• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
• /
• 2003.06a
• /
• pp.177-180
• /
• 2003

A glassy carbon electrode(GCE) modified with nafion-DTPA-glycerol was used for the highly selective and sensitive determination of a trace amount of Cu$\^$2+/. Various experimental parameters, which influenced the response of nafion-DTPA-glycerol modified electrode to Cu$\^$2+/, were optimized. The copper(II) was accumulated on the electrode surface by the formation of the complex in an open circuit, and the resulting surface was characterized by medium exchange, electrochemical reduction, and differential pulse voltammetry, A linear range was obtained in the concentration range 1.0${\times}$10$\^$-8/M∼1.0${\times}$10$\^$-6/M Cu(II) with 7 min preconcentration. Further, when an approximate amount of lead(II) is added to the test solution, nafion-DTPA-glycerol modified glassy carbon electrode has a dynamic range of 2 orders magnitude(1.0${\times}$10$\^$-9/M∼1.0${\times}$10$\^$-7/M). The detection limit(3 $\sigma$) was as low as 5.0${\times}$10$\^$-6/M(0.032ppb). The interferences from other metal ions could be reduced by adding KCN into the sample solutions. This method was applied to the determination of coppe,(II) in certified reference material(3.23${\times}$10$\^$-7/M, 21ppb), sea water(9.50${\times}$10/sup-7/M, 60ppb). The result agrees satisfactorily with the value measured by Korea Research Institute of Standard and Science.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.35-40
• /
• 2012

The composite membranes using Nafion as matrix and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetracyanoborate (EMITCB) as ion-conducting medium in replacement of water were prepared and characterized. The amount of EMITCB in Nafion varied from 30 to 50wt%. The composite membranes are characterized by ion conductivity, thermogravitational analyses (TGA) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The composite membranes containing EMITCB of 40wt% showed the maximum ionic conductivity which was ~0.0146 S $cm^{-1}$ at 423.15 K. It is inferred that the decrease in ionic conductivity of all the composite membranes might be due to the decomposition of a tetracyanoboric acid formed in the composite membranes. The results of SAXS indicated that the ionic clusters to conduct proton in the composite membranes were successfully formed. In accordance with the results of ionic conductivity as a function of a reciprocal temperature, SAXS showed a proportional decrease in scattering maximum $q_{max}$ as the amount of EMITCB increases in the composite membranes, which results in the increase in ionomer cluster size. The TGA showed no significant decomposition of the ionic liquid as well as the composite membranes in the range of operating temperature ($120-150^{\circ}C$) of high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HTPEMFC). As a result, EMITCB is able to play an important role in transferring proton in the composite membranes at elevated temperatures with no external humidification for proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.270-276
• /
• 2011

A nascent membrane was prepared by using the solution evaporation method with a solution of sPEEK, EdAn (cross-linking reagent), and PEA (grafting reagent) in DMAc. Then, after the imination and sulfonation process the cross-linked and grafted ion-exchange membrane, CG-sPEEK, was obtained. The sulfonation and imination reactions were confirmed by FTIR analysis. In order to evaluate the possibility of prepared membrane for the use of an ion-exchange membrane in PEMFC, proton conductivity, water uptake and volume change were measured and compared with a commercial membrane, Nafion 115. It was revealed that since the proton conductivity (0.17 S/cm) of prepared membrane were much higher than those of Nafion 115 (0.10 S/cm) the prepared membrane could be used for the ion-exchange membrane in PEMFC. However, the high water uptake (130%) of CG-sPEEK should be reduced for the dimension stability.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.87-95
• /
• 2017

Enzymatic fuel cells are promising low cost, compact and flexible energy resources. The basis of enzymatic fuel cells is transfer of electron from enzyme to the electrode surface and vice versa. Electron transfer is done either by direct or mediated electron transfer (DET/MET), each one having its own advantages and disadvantages. In this study, the DET and MET of laccase-based biocathodes are compared with each other. The DET of laccase enzyme has been studied using two methods; assemble of needle-like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the electrode, and CNTs/Nafion polymer. MET of laccase enzyme also is done by use of ceramic electrode containing, ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis [3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid]) /sol-gel. Cyclic voltammetric results of DET showed a pair of well-defined redox peaks at $200{\mu}A$ and $170{\mu}A$ in a solution containing 5and $10{\mu}M$ o-dianisidine as a substrate for needle-like assembled CNTs and CNTs-Nafion composite respectively. In MET method using sol-gel/ABTS, the maximum redox peak was $14{\mu}A$ in the presence of 15 M solution o-dianisidine as substrate. The cyclic voltammetric results showed that laccase immobilization on needle-like assembled CNTs or CNTs-Nafion is more efficient than the sol-gel/ABTS electrode. Therefore, the expressed methods can be used to fabricate biocathode of biofuel cells or laccase based biosensors.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.213-227
• /
• 2020

As unrenewable energy resources have depleted over the years, the demand for renewable energy has increased promoting research for more effective methods to produce renewable energy. The field of fuel cell development, specifically microbial fuel cells (MFCs), has developed because of the dual performance potential of the technology. MFCs convert power by facilitating electrode-reducing organisms such as bacteria (microbes) as a catalyst to produce electrical energy. MFCs use domestic and industrial wastewater as fuel to initiate the process, purifying the wastewater as a result. Proton exchange membranes (PEM) play a crucial role in MFCs as a separator between the anodes and cathodes chambers allowing only protons to effectively pass through. Nafion is the commercially used PEM for MFCs, but there are many setbacks: such as cost, production time, and less effective proton conductivity properties. In this review there will be largely two parts. Firstly, several newly developed PEM are discussed as possible replacements of Nafion. Secondly, MFC based on PEM, blended PEM and composite PEM are summarized.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.226-231
• /
• 2002

Power densities produced by the permeation of methanol through membranes were directly measured by inserting the membrane in front of anode in a membrane-electrode-assembly of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The power density was closely related to the loss of power in the DMFC and was strongly affected by temperature. As the cell temperature was increased, the power density resulting from methanol crossover was increased. The increase in methanol crossover had be attributed to diffusion caused or affected by temperature. Methanol crossover a major effect on the performance of a DMFC at a relatively low temperature with $26\%\;loss\;at\;30^{\circ}C$. In order to reduce methanol crossover, a conventional Nafion membrane was modified by the incorporation of Pt or Pd. The reduction in methanol crossover was investigated in these modified membranes by our cell performance measurement. Pt and Pd particles incorporated in the Nafion membranes block methanol pathway and prevent methanol transport through the membranes, which was proved by combining with liquid chromatography.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.129-135
• /
• 2009

The cation exchange membrane using the block co-polymer of polysulfone and polyphenylenesulfidesulfone was prepared for a separator of all-vanadium redox flow battery. The membrane property of the prepared cation exchange membrane was measured. The thermal stability of the prepared cation exchange analyzed by TG showed a more stable than that of Nafion117. The lowest measured membrane resistance, equilibrated in 1mol/L $H_2SO_4$ aqueous solution, $0.96{\cdot}cm^2$ at 3 cc of CSA (chlorosulfuricacid) which was introduction agent of ion exchange group. Electrochemical property of all-vanadium redox flow battery using the prepared cation exchange membrane was measured. Electromotive force in 100% of state of charge was 1.4 V which was that of all-vanadium redox flow battery, and cell resistance in charge and discharge at each state of charge had a low value compared with that of all-vanadium redox flow battery using Nafion117.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.252-262
• /
• 2019

A sulfonated star branched poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) triblock copolymer (SSBS) was synthesized with varying degrees of sulfonation. The effective sulfonation on the butadiene block was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. Ion exchange capacity by titration was used to determine the degree of sulfonation. The synthesized polymer observed enhanced water uptake and proton conductivity. At room temperature, the SSBS with 25 mol% degree of sulfonation showed an outstanding proton conductivity of 0.114 S/cm, similar to that of commercial membrane, Nafion. The effect of temperature at constant relative humidity on conductivity resulted to a remarkable increase in proton conductivity. Methanol permeability studies showed a value lower than Nafion for all the sulfonated membranes. Structural nature observed using AFM showed that the membranes observed microphase separated nanostructures and the connectivity of the interionic channels.

• Korean Membrane Journal
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.52-56
• /
• 2007

A proton exchange membrane was prepared by ${\gamma}-irradiation-induced$ grafting of styrene into poly(tetrafluoro-ethylene-co-perfluoropropyl vinyl ether) (PFA) and subsequent sulfonation reaction. The degree of grafting (DOG) increased with an increase in the absorbed dose. The prepared membranes showed high ion exchange capacity reaching 3.0 meq/g, which exceeded the performance of commercially available perfluorosulfonic acid membranes such as Nafion. The proton conductivity of PFA-g-PSSA membrane increased with the DOG and reached 0.17 S/cm for the highest sample at room temperature. The DMFC performance of the prepared membranes with 50% DOG was comparable to that of Nafion membrane.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.18-25
• /
• 2014

A Pt nanoparticle-decorated multiwall carbon nanotube (Pt-MWNT) electrode was prepared on Nafion by a hot-pressing at relatively low temperature. This electrode exhibited an intricate entangled, nanoporous structure as a result of gathering highly anisotropic Pt-MWNTs. Individual Pt nanoparticles were confirmed to have a polycrystalline face-centered cubic structure with an average crystal size of around 3.5 nm. From the cyclic voltammograms for hydrogen redox reactions, the Pt-MWNT electrode was found to have a similar electrochemical behavior to polycrystalline Pt, and a specific electrochemical surface area of $2170cm^2mg^{-1}$. Upon exposure to hydrogen analyte, the Pt-MWNT/Nafion electrode demon-strated a very high sensitivity of $3.60{\mu}A\;ppm^{-1}$ and an excellent linear response over the concentration range of 100-1000 ppm. Moreover, this electrode was also evaluated in terms of response and recovery times, reproducibility, and long-term stability. Obtained results revealed good sensing performance in hydrogen detection.