• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have been under development for a variety of power generation applications. Power system sizes considered range from small watt-size units (e.g., 50-W portable devices) to very large multi-megawatt systems (e.g., 500-MW base load power plants). Because of the reversibility of its operation, the SOFC has also been developed to operate under reverse or electrolysis mode for hydrogen production from steam (In this case, the cell is referred to as solid oxide electrolysis cell or SOEC.). Potential applications for the SOEC include on-site and large-scale hydrogen production. One critical requirement for practical uses of these systems is long-term performance stability under specified operating conditions. Intrinsic material properties and operating environments can have significant effects on cell performance stability, thus performance degradation rate. This paper discusses potential applications of the SOFC/SOEC, technological status and current research and development (R&D) direction, and certain aspects of long-term performance degradation in the operation of SOFCs/SOECs for power generation/hydrogen production.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.148-154
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• 2009

With respect to the durability of large scale ($150cm^2$) membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), degradation phenomena at cathode is monitored and analyzed according to the position on the cathode surface. After constant current mode operation of large scale MEA for 500 hr, the MEA is divided into three parts along the cathode channel; (close to) inlet, middle, and (close to) outlet. The performance of each MEA is tested and it is revealed that the MEA from the cathode outlet of large MEA shows the worst performance. This is due to the catalyst degradation and GDL delamination caused by flooding at cathode outlet of large MEA during the 500 hr operation. Particularly on the catalyst degradation, the loss of electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of catalyst gets worse along the cathode channel from inlet to outlet, of which the reason is believed to be loss of catalysts by dissolution and migration rather than their agglomeration. The extent of loss in the performance and catalyst degradation has strong relation to the cathode flooding and it is required to develop proper water management techniques and separator channel design to control the flooding.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.76.1-76.1
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• 2010

Recently, many efforts to solve the durability problem of PEM fuel cell are carried on constantly. However, despite this attention, durability researches of gas diffusion layer (GDL) are not much reported yet. Generally, GDL of PEM fuel cell experiences three external attacks, which are dissolution of water, erosion of gas flow, corrosion of electric potential. In this study, among these degradation factors, carbon corrosion of electric potential was focused and investigated with accelerated carbon corrosion test. Through the test, it is confirmed that carbon corrosion occurred at GDL, and corroded GDL decreased a performance of operating fuel cell. The property changes of GDL were measured with various methods such as air permeability meter, pore distribution analyzer, thermo gravimetric analyzer, and tensile stress test to discover the effects of carbon corrosion. Carbon corrosion caused not only loss of weight and thickness, but also degradation of mechanical strength of GDL. In addition, to analysis the reason of GDL property changes, a surface and a cross section of GDL were observed with scanning electron microscope. After 100 hours test, the GDL showed serious damage in center of layer.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.494-497
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• 2006

For commercialization of polymer electrolytemembrane fuel cell (PEMFC), durability of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) has to be improved. Especially, long-term stability of MEA is one of the most important issues for frequent shut-down and start-up processes of PEMFC. The degradation of MEA could be attributed to chemical attack of hydrogen peroxide radicals that are formed at high cell voltages without any special treatment to remove residual hydrogen from anode gas channel after shut-down of the fuel cell. In this study, we investigated the long-term stability of MEA under different on/off operation conditions. Residential hydrogen gas was removed from the anode flow channel by purging air or nitrogen. Also, a dummy resistance was applied to the fuel cell to exhaust residential hydrogen at the anode. In these cases, MEA showed much more stable durability. Electrochemical characteristics of the fuel cell were measured byrepeating the on/off cycles with the hydrogen removal processes. Also, degradation of MEA components was examined by SEM, TEM and XRD analyses.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.421-427
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• 2013

We report on the time dependent degradation of cell in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The photovoltaic performance of DSSC over a period of time was investigated in liquid electrolyte based on triiodide/iodide during six days. It was found that the short circuit current density ($j_{sc}$) of the cell dropped from 9.9 to $7mA/cm^2$ while efficiency (${\eta}$) of the cell decreased from 4.4 to 3.3%. The parameters corresponding to fundamental electronic and ionic processes in a working DSSC are determined from the electrochemical impedance spectrascopy (EIS) at open-circuit potential ($V_{oc}$). EIS study of the DSSC in the this work showed that the electron life time ${\tau}_r$ and chemical capacitance $C_{\mu}$ decreased significantly after six days. It was correlated the $j_{sc}$ and efficiency decreased after six days.

• Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.153-161
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• 2018

Imbalance of protein homeostasis (proteostasis) is known to cause cellular malfunction, cell death, and diseases. Elaborate regulation of protein synthesis and degradation is one of the important processes in maintaining normal cellular functions. Protein degradation pathways in eukaryotes are largely divided into proteasome-mediated degradation and lysosome-mediated degradation. Proteasome is a multisubunit complex that selectively degrades 80% to 90% of cellular proteins. Proteasome-mediated degradation can be divided into 26S proteasome (20S proteasome + 19S regulatory particle) and free 20S proteasome degradation. In 1980, it was discovered that during ubiquitination process, wherein ubiquitin binds to a substrate protein in an ATP-dependent manner, ubiquitin acts as a degrading signal to degrade the substrate protein via proteasome. Conversely, 20S proteasome degrades the substrate protein without using ATP or ubiquitin because it recognizes the oxidized and structurally modified hydrophobic patch of the substrate protein. To date, most studies have focused on protein degradation via 26S proteasome. This review describes the 26S/20S proteasomal pathway of protein degradation and discusses the potential of proteasome as therapeutic targets for cancer treatment as well as against diseases caused by abnormalities in the proteolytic system.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.545-552
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• 2004

The long-term stability of sulfonic acid-containing polyimides has been investigated. The hydrolytic degradation of homopolyimide and the block copolyimide comprising $27\;mol\%$ of 2,2'-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine and $9\;mol\%$ of m-phenylenediamine (BTFMB27mPl0[7/(3+1)]), was quantified through viscosity measurements and FT-IR spectroscopic analyses. The viscosity decrease with respect to time and the degradation rate were similar. The degrees of degradation with respect to time under ambient conditions and at elevated temperature in water were monitored by FT-IR spectroscopy. A new absorption peak was observed at $1786\;cm^{-1},$ which we corresponds to the presence of anhydride end groups formed by hydrolytic scission of the imide rings.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.43-50
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• 2010

In this study, we have isolated MTBE utilizing bacteria at the gasoline contaminated soil and also MTBE degradation patterns were characterized. The 18 bacterial mono-cultures isolated from enrichment cultures were screened for MTBE degradation. Of the 18 strains, the 3 strains (Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, and Achromobacter) have shown effective MTBE degradation. Experimental parameters affecting the growth conditions (such as temperature, pH, initial cell mass) were optimized. Experimental parameters such as temperature $30^{\circ}C$, pH 7, and initial cell mass 0.6 g/mL in optimal growth conditions for MTBE degradation. The optimal growth conditions of the isolated stains were temperature $30^{\circ}C$, pH 7, and initial cell mass 0.6 g/mL in our experiment, respectively. The first order degradation coefficients of Achromobacter, Mixed culture, Pseudomonas, and Flavobacterium were 0.072, 0.066, 0.047, and $0.032hr^{-1}$, respectively. and also, it could be expressed as a degradation rate considering cell mass (1.302, 1.019, 0.523, and 0.352 mg/TSS g/hr for each microorganism). Although Achromobacter has shown highest MTBE degradation rate, degradation rate for BTEX was relatively lower than other strains. and Mixed culture and Flavobacterium have shown similar degradation pattern for MTBE and BTEX biodegradation.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.6
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• pp.1-6
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• 1988

The experiment was conducted to study on the physiology of developing embryo and endosperm degradation during germination of Zea mays seeds treated with GA 20 and B-Nine 5000 ppm. Data obtained can be summerized as follows : 1. Swelling of seminal root increased the section of GA treatment more or less, on the other hand, the section of B-9 treatment inhibited slightly. 2. According to elapsing of seeding date, epithelial cell of Scutellum expansed in size, and the space of cell increased, that degree was enlarged as follows ; the section of GA, the section of Control, and the section of B-9. 3. According to the elapsing of seeding date, the formation of vascular organization embryo became clearer little by little, the lignification of vascular B-9 treatment section rather higher than the other section. 4. The degradation of Starch Grain is composed of near part of epithelial cell of Scutellum, the shape of degradation radiate from element of a disk shape, and the speed of degradation is the section of GA, the section of Control, the section of B-9 in turn.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.256-263
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• 2012

We studied the degradation phenomenon of Pt catalyst in PEMFC. We used the electron microscope analysis technique including the ultra-microtome pretreatment method, FEG-SEM and TEM analysis methods for analysis of Pt nanoparticles. The Pt catalyst degradation is observed not only in electrode site but also in membrane site. We investigated these various degradation phenomena. The cathode electrode layer thickness is reduced. The size of the catalyst is increased much larger than initial size in membrane site. The catalyst moved from electrode layer to the electrolyte membrane. The rounded shape of catalyst was changed to the polygon. As a result, we found that the catalyst degradation processes of migration and coarsening occurred by the followings mechanisms; (1) dissolution of Pt ; (2) diffusion of Pt ion ; (3) Pt ion chemical reduction in membrane; (4) Coarsening of Pt particles (Ostwald ripening) ; (5) polygon shape change of Pt by {111} plane growth.