Korean Chemical Engineering Research

The Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers (한국화학공학회)
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A Study on Oxygen Evolution Activity of Co3O4 with different morphology prepared by Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis for Water Electrolysis

분무열분해로 합성한 수전해용 Co3O4의 입자형태에 따른 산소발생 활성에 관한 연구

  • Kim, Ingyeom (Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwangwoon University) ;
  • Nah, In Wook (Center for Energy Convergence, Korea Institute of Science & Technology) ;
  • Park, Sehkyu (Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwangwoon University)
  • Received : 2016.08.23
  • Accepted : 2016.09.09
  • Published : 2016.12.01
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Abstract

As the demand for a clean energy to replace fossil fuel being depleted increases, hydrogen energy is considered as a promising candidate for future energy source. Water electrolysis which produces hydrogen has high energy efficiency and stability but still has a large overpotential for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this study, $Co_3O_4$ catalysts with different morphology were prepared by spray pyrolysis from solutions which contain Co precursor and various organic additives (urea, sucrose, and citric acid), followed by post heat treatment. For the catalysts synthesized, X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements were performed to identify their crystal structure. Morphology and surface shape of the catalysts were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Surface area and pore volume were examined by nitrogen adsortpion & desorption tests and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was conducted to confirm nitrogen doping. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) was carried out to investigate OER activity of $Co_3O_4$ catalysts. As a result, bare-$Co_3O_4$ which has high surface area and small particle size determined by spray pyrolysis showed high activity toward OER.

최근 화석연료를 대체할 친환경 신재생에너지에 대한 요구가 증가하면서 수소에너지가 미래 대체에너지원으로서 주목받고 있다. 수소를 생산하는 방법 중 수전해 기술은 에너지효율과 안정성이 뛰어난 장점이 있지만, 산소발생반응시 발생하는 높은 과전압은 여전히 단점으로 지적되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 분무열분해 공정을 통하여 Co 전구체로부터 $Co_3O_4$를 제조하였다. 또한, urea, sucrose, citric acid의 유기물첨가제를 사용하여 다양한 입자 크기와 표면형상을 가지는 $Co_3O_4$를 제조하였고, 필요에 따라 추가로 열처리를 실시하였다. 합성한 $Co_3O_4$의 물리적 특성을 분석하기 위해 X-선 회절 분석(XRD)으로 결정성을 조사하였고, 주사전자현미경(SEM)과 투과전자현미경(TEM)으로 입자형상 및 표면을 분석하였다. 질소 흡 탈착 시험을 통해 촉매의 비표면적 및 기공부피를 측정하였고, 질소도핑을 확인하기 위해 X-선 광전자 분광법(XPS)을 사용하였다. 촉매의 산소발생반응 활성을 알아보기 위해 3전극 셀에서 선형주사전위법(LSV)으로 전기화학적 거동을 분석하였다. 첨가제를 사용하지 않은 $Co_3O_4$가 가장 우수한 활성을 보였고, 이는 분무열분해법을 통하여 상대적으로 작은 입자형성과 높은 비표면적의 영향인 것으로 판단된다.

Keywords

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