Applied Chemistry for Engineering (공업화학)

The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (한국공업화학회)
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Study on the Improvement of Electrochemical Performance by Controlling the Surface Characteristics of the Oxygen Electrode Porous Transport Layer for Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis

양이온 교환막 수전해용 산화전극 확산층의 표면 특성 제어를 통한 전기화학적 성능 개선 연구

  • Lee, Han Eol (Graduate School of Energy Science and Technology, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Linh, Doan Tuan (Graduate School of Energy Science and Technology, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Lee, Woo-kum (Department of Energy & Electrical Engineering, Woosuk University) ;
  • Kim, Taekeun (Department of Chemical Engineering Education, Chungnam National University)
  • 이한얼 (충남대학교 에너지과학기술대학원) ;
  • ;
  • 이우금 (우석대학교 에너지전기공학과) ;
  • 김태근 (충남대학교 화학공학교육과)
  • Received : 2021.05.10
  • Accepted : 2021.05.26
  • Published : 2021.06.10
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Abstract

Recently, due to concerns about the depletion of fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gases, the importance of hydrogen energy technology, which is a clean energy source that does not emit greenhouse gases, is being emphasized. Water electrolysis technology is a green hydrogen technology that obtains hydrogen by electrolyzing water and is attracting attention as one of the ultimate clean future energy resources. In this study, the surface properties of the porous transport layer (PTL), one of the cell components of the proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE), were controlled using a sandpaper to reduce overvoltage and increase performance and stability. The surfaces of PTL were sanded using sandpapers of 400, 180, and 100 grit, and then all samples were finally treated with the sandpaper of 1000 grit. The prepared PTL was analyzed for the degree of hydrophilicity by measuring the water contact angle, and the surface shape was observed through SEM analysis. In order to analyze the electrochemical characteristics, I-V performance curves and impedance measurements were conducted.

최근 화석 연료 고갈과 지구 온난화를 가속화하는 온실 가스 배출에 대한 우려로 온실 가스를 배출하지 않는 청정 에너지원인 수소 에너지 기술의 중요성이 강조되고 있다. 그 중 물을 전기분해하여 수소를 얻는 수전해 기술은 그린 수소 기술로 궁극적인 청정 미래 에너지 자원으로 주목받고 있다. 본 연구에서는 양이온 교환막 수전해(proton exchange membrane water electrolysis, PEMWE)의 셀 구성요소 중 하나인 확산층(porous transport layer, PTL)을 sandpaper를 이용한 표면 처리를 통하여 표면 특성을 제어하였으며, 이러한 표면 특성 개선을 통하여 과전압을 줄이고 성능과 안정성을 높이기 위한 연구를 진행하였다. Sandpaper 400, 180, 100방을 준비하여 PTL 표면을 sanding하여 처리하였으며, 처리 후 1000방의 고른 sandpaper로 표면을 매끄럽게 처리하였다. 준비된 확산층은 물접촉각을 측정하여 친수성 정도를 분석하였으며, SEM 분석을 통하여 표면 형태를 관찰하였다. 전기화학적 특성 분석을 위하여 I-V 성능곡선, 임피던스 측정을 진행하여 성능 개선 여부를 확인하였다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 충남대학교 자체 연구(CNU사업, 정보통신방송표준개발지원사업, 과제번호 2018-0988-01) 지원에 의하여 수행되었습니다.

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