• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.810-814
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• 2017

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are some of the most efficient electrochemical energy sources for transportation applications because of their clean, green, and high efficiency characteristics. The optimization of catalyst layer morphology is considered a feasible approach to achieve high performance of PEMFC membrane electrode assembly (MEA). In this work, we studied the effect of the solvent on the catalyst layer of PEMFC MEAs fabricated using the electrostatic spray deposition method. The catalyst ink comprised of Pt/C, a Nafion ionomer, and a solvent. Two types of solvent were used: isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and dimethylformamide (DMF). Compared with the catalyst layer prepared using IPA-based ink, the catalyst layer prepared with DMF-based ink had a dense structure because the DMF dispersed the Pt/C-Nafion agglomerates smaller and more homogeneously. The size distribution of the agglomerates in catalyst ink was confirmed through Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and the microstructure of the catalyst layer was compared using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). In addition, the electrochemical investigation was performed to evaluate the solvent effect on the fuel cell performance. The catalyst layer prepared with DMF-based ink significantly enhanced the cell performance (1.2 A cm-2 at 0.5 V) compared with that fabricated using IPA-based ink (0.5 A cm-2 at 0.5 V) due to the better dispersion and uniform agglomeration on the catalyst layer.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.546-551
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• 2024

As an effective methods of plasma heating, neutral beam injection (NBI) systems based on negative hydrogen ion sources will be utilized in future magnetic-confinement nuclear fusion experiments. Because of the collisions between the fast negative ions and the neutral background gas, the positive ions are inevitable created in the acceleration region in the negative NBI system. These positive ions are accelerated back into the ion source and become high energy backstreaming ions. In order to explore the characters of backstreaming ions, the track and power deposition of backstreaming H⁺ beam is estimated using the experimental and simulation methods at NNBI test facility. Results show that the flux of backstreaming positive ions is 1.93 % of that of negative ion extraction from ion source, and the magnet filed in the beam source has an effect on the backstreaming positive ions propagation.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.1314-1318
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• 2010

The $[Ru(tpy)_2]Cl_2$ (tpy:2,2':6',2"-terpyridine) complex was synthesized and its structure was confirmed by $^1H$-NMR and elemental analysis. Its binding mode toward DNA was compared with the well-known $[Ru(bpy)_3]Cl_2$ (bpy:2,2-bipyridyl), using isotropic absorption, linear dichroism(LD) spectroscopy, and an energy minimization study. Compared to $[Ru(bpy)_3]^{2+}$, the $[Ru(tpy)_2]^{2+}$ complex exhibited very little change in its absorption pattern, especially in the MLCT band, upon binding to DNA. Furthermore, upon DNA binding, both Ru(II) complexes induced a decrease in the LD magnitude in the DNA absorption region. The $[Ru(tpy)_2]^{2+}$ complex produced a strong positive LD signal in the ligand absorption region, which is in contrast with the $[Ru(bpy)_3]^{2+}$ complex. Observed spectral properties led to the conclusion that the interaction between the ligands and DNA bases is negligible for the $[Ru(tpy)_2]^{2+}$ complex, although it formed an adduct with DNA. This conclusion implies that both complexes bind to the surface of DNA, most likely to negatively charged phosphate groups via a simple electrostatic interaction, thereby orienting to exhibit the LD signal. The energy minimization calculation also supported this conclusion.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.2077-2082
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• 2009

The conformational and electronic properties of 2-cyano-3-(thiophen-2-yl)acrylic acid (TCA) in analogues used as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells was examined using density functional theory (DFT) and natural bond orbital analysis methods. A relaxed potential energy surface scan was performed on NKX-2677 by rotating the C-C bond between the thiophene and cyanoacrylic acid which yielded activation energy barriers of about 13 kcal/mol for both E and Z configurations. The most stable conformation of all the analogues was E-180 except for NKX-2587 which has an electrostatic repulsion between the oxygen of the coumarin and the nitrogen of the cyanoacrylic acid. The increase in the electron delocalization between the thiophene and cyanoacrylic acid influences the stability for most of the analogues. But for NKX-2600, even though there was a greater deviation from the planarity of TCA, the stability was mainly due to the presence of a weak hydrogen bond between the hydrogen of the methyl group of the amine located in the donor moiety and the nitrogen of the cyanoacrylic acid. The vertical excitation energies of the analogues containing TCA were calculated by time-dependent DFT method. There were slight differences in its vertical excitation energies but the oscillator strengths vary significantly especially in the case of NKX-2600.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.487-492
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• 2019

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is a typical inorganic material that has an excellent photocatalytic property and a high refractive index. It is used in water/air purifiers, solar cells, white pigments, refractory materials, semiconductors, etc.; its demand is continuously increasing. In this study, anatase and rutile phase titanium dioxide is prepared using hydroxyl and carboxyl; the titanium complex and its mechanism are investigated. As a result of analyzing the phase transition characteristics by a heat treatment temperature using a titanium complex having a hydroxyl group and a carboxyl group, it is confirmed that the material properties were different from each other and that the anatase and rutile phase contents can be controlled. The titanium complexes prepared in this study show different characteristics from the titania-formation temperatures of the known anatase and rutile phases. It is inferred that this is due to the change of electrostatic adsorption behavior due to the complexing function of the oxygen sharing point, which crystals of the TiO₆ structure share.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

An understanding of particle-particle interactions in filtration requires studying the detachment as well as the attachment of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles captured in a granular media filter can be released by changing the physicochemical factors. In this study, the detachment of captured silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in granular media filtration was examined under different ionic strengths, ion type, and the presence or absence of natural organic matter (NOM). Filtration velocity and ionic strength were chosen as the physical and chemical factors to cause the detachment. Increasing filtration velocity caused a negligible amount of AgNP detachment. On the other hand, lowering ionic strength showed different release amounts depending on the background ions, implying a population of loosely captured particles inside the filter bed. Overall detachment was affected by ionic strength and ion type, and to a lesser degree by NOM coating which resulted in slightly more detachment (in otherwise identical conditions) than in the absence of that coating, possibly by steric effects. The secondary energy minimum with Na ions was deeper and wider than with Ca ions, probably due to the lack of complexation with citrate and charge neutralization that would be caused by Ca ions. This result implies that the change in chemical force by reducing ionic strength of Na ions could significantly enhance the detachment compared to that caused by a change in physical force, due to a weak electrostatic deposition between nanoparticles and filter media. A modification of the 1-D filtration model to incorporate a detachment term showed good agreement with experimental data; estimating the detachment coefficients for that model suggested that the detachment rate could be similar regardless of the amount of previously captured AgNPs.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.357-363
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• 2004

A prototype long pulse ion source was developed, and the beam extraction experiments of the ion source were carried out at the Neutral Beam Test Stand (NBTS) of the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR). The ion source consists of a magnetic bucket plasma generator, with multi-pole cusp fields, and a set of tetrode accelerators with circular apertures. Design requirements for the ion source were a 120kV/65A deuterium beam and a 300 s pulse length. Arc discharges of the plasma generator were controlled by using the emission-limited mode, in turn controlled by the applied heating voltage of the cathode filaments. Stable and efficient arc plasmas with a maximum arc power of 100 kW were produced using the constant power mode operation of an arc power supply. A maximum ion density of $8.3{\times}10^{11}\;cm^{-3}$ was obtained by using electrostatic probes, and an optimum arc efficiency of 0.46 A/kW was estimated. The accelerating and decelerating voltages were applied repeatedly, using the re-triggering mode operation of the high voltage switches during a beam pulse, when beam disruptions occurred. The decelerating voltage was always applied prior to the accelerating voltage, to suppress effectively the back-streaming electrons produced at the time of an initial beam formation, by the pre-programmed fast-switch control system. A maximum beam power of 0.9 MW (i.e. $70\;kV{\times}12.5\;A$) with hydrogen was measured for a pulse duration of 0.8 s. Optimum beam perveance, deduced from the ratio of the gradient grid current to the total beam current, was $0.7\;{\mu}perv$. Stable beams for a long pulse duration of $5{\sim}10\;s$ were tested at low accelerating voltages.

• Journal of Korea Society of Waste Management
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.518-527
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• 2017

The development of renewable energy is currently strongly required to address environmental problems such as global warming. In particular, biomass is highlighted due to its advantages. When using biomass as an energy source, the conversion process is essential. Fast pyrolysis, which is a thermochemical conversion method, is a known method of producing bio-oil. Therefore, various studies were conducted with fast pyrolysis. Most studies were conducted under a lab-scale process. Hence, scaling up is required for commercialization. However, it is difficult to find studies that address the process analysis, even though this is essential for developing a scaled-up plant. Hence, the present study carries out the process analysis of biomass pyrolysis. The fast pyrolysis system includes a biomass feeder, fast pyrolyzer, cyclone, condenser, and electrostatic precipitator (ESP). A two-stage, semi-global reaction mechanism was applied to simulate the fast pyrolysis reaction and a circulating fluidized bed reactor was selected as the fast pyrolyzer. All the equipment in the process was modeled based on heat and mass balance equations. In this study, process analysis was conducted with various reaction temperatures and residence times. The two-stage, semi-global reaction mechanism for circulating fluidized-bed reactor can be applied to simulate a scaled-up plant.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2021

As opposed to using fossil fuels, we need to use eco-friendly resources such as sunlight, raindrops and wind to produce electricity and combat environmental pollution. A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a device that converts mechanical energy into electricity by inducing repetitive contact and separation of two dissimilar materials. During the contact and separation processes, electron flow occurs owing to a change in electric potential of the contacting surface caused by contact electrification and electrostatic induction mechanisms. A solid-solid contact TENG is widely known, but it is possible to generate electricity via liquid-solid contact. Therefore, by designing a hydrophobic TENG, we can gather electricity from raindrop energy in a feasible manner. To fabricate the superhydrophobic surface of TENGs, we employ a dip coating technique to synthesize an octadecylamine (ODA)- and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based coating on polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The synthesized coating exhibits superhydrophobicity with a contact angle greater than 150° and generates a current of 2.2 ㎂/L while water droplets fall onto it continuously. Hence, we prepare a box-type TENG, with the ODA/PDMS coating deposited on the inside, and place a 1.5 mL water droplet into it. Resultantly, we confirm that the induced vibration causes continuous impacts between the ODA/PDMS coating and the water, generating approximately 100 pA for each impact.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.106-111
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• 2024

A triboelectric nanogenerator is a promising energy harvester operated by the combined mechanism of electrostatic induction and contact electrification. It has attracting attention as eco-friendly and sustainable energy generators by harvesting wasting mechanical energies. However, the power generated in the natural environment is accompanied by low frequencies, so that the output power under such input conditions is normally insufficient amount for a variety of industrial applications. In this study, we introduce a non-contact rotational triboelectric nanogenerator using pedaling and gear systems (called by P-TENG), which has a mechanism that produces high power by using rack gear and pinion gear when a large force by a pedal is given. We design the system can rotate the shaft to which the rotor is connected through the conversion of vertical motion to rotational motion between the rack gear and the pinion gear. Furthermore, the system controls the one directional rotation due to the engagement rotation of the two pinion gears and the one-way needle roller bearing. The TENG with a 2 mm gap between the rotor and the stator produces about the power of 200 ㎼ and turns on 82 LEDs under the condition of 800 rpm. We expect that P-TENG can be used in a variety of applications such as operating portable electronics or sterilizing contaminated water.