• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.769-774
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• 2011

Porous carbon nanofibers(CNF) were synthesized via NaOH activation at 700~$900^{\circ}C$, and the porous CNF-supported PtRu catalysts were evaluated for the anode in direct methanol fuel cells. The change of surface characteristics by NaOH activation was examined by analyses of the specific surface area and pore size distribution. The morphological and structural modification was investigated under scanning electron microscopy. The activity of catalysts supported on porous CNFs was examined by cyclic voltammograms and single cell tests. The pore formation on CNF by the NaOH activation was discussed, concerning the catalyst activity, when they were applied as catalyst supports.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.442-448
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• 2021

Flow field is an important parameter for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance to have an effect on the reactant supply, heat and water diffusion, and contact resistance. In this study, PEMFC performance was investigated using Cu foam flow field at the cathode of 25 cm² unit cell. Polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were performed at different pressure and relative humidity conditions. The Cu foam showed lower cell performance than that of serpentine type due to its high ohmic resistance, but lower activation and concentration loss due to the even reactant distribution of porous structure. Cu foam has the advantage of effective water transport because of its hydrophobicity. However, it showed low membrane hydration at low humidity condition. The metal foam flow field could improve fuel cell performance with a uniform pressure distribution and effective water management, so future research on the properties of metal foam should be conducted to reduce electrical resistance of bipolar plate.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.239-248
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• 2009

In this investigation, we observed surface morphology and porosity of a macroporous adsorbent made of Na-bentonite and Ca-bentonite as structure formation materials and grounded waste paper as macropore forming material for the development of a permeable reactive barrier to remove heavy metals in groundwater. Therefore, we selected minerals having higher cation exchange capacity among 2:1 clay minerals and other industrial minerals because sintering can significantly influence cation exchange capacity, resulting in drastic decrease in removal of heavy metals. The results showed that the increasing sintering temperature drastically decreased CEC by less than 10 % of the indigenous CEC carried by the selected minerals. One axial compressibility test results showed that the highest value was obtained from 5% newspaper waste pulp for both structure formation materials of Na-bentonite and Ca-bentonite although there were not much difference in bulk density among treatments. The pore formation influenced by sintering temperature and period contributes removal of heavy metals passing through the sintered macroporous media having different water retention capacity.

• Clean Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.329-335
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• 2020

Methanol synthesized from renewable hydrogen and captured CO2 has recently attracted great interest as a sustainable energy carrier for large-scale renewable energy storage. In this study, molten carbonate fuel cell's performance was investigated with the direct conversion of methanol into syngas inside the anode chamber of the cell. The internal reforming of methanol may significantly improve system efficiency since the heat generated from the electrochemical reaction can be used directly for the endothermic reforming reaction. The porous Ni-10 wt%Cr anode was sufficient for the methanol steam reforming reaction under the fuel cell operating condition. The direct supply of methanol into the anode chamber resulted in somewhat lower cell performance, especially at high current density. Recycling of the product gas into the anode gas inlet significantly improved the cell performance. The analysis based on material balance revealed that, with increasing current density and gas recycling ratio, the methanol steam reforming reaction rate likewise increased. A methanol conversion more significant than 90% was achieved with gas recycling. The results showed the feasibility of electricity and syngas co-production using the molten carbonate fuel cell. Further research is needed to optimize the fuel cell operating conditions for simultaneous production of electricity and syngas, considering both material and energy balances in the fuel cell.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.293-299
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• 1993

In order to investigate the effect of Al addition on the electrochemical performance and structural stability of porous Ni anode for molten carbonate fuel cell, porous Ni anodes containing Al up to 10 wt% were fabricated by the tape casting technique. In this study half-cell performance of the anodes was evaluated by anodic polarization in the simulated MCFC anode condition(650$^{\circ}C$ , 80% H$_2$＋20% CO$_2$). At the anodic current of 150 ㎃/$\textrm{cm}^2$, the polarizations for H$_2$oxidation of the anode was about 100 ㎷. The sintering and creep resistance of Ni-Al anodes was higher than those of the pure Ni anode. It was considered that the increase of sintering and creep resistance was due to the formation of Al$_2$O$_3$ on the surface of Ni particles.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.816-822
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was any difference in the mean porosity of denture base resin cured by microwave energy, when the liquid monomers of denture resin(K-33 : methyl methacrylate for conventional water bath curing or Acron MC : special monomer for microwave curing) and/or the thicknesses of denture base($5{\times}10{\times}60mm\;or\;10{\times}10{\times}60mm$) were varied. The mean porosities of k-33 specimens cured in water bath with two different thicknesses were used as control. The results were as follows : 1. Regardless of specimen thickness, Acron MC cured by microwave energy showed the least mean porosity, followed by K-33 cured by water bath heat, and K-33 cured by microwave energy showed the highest level of mean porosity(P<0.05). 2. In both K-33 and Acron MC cured by microwave energy the mean porosities of 5mm thickness groups were lower than those of 10mm thickness groups(P<0.05). But no significant difference was found in mean porosity between 5mm thickness and 10mm thickness of water bath heat cured groups made of K-33(P>0.05).

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.749-753
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• 2012

In present work, anode support for micro-tubular SOFC was fabricated with outer diameter of 3 mm and characterized with microstructure, mechanical properties and gas permeability. The microstructure of surface and cross section of a porous anode support were analyzed by using SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) image. The gas permeability and the mechanical strength of anode support was measured and analysed by using differential pressure at the flow rates of 50, 100, 150 cc/min. and using universal testing machine respectively. The unit cell composed of NiO-YSZ, YSZ, YSZ-LSM/LSM/LSCF was fabricated and operated with reaction temperature and fuel flow rate and showed maximum power density of $1095mW/cm^2$ on the condition of $800^{\circ}C$. The performance of single cell for micro-tubular SOFC increased with the increasing the reaction temperature due to the decrement of ohmic resistance of cell by the increment of the ionic conductivity of electrolyte through the evaluation of electrochemical impedance analysis for single cell with reaction temperature.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.2-8
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• 2012

In this study, in order to develop renewable bio-based nanocomposites, multi-functional nanocomposites from soybean resins (AESO, MAESO) and nanoclay were prepared. Photoelectrodes for environmental friendly dye-sensitized solar cell using soybean resin were also prepared. Organo-modified nanoclay was directly dispersed in functionalized soybean resins after mixing with styrene as a comonomer and radical initiator was used to copolymerize the nanocomposites. The observed morphology was a mixture of intercalated/exfoliated structure and the physical properties were improved by adding nanoclay. A nanocomposite using MAESO, which added COOH functional group to the soybean resin, showed better dispersibility than AESO composites. Ultrasonic treatment of the nanocomposites also improved the physical properties. Nanoporous $TiO_2$ photoelectrode was also prepared using soybean resins as a binder, after acid-treatment of $TiO_2$ surface using nitric acid. Dye-sensitized solar cells were prepared after adsorbing dye molecules on it. The $TiO_2$ photoelectrode prepared using soybean binder had high current density because of increased surface area by improved dispersibility. The photoelectrochemical properties and conversion efficiency of the solar cell were significantly improved using the soybean binder.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.356-360
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• 2007

Recently, dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) composed of nanoporous $TiO_2$, light-sensitive dyes, electrolytes, and counter electrode have been received much attention. Nanostructured particles with higher surface area for the higher adsorption of Ru (II) dye are required to increase the quantity of light absorption. Also, it has been reported that the key factor to achieve high energy conversion efficiency in the photoelectrode of DSSC is the heat treatment of $TiO_2$ paste with acid addition. In this work, we investigated the influence of acid treatment of $TiO_2$ solar cell on the photovoltaic performance of DSSC. The working electrodes fabricated in this work were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and atomic force microscope (AFM). In addition, the influence of nanostructured photoelectrode fabricated with the acid-treated paste on the energy conversion efficiency was investigated on the basis of photocurrent-potential curves. It was found that the influence of acid-treated paste on the photovoltaic efficiency was significant.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.347-352
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• 2006

분자전해질연료전지 내의 다공성 기체확산층은 반응가스의 확산과 전자이동통로의 역할을 수행할 뿐만 아니라 전기화학반응에 의해 공기극에서 생성된 수분(기상 혹은 액상)을 반응면으로부터 분리판 채널 방향으로 이동시켜 배출시키는 중요한 역할을 한다. 따라서 물관리를 통한 성능향상을 위해서는 기체 확산층의 구조 및 재료특성에 대한 심도 릴은 연구가 필요하다. 실제 단위전지 체결시 기체확산층은 분리판의 리브(rib)에 의해 눌리게 되며, 그 부분의 기공 크기 분포의 변화를 야기한다. 또한 리브 전단부분에서 탄소 섬유가 손상을 입으며, 탄소 섬유를 감싸고 있는 PTFE coating이 벗겨지게 되어 표면화학적 특성이 달라진다. 본 연구에서는 단위전지 체결 시 분리판에 의해 눌리는 기체확산층의 기공 크기 분포 변화를 측정하였으며, 기공의 소수성에서 친수성으로의 변화를 알아보았다. Mercury 기공 측정기와 PMI 기공 측정기는 큰 기공 분포의 변화에, 질소의 흡/탈착을 이용한 BET 방식은 작은 크기의 기공 분포 변화 관찰에 사용되었다. 체결압에 의한 탄소섬유의 구조적 변화와 아울러 표면의 습윤 정도의 변화를 XPS와 물/알콜 Uptake를 이용해 알아보았다. 이 연구를 바탕으로 물관리를 통한 연료전지 성능 향상을 위한 최적 GDL 선정에 기반이 되는 자료를 도출하였다.