• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.333-341
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• 2020

In this study, the optimum design conditions of a polymer electrolyte membrane for application to a flexible electrochromic device (ECD) were tried to be derived. Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) with excellent adhesive property and transparency was selected as the base polymer for the preparation of the electrolyte membrane, and adipate-based polymer was used as the plasticizer. As a result, it was confirmed that the most influential factors on the ECD performance were the ionic conductivity and permeability of the electrolyte membrane. In addition, it was found that the factor has a close relationship with the dissociation property of the lithium salt. Overall, the optimal ECD performance was achieved when LiTFSI salt having a large anion size among various lithium salts was dissolved in a content of about 25 wt.%.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.292-303
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• 2022

An eco-friendly energy conversion device without the emission of pollutants has gained much attention due to the rapid use of fossil fuels inducing carbon dioxide emissions ever since the first industrial revolution in the 18th century. Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) that can produce water during the reaction without the emission of carbon dioxide are promising devices for automotive and residential applications. As a key component of PEMFCs, polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) need to have high proton conductivity and physicochemical stability during the operation. Currently, perfluorinated sulfonic acid-based PEMs (PFSA-PEMs) have been commercialized and utilized in PEMFC systems. Although the PFSA-PEMs are found to meet these criteria, there is an ongoing need to improve these further, to be useful in practical PEMFC operation. In addition, the well-known drawbacks of PFSA-PEMs including low glass transition temperature and high gas crossover need to be improved. Therefore, this review focused on recent trends in the development of high-performance PFSA-PEMs in three different ways. First, control of the side chain of PFSA copolymers can effectively improve the proton conductivity and thermal stability by increasing the ion exchange capacity and polymer crystallinity. Second, the development of composite-type PFSA-PEMs is an effective way to improve proton conductivity and physical stability by incorporating organic/inorganic additives. Finally, the incorporation of porous substrates is also a promising way to develop a thin pore-filling membrane showing low membrane resistance and outstanding durability.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.208-215
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• 2012

Gel polymer electrolyte membranes were prepared from blends of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly (acrylic acid) (PAA), by solution-cast technique. The PAA content in the blend varied from 30 to 80 wt%. With the gel polymer electrolyte membranes, Zn air batteries were fabricated. The gel polymer electrolyte membranes were characterized by means of stress-strain test, impedance test. The Zn air batteries were tested by current interrupt method and galvanostatic discharge method. The tensile strength and tensile modulus decreased with increasing PAA content in the gel polymer electrolyte membrane. On the other hand, the ionic conductivity increased with increasing PAA content. The effect of ionic conductivity trend of the gel polymer electrolyte membrane in the Zn air battery was confirmed through current interrupt method and galvanostatic discharge method experiments. The battery with higher PAA content gel polymer electrolyte membrane showed lower IR drop and higher discharge capacity.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.489-496
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• 2021

The performandce of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell depends on the effective management of heat and product water by the electrochemical reaction. This study is designed to investigate the parametric change of heat management along the channel of polymer electrolyte membrane. The model was developed by an aspen custom modeler that it can solve differential equation with distretization model. The model can simulate water transport through the membrane electrolyte that is coupled with heat generation. In order to verify the model, it is compared with the experimental data. The water transport behavior is then evaluated with the simulation model.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.471-473
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• 2006

An object of the present study is to provide a hollow fiber membrane humidifier capable of improving the humidification efficiency while lowering the pressure loss, and is suitably usable for PEMFC(Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell). The performance of PEMFC is decisively dependent on the humidity of the electrolyte membrane(fluorinated membrane) and a humidifier plays an important role in moisturizing electrolyte membrane. Especially this humidifier is adaptable for lower price to promote the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles and is passive type to be power free and to be volumetrically optimized. In this research, we propose the substitutes for the expensive fluorinated materials and the optimum dry-jet wet spinning conditions of hollow fiber membrane to get the fuel cell humidifier. In addition to that we established the standard method of evaluating the moisturizing performance of the humidifier of various materials.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.177-179
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• 2007

An object of the present study is to provide a hollow fiber membrane humidifier capable of improving the humidification efficiency while lowering the pressure loss, and is suitably usable for PEMFC(Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell). The performance of PEMFC is decisively dependent on the humidity of the electrolyte membrane(fluorinated membrane) and a humidifier plays an important role in moisturizing electrolyte membrane. Especially, this humidifier is a passive type(power-free) item and is volumetrically optimized. In this research, we propose the substitutes for the expensive fluorinated humidifier materials and the optimum dry-jet wet spinning conditions of hollow fiber membrane. In addition to that, This study will present an performance of an humidifier and compare computational results with the experimental data.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.127-131
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• 2016

Polymer electrolyte membrane for unitized regenerative fuel cells requires high proton conductivity, high dimensional stability, low permeability, and low cost. However, DuPont's Nafion which is a commercial polymer electrolyte membrane has high permeability, high cost, and decreasing proton conductivity and dimensional stability over $80^{\circ}C$. To address these problems, sulfonated poly ether ether ketone (sPEEK) which is a low cost hydrocarbon polymer is selected as matrix polymer for the preparation of polymer electrolyte membrane. In addition, composite membrane with improved proton conductivity and dimensional stability is prepared by introducing sulfonated graphene oxide (sGO). The fundamental properties of polymer electrolyte membranes are analyzed by investigating membrane's water content, dimensional stability, proton conductivity, and morphology. The cell test is conducted to consider the possibility of application of sPEEK/sGO composite membrane for an unitized regenerative fuel cell.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.9 no.7
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• pp.1047-1052
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• 1998

The porous alumina membrane was prepared from aluminum metal(99.8%) by anodic oxidation using DC power supply of constant current mode in aqueous solution of sulfuric, oxalic, phosphoric and chromic acid. Pore size and distribution, membrane thickness, morphology and crystal structure were examined with several anodizing conditions : reaction temperature, electrolyte concentration, current density and electrolyte type. It was found that ultrafiltration membrane was fabricated in electrolyte of sulfuric, and oxalic acid. On the other hand, microfiltration membrane was fabricated in electrolyte of phosphoric, and chromic acid. Also, it was shown that crystal structure of porous alumina membrane prepared in sulfuric, oxalic, and phosphoric acid was amorphous, whereas porous alumina membrane prepared in chromic acid had ${\gamma}$ type of crystal structure.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.295-300
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• 2007

A new characterization method using a porous plug model was proposed to determine the degree of sulfonation (DS) of ionomer binder with respect to the membrane used in membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) and to analyze the fraction of proton pathways through ionomer-catalyst combined electrodes in MEAs for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) was prepared to use a polymeric electrolyte and laboratory-made SPEEK solution (5wt.%, DMAc based) was added to catalyst slurry to form catalyst layers. In case of the SPEEK-based MEAs in this study, DS of ionomer binder for catalyst layers should be the same or higher than that of the SPEEK membrane used in the MEAs. The porous plug model suggested that most of protons were via the ionomer binder (${\sim}92.5%$) bridging the catalyst surface to the polymeric electrolyte, compared with the pathways through the alternative between the interstitial water on the surface of ionomer binder or catalyst and the ionomer binder (${\sim}7.3%$) and through only the interstitial water on the surface of ionomer or catalyst (${\sim}0.2%$) in the electrode of the MEA comprising of the sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) membrane and the 5wt.% SPEEK ionomer binder. As a result, it was believed that the majority of proton at both electrodeds moves through ionomer binder until reaching to electrolyte membrane. The porous plug model of the electrodes of MEAs reemphasized the importance of well-optimized structure of ionomer binder and catalyst for fuel cells.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2019

In this study, we reported a solid-state supercapacitor consisting of titanium nitride (TiN) nanofiber and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT-PSS) conducting polymer electrode and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based polymer electrolyte membrane. The TiN nanofiber was selected as electrode materials due to high electron conductivity and 2-dimensional structure which is beneficial for scaffold effect. PEDOT-PSS is suitable for organic/inorganic composites due to good redox reaction with hydrogen ions in electrolyte and good dispersion in solution. By synergetic effect of TiN nanofiber and PEDOT-PSS, the PEDOT-PSS/TiN electrode showed higher surface area than the flat Ti foil substrate. The PVA-based polymer electrolyte membrane could prevent leakage and explosion problem of conventional liquid electrolyte and possess high specific capacitance due to the fast ion diffusion of small $H^+$ ions. The specific capacitance of PEDOT-PSS/TiN supercapacitor reached 75 F/g, which was much higher than that of conventional carbon-based supercapacitors.