• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.411-417
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• 2022

Environmental issues such as global warming due to fossil fuel use are now major worldwide concerns, and interest in renewable and clean energy is growing. Of the various types of renewable energy, green hydrogen energy has recently attracted attention because of its eco-friendly and high-energy density. Electrochemical water splitting is considered a pollution-free means of producing clean hydrogen and oxygen and in large quantities. The development of non-noble electrocatalysts with low cost and high performance in water splitting has also attracted considerable attention. In this study, we successfully synthesized a NiCo₂O₄/NF electrode for an oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline water splitting using a hydrothermal method, which was followed by post-heat treatment. The effects of heat treatment on the electrochemical performance of the electrodes were evaluated under different heat-treatment conditions. The optimized NCO/NF-300 electrode showed an overpotential of 416 mV at a high current density of 50 mA/cm² and a low Tafel slope (49.06 mV dec^-1). It also showed excellent stability (due to the large surface area) and the lowest charge transfer resistance (12.59 Ω). The results suggested that our noble-metal free electrodes have great potential for use in developing alkaline electrolysis systems.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2009

In the past decade, we have observed rapid advances in the development of biochips in many fields including medical and environmental monitoring. Biochip experiments involve immobilizing a ligand on a solid substrate surface, and monitoring its interaction with an analyte in a sample solution. Metal nanoparticles can display extinction bands on their surfaces. These charge density oscillations are simply known as the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). The high sensitivity of LSPR has been utilized to design biochips for the label-free detection of biomolecular interactions with various ligands. LSPR-based optical biochips and biosensors are easy to fabricate, and the apparatus cost for the evaluation of optical characteristics is lower than that for the conventional surface plasmon resonance apparatus. Furthermore, the operation procedure has become more convenient as it does not require labeling procedure. In this paper, we review the recent advances in LSPR research and also describe the LSPR-based optical biosensor constructed with a core-shell dielectric nanoparticle biochip for its application to label-free biomolecular detections such as antigen-antibody interaction.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 1995

Adsorption experiments of heavy metal cations by Fe- and Al-hydroxides was conducted to obtain clear information on their adsorption mechanisms. The adsorption isothermal curves of heavy metal cations by Fe- and Al-hydroxides conformed to Langmuir's equation. Increasing the crystallinity degree of Fe- and Al-hydroxides tended to decrease the adsorption capacity and binding energy of heavy metal cations. At the same crystallinity degree, Al-hydroxide showed higher adsorption capacity and energy for the heavy metal cations than Fe-hydroxide. The adsorption capacity and energy of heavy metal cations were directly related to CEC, specific surface area and charge density of hydroxides, and the sequence was in the order of $Cu^{+{+}}$ > $Zn^{+{+}}$ > $Cd^{+{+}}$. The adsorption mechanism of $M^{+{+}}$ form of heavy metal could be presumed as the specific adsorption of $M^{+{+}}$ and the desorption of two $H^+$ from the surface aquo($OH_2$) and/or hydroxo(-OH) group for each mole of $M^{+{+}}$ adsorbed. A ring structure between $M^{+{+}}$ and two surface aquo and/or hydroxo groups was postulated. Nonspecific adsorption involved the adsorption of $MCl^+$ and the desorption of one H+ from the surface aquo and/or hydroxo groups for each mole of $M^{+{+}}$ adsorbed. A single bond structure in which $MCl^+$ replaced one $H^+$ from the surface aquo and/or hydroxo groups was postulated. The ratio of specific to nonspecific adsorption increased with increasing pH.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.96-105
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• 2019

Automobile shredder residue (ASR) is the final waste produced when end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) are shredded. ASR can be separated using mineral-processing operations such as comminution, air classification, magnetic separation, and/or electrostatic separation. In this work, trajectory analyses of conductors (copper) and non-conductors (glass) in the ASR have been carried out using induction electrostatic separator for predicting or improving the ASR-separation efficiency. From results of trajectory analysis for conductors, the trajectories of copper wire by observation versus simulation for coarse particles of 0.5 and 0.25 mm showed consistent congruity. The observed 0.06 mm fine-particles trajectory was deflected toward the (-) attractive electrode owing to the charge-density effects due to the particle characteristics and relative humidity. In the case of non-conductors, the actual trajectory of dielectric glass deflected toward the (-) electrode, showing characteristics similar to those of conductive particles. The analyses of stereoscopic microscope and SEM & EDS found heterologous materials (fine ferrous particles and conductive organics) on the glass surface. This demonstrates the glass decreasing separation efficiency for non-ferrous metals during electrostatic separation for the recycling of ASR. Future work will require a pretreatment process for eliminating impurities from the glass and advanced trajectory-simulation processes.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2005

The silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer fabrication technique has been developed by using ion-cut process, based on proton implantation and wafer bonding techniques. It has been shown by SRIM simulation that 65keV proton implantation is required for a SOI wafer (200nm SOI, 400nm BOX) fabrication. In order to investigate the optimum proton dose and primary annealing condition for wafer splitting, the surface morphologic change has been observed such as blistering and flaking. As a result, effective dose is found to be in the $6\~9\times10^{16}\;H^+/cm^2$ range, and the annealing at $550^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes is expected to be optimum for wafer splitting. Direct wafer bonding is performed by joining two wafers together after creating hydrophilic surfaces by a modified RCA cleaning, and IR inspection is followed to ensure a void free bonding. The wafer splitting was accomplished by annealing at the predetermined optimum condition, and high temperature annealing was then performed at $1,100^{\circ}C$ for 60 minutes to stabilize the bonding interface. TEM observation revealed no detectable defect at the SOI structure, and the interface trap charge density at the upper interface of the BOX was measured to be low enough to keep 'thermal' quality.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2012

$LiFePO_4$ is an attractive cathode material due to its low cost, good cyclability and safety. But it has low ionic conductivity and working voltage impose a limitation on its application for commercial products. In order to solve these problems, the iron($Fe^{2+}$)site in $LiFePO_4$ can be substituted with other transition metal ions such as $Mn^{2+}$ in pursuance of increase the working voltage. Also, reducing the size of electrode materials to nanometer scale can improve the power density because of a larger electrode-electrolyte contact area and shorter diffusion lengths for Li ions in crystals. Therefore, we chose electrospinning as a general method to prepare $Li[Fe_{0.9}Mn_{0.1}]PO_4$ to increase the surface area. Also, there have been very a few reports on the synthesis of cathode materials by electrospinning method for Lithium ion batteries. The morphology and nanostructure of the obtained $Li[Fe_{0.9}Mn_{0.1}]PO_4$ nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy(SEM). X-ray diffraction(XRD) measurements were also carried out in order to determine the structure of $Li[Fe_{0.9}Mn_{0.1}]PO_4$ nanofibers. Electrochemical properties of $Li[Fe_{0.9}Mn_{0.1}]PO_4$ were investigated with charge/discharge measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements(EIS).

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.251-259
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• 2005

In order to characterize the influence of the reaction-site density on the cathodic polarization property of LSCF, we chose the porosity of LSCF as a main controlling variable, which is supposed to be closely related with active sites for the cathode reaction. To control the porosity of cathodes, we changed the mixing ratio of fine and coarse LSCF powders. The porosity and pore perimeter of cathodes were quantitatively analyzed by image analysis. The electrochemical half cell test for the cathodic polarization was performed via 3-probe AC-impedance spectroscopy. According to the investigation, the reduction of oxygen at LSCF cathode was mainly controlled by following two rate determining steps; i) surface diffusion and/or ionic conduction of ionized oxygen through bulk LSCF phase, ii) charge transfer of oxygen ion at cathode/electrolyte interface. Moreover, the overall cathode polarization was diminished as the cathode porosity increased due to the increase of the active reaction sites in cathode layer.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.9 no.7
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• pp.1030-1035
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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 an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid. To prevent the chemical dissolution of alumina membrane, $Al_2(SO_4)_3$, $AlPO_4$ and $Al(NO_3)_3$ which could be considered to supply $Al^{3+}$ ions were added to electrolyte solution at a reaction temperature of $20^{\circ}C$ and cumulative charge of $150C/cm^2$. Effects of these additives on the formation of porous alumina membrane were evaluated under various electrolyte concentration(5~20 wt%) and current densities($10{\sim}50mA/cm^2$). The membrane surfaces which were prepared in electrolyte solution with all the additives except $Al_2(SO_4)_3$ were damaged. However, when $Al_2(SO_4)_3$ was added to the $H_2SO_4$ solution, an uniform surface of porous alumina was obtained. Also, it was shown that the pore size of membrane was nearly independent on the quantity of $Al_2(SO_4)_3$ added at same electrolyte concentration and current density.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.173-177
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• 2010

The electronic structure of charge-density-wave (CDW) system $CeTe_2$ has been investigated by using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). The clearly dispersive band structures are observed in the measured ARPES spectra, indicating the good quality of the single-crystalline sample employed in this study. The four-fold symmetric patterns are observed in the constant energy (CE) mappings, indicating the $2{\times}2$ lattice deformation in the Te(1) sheets. The observed CE images are similar to those of $LaTe_2$, suggesting that Ce 4f states have the minor contribution to the CDW formation in $CeTe_2$. This study reveals that the carriers near the Fermi level should have mainly the Te(1) 5p and Ce 5d character, that the Te(1) 5p bands contribute to the CDW formation, and that the Ce 5d bands cross the Fermi level even in the CDW state.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 2010

The electrocatalystic prperties of Pt-Co and Pt-Ni with heteropolyacids (HPAs) entrapped in covalently cross-linked sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (CL-SPEEK)/HPA membranes were investigated for water electrolysis. The HP As, including molybdophosphoric acid (MoPA), and tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) were both used as membrane additives and electrocatalysts. The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) was prepared by a nonequilibrium impregnation-reduction (I-R) method. $Pt(NH_3)_4Cl_2$, $NiCl_2$ and $CoCl_2$ as electrocatalytic materials and $NaBH_4$ as reducing agent were used. I order to enhance electrocatalytic activity, the catalyst layer prepared above was electrodeposited (Dep) with HP A. Surface morphologies and physico-chemical properties of MEA were investigated by means of SEM, EDX and XRD. The electrocatalytic properties of composite membranes such as the cell voltage and coulombic charge in CV were in the order of magnitude: CL-SPEEK/MoPA40 (wt%) > CL-SPEEK/TPA30 > Nafion117. In the optimum cell applications for water electrolysis, the cell voltage of Pt/CL-SPEEK-MoPA40/Pt-Co (Dep-MoPA) and Pt/CL-SPEEK-TPA30/Pt-Co (Dep-TPA) was 1.75 Vat $80^{\circ}C$ and $1\;A/cm^2$ and voltage efficiency was 87.1%. Also, the observed activity of Pt-Co (84:16 atomic ratio by EDX) is a little higher than that of Pt-Ni (86: 14). The current density peak of electrodeposited electrodes were better a little than those of unactivated electrodes based on the same membranes.