Co, Ni, Mn etc.) recovered from waste LIBs. In particular, the lithium hydroxide ($LiOH{\cdot}xH_2O$), which is of precursors that can be prepared by the recovery of Li in waste LIBs, can be reused as a catalyst, a carbon dioxide absorbent, and again as a precursor for cathode materials of LIB. However, most studies of recycling the waste LIBs have been focused on the preparation of lithium carbonate with a recovery of Li. Herein, we show the preparation of high purity lithium hydroxide powder along with the precipitation process, and the systematic study to find an optimum condition is also carried out. The lithium carbonate, which is recovered from waste LIBs, was used as starting materials for synthesis of lithium hydroxide. The optimum precipitation conditions for the preparation of LiOH were found as follows: based on stirring, reaction temperature $90^{\circ}C$, reaction time 3 hr, precursor ratio 1:1. To synthesize uniform and high purity lithium hydroxide, 2-step precipitation process was additionally performed, and consequently, high purity $LiOH{\cdot}xH_2O$ powder was obtained.