• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.196-201
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• 2023

In order to improve the efficiency of the water splitting system for hydrogen energy production, the high overvoltage in the electrochemical reaction caused by the catalyst in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) must be reduced. Among them, transition metal-based compounds (hydroxide, sulfide, etc.) are attracting attention as catalyst materials to replace currently used precious metals such as platinum. In this study, Ni foam, an inexpensive metal porous material, was used as a support and β-Ni(OH)₂ microcrystals were synthesized through a hydrothermal synthesis process. In addition, changes in the crystal morphology, crystal structure, and water splitting characteristics of β-Ni(OH)₂ microcrystals synthesized by doping Fe to improve electrochemical properties were observed, and applicability as a catalyst in a commercial water electrolysis system was examined.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.181-189
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• 2002

A series of multicomponent $Zr_{0.8}Ti_{0.2}Mn_{0.4}V_{0.6}Ni_{1-x}Fe_{x}$ (x=0.00, 0.08, 0.15, 0.22, and 0.30) alloys are prepared and their oystal structure and P-C-T curves are examined. The electrochemical properties of these allqys such as activation conditions, discharge capacity, cycling performance are also investigated. $Zr_{0.8}Ti_{0.2}Mn_{0.4}V_{0.6}Ni_{1-x}Fe_{x}$ (x=0.00, 0.08, 0.15, 0.22 and 0.30) have the C14 Laves phase hexagonal structure. The electrode was activated by the hot-charging treatment. The best activation conditions were the current density 120 mA/g and the hot-charging time 12h at $80^{\circ}C$ in the case of the alloy with x=0.00. The discharge capacity increased rapidly until the fourth cycle and then decreased. The discharge capacity increased again from the 13th cycle, arriving at 234 mAh/g at the 50th cycle. The discharge capacily just after activation decreases with the increase in the amount of the substituted Fe but the cycling performance is improved. The discharge capacity after activation of the alloy with x=0.00 is 157 mAh/g at the current density 120 mA/g. $Zr_{0.8}Ti_{0.2}Mn_{0.4}V_{0.6}Ni_{0.85}Fe_{0.15}$ is a good composition with a medium quantity of discharge capacities and a good cycling performance. The ICP analysis of the electrolyte for these electrodes after 50 charge-discharge cycles shows that the concentrations of V and Zr are relatively high. Another series of multicomponent $Zr_{0.8}Ti_{0.2}Mn_{0.4}V_{0.6}Ni_{0.85}M_{0.15}$ (M = Fe, Co, Cu, Mo and Al) alloys are prepared. They also have the C14 Laves phase hexagonal structure. The alloys with M = Co and Fe have relatively larger hydrogen storage capacities. The discharge capacities just after activation are relatively large in the case of the alloys with M = Al and Cu. They are 212 and 170 mAh/g, respectivety, at the current density 120mA/g. The $Zr_{0.8}Ti_{0.2}Mn_{0.4}V_{0.6}Ni_{0.85}Co_{0.15}$ alloy is the best one with a relatively large discharge capacity and a good cycling performance.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.81-92
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• 1996

The Ar/Ar-$H_2$ plasma method was applied to reduce oxides and refine metals of V, Ta and B. In addition, the high temperature chemical reaction in Ar plasma and of the refining reaction in the Ar-(20%)$H_2$ plasma were analyzed. The crude V of 96wt% purity was obtained at the ratio of $C/V_{2}O_{5}=4.50$ by the Ar plasma reduction grade and the maximum reduction was obtained at $C/V_{2}O_{5}=4.50$ due to the $O_{2}$ loss from the thermal decomposition of vanadium oxide. In the Ar-(20%)$H_2$ plasma refining, the metallic V of 99.2wt% was produced at the ratio of $C/V_{2}O_{5}=4.40$. It was considered that a main refining reaction resulted from the chemical reaction between the residual carbon and residual oxygen. The metallic Ta of 99.8wt% was obtained at the ratio of $C/Ta_{2}O_{5}=5.10$ in a Ar plasma reduction and the Oz loss from the thermal decomposition of tantalum pentoxide did not take place. The deoxidation reaction was more significant than the decarburization reaction in the Ar-(20%)$H_2$ plasma refining and the metallic Ta of 99.9wt% was produced within the range of $C/Ta_{2}O_{5}$ ratio of 4.50 to 5.10. The Vickers hardness of Ta in the above mentioned range was about 220Hv due to the decrease in a residual oxygen by the deoxidation reaction. On the other hand, C is no suitable agent for the reduction of $B_{2}O_{3}$ by the Ar and Ar-$H_2$ plasma. But Fe-B-Si alloy was produced with the reduction of $B_{2}O_{3}$ in the melt when Fe, C, $B_{2}O_{3}$, and ferroboron mixtures were melted by the high frequency induction melting.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.143-153
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• 2003

The effects of bipolar interface formed on the surface of cation-exchange membrane on water splitting phenomena were investigated. Results showed that the formation of immobilized bipolar interface resulted in significant water splitting during electrodialysis. In particular, the immobilized bipolar interface was easily created on the cation-exchange membrane surface in the electrodialytic systems where multivalent cations served as an electrolyte. Multivalent cations with low solubility product resulted in violent water splitting because they were easily precipitated on the membrane surface in hydroxide form. Therefore, the bipolar interface consisting of H- and OH-affinity groups were formed on the membrane-solution interface. Apparently, water splitting was largely activated with the help of strong electric fields generated between the metal hydroxide layer and fixed charge groups on the membrane surface. Likewise, the accumulation of large molecular counter ions on the membrane surface led to the formation of a fixed bipolar structure that could cause significant water splitting in the over-limiting current region. Therefore, the prevention of the immobilization of bipolar interface on the membrane surface is very essential in improving the process efficiency in a high-current operation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 1994

To determine the apparent equilibrium constants, K$_{ad,app}$, for the adsorption reactions of trace metals on amorphous iron oxyhydroxide (AIO) in the Taebag coal mine area, time-adsorption and pH-adsorption experiments were performed for a selected bottom sediment mainly comprised of AIO from the study area. The results from the adsorption experiments indicate that most of the trace metals, except Pb, achieve equilibrium states with AIO and thus, the calculated K$_{ad,app}$ may represent the true apparent equilibrium constants. K$_{ad,app}$ and the stoichiometric coefficients of proton, x, of the adsorption reactions between the trace metals and AIO were respectively calculated from the intercepts and slopes of the regression lines of log($\Gamma$/ ［M］$_{aq}$)against pH provided by pH-adsorption experiments. The calculated K$_{ad,app}$ this study has the values of the range from 10$^{－4.5}$ to 10$^{2.75}$ , which is much different from the reported values by other investigators for simple experimental systems. K$_{ad,app}$ of this study is more or less close but not exactly pertinent to the estimated values for the other natural systems. It indicates that K$_{ad,app}$ for the adsorption reactions in the aquatic system in the study area is unique and thus should be determined befor the adsorption modelling. The calculated x of this study has the values of the range from -0.3 to 0.7, which is also much different from what most geochemists generally accept. The discrepancy in x may be due to the competition among different kinds of ionic species on the adsorption site or simulataneous occurrence of different kinds of adsorption reactions. The results from this study should help construct an appropriate adsorption model for the aquatic systems polluted by the coal mine drainage in the Taebag area. With the constructed model, one can describe the concentration variations of trace metals due to the adsorption in the system, which is an essential part of the investigation on the water quality affected by coal mine drainage in the Taebag coal field.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.67-74
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• 2016

The Prussian Blue Analogue(PBA) has three dimensional structure and the metal - organic framework material, and it has a variety configurations depending on the type of organic ligands. PBA has been receving an attention in the fields of biosensors, optical, catalytic, and hydrogen storage device. Also, it is an environmental friendly substance with a chemical stability. In addition, PBA is widely used in the filed of adsorption art since we can adjust the size of the fine pores. In this study, we synthesized $Mn_3[Fe(CN)_6]_2$, an organometallic framework chains by using a hydrothermal synthesis method. We used $K_4[Fe(CN)_6]$ and $MnCl_2$ as precursors. We also produced a manganese iron oxide, by baking the synthesized material. The effect of the size and shape of the particles was examined by controling pH of the precursor solution, the molar concentration of the precursor, and reaction time as the experimental variables. Synthesized absorbent was analyzed by XRD, SEM, FT-IR, UV-Vis, and TG / DTA to evaluate the adsorption properties of several dyes.

• Clean Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.116-121
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• 2020

In this paper, the recycling of waste Ni-MH battery by-products for electric vehicle is studied. Although rare earths elements still exist in waste Ni-MH battery by-products, they are not valuable as materials in the form of by-products (such as an insoluble substance). This study investigates the recovering of rare earth oxide for solvent extraction A/O ratio, substitution reaction, and reaction temperature, and scrubbing of the rare earth elements for high purity separation. The by-product (in the form of rare earth elements insoluble powder) is converted into hydroxide form using 30% sodium hydroxide solution. The remaining impurities are purified using the difference in solubility of oxalic acid. Subsequently, Yttrium is isolated by means of D2EHPA (Di-[2-ethylhexyl] phosphoric acid). After cerium is separated using potassium permanganate, lanthanum and neodymium are separated using PC88A (2-ethylhexylphosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester) and it is calcinated at a temperature of 800 ℃. As a result of the physical and chemical measurement of the calcined lanthanum and neodymium powder, it is confirmed that the powder is a microsized porous powder in an oxide form of 99.9% or more. Rare earth oxides are recovered from Ni-MH battery by-products through two solvent extraction processes and one oxidation process. This study has regenerated lanthanum and neodymium oxide as a useful material.