• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2011

A unitized regenerative fuel cell (URFC) as a next-generation fuel cell technology was considered in the study. URFC is a mandatory technology for the completion of the hybrid system with the fuel cell and the renewable energy sources, and it can be expected as a new technology for the realization of hydrogen economy society in the $21^{st}$ century. Specifically, the recent research data and results concerning the polymer electrolyte membrane for the URFC technology were summarized in the study. The prime requirements of polymer electrolyte membrane for the URFC applications are high proton conductivity, dimensional stability, mechanical strength, and interfacial stability with the electrode binder. Based on the performance of the polymer electrolyte membrane, the URFC technology combining the systems for the production, storage, utilization of hydrogen can be a new research area in the development of an advanced technology concerning with renewable energy such as fuel cell, solar cell, and wind power.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.243-249
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• 2006

Porous polymer gel electrolytes (PGEs) based on poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VdF-co-HFP)) as a polymer matrix and polyvinylpyrolidone (PVP) as a pore-forming agent were prepared and electrochemical properties were investigated for an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) in order to increase a permeability of an electrolyte into the PGE. Propylene carbonate (PC) and ethylene carbonate (EC) as plasticizers, and tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate ($TEABF_4$) as a supporting salt for the PGE were used. EDLC unit cells were assembled with the PGE and electrode comprising BP-20 and MSP-20 as activated carbon powders, Super P as a conducting agent, and P(VdF-co-HFP)/PVP as a mixed binder. Ion conductivity of PGEs increased with an increased PVP content and was the best at 7 wt% PVP, whereas electrochemical characteristics such as AC-ESR of unit cell were better in 3 wt%. And electrochemical characteristics of the unit cell with PGE were the best at a 33 : 33 weight ratio of PC to EC. Specific capacitance of a mixed plasticizer system of PE and EC was higher than that of pure PC. Ion conductivity of PGEs with a film thickness of $20{\mu}m$ was higher, but electrochemical characteristics of unit cells were higher for a $50{\mu}m$ membrane thickness. Also, the unit cell has shown the highest capacitance of 31.41 F/g and more stable electrochemical performance when PGE and electrode were hot pressed. Consequently, the optimum composition ratio of PGE for EDLCs was 23 : 66 : 11 wt% such as P(VdF-co-HFP) : PVP = 20 : 3 wt% and PC : EC = 44 : 22 wt%. In this case, $3.17{\times}10^{-3}S/cm$ of ion conductivity was achieved at the $50{\mu}m$ thickness of PGE for EDLCs. And the electrochemical characteristics of unit cells were $2.69{\Omega}$ of DC-ESR, 28 F/g of specific capacitance, and 100% of coulombic efficiency.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2013

Solid polymer electrolyte films are prepared by ultraviolet radiation in the mixtures of an ionic liquid salt (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, $EMIBF_4$) and solvent (acetonitrile (ACN) or propylene carbonate(PC)), and an oligomer (poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate, PEGDA, 45-60 wt.%). Electrochemical properties of activated carbon supercapacitors adopting the solid polymer electrolyte films as a separator are also examined by cyclic voltammetry and impedance measurement techniques. As a result, the supercapacitor adopting the PEGDA as much as 45 wt.% exhibits a superior capacitance of $46Fg^{-1}$ at $20mVs^{-1}$. It seems that this is due to fast kinetics of ion conduction by sufficient film flexibility, which can be allowed by comparatively weak ultraviolet curing of small anount of the PEGDA.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.106-110
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• 2002

Gel-type polyacrylonitrile(PAN) polymer electrolytes have been prepared using ethylene carbonate(EC), propylene carbonate(PC) and dimethyl carbonate(DMC) plasticizer, $LiPF_6$ salt and $TiO_2$ ceramic filler. Electrochemical properties, such as electrochemical stability, ionic conductivity and compatibility with lithium metal and mechanical properly of polymer electrolytes were investigated. Charge/discharge performance of lithium secondary battery using these polymer electrolytes were investigated. The maximum load that the polymer electrolyte resists increased about two times as a result of adding $TiO_2$ in the polymer electrolyte containing EC and PC. Polymer electrolyte containing EC, PC and $TiO_2$ also showed ionic conductivity of $2\times10^{-3} S/cm$ at room temperature and electrochemical stability window up to 와 4.5V. Polymer electrolyte containing EC, PC, and $TiO_2$ showed the most stable interfacial resistance of $130\Omega$ during 20 days in the impedance spectra of the cells which were constructed by lithium metals as electrodes. Lithium metal secondary battery which employed $LiCoO_2$ cathode, lithium metal anode and $TiO_2$-dispersed polymer electrolyte showed $90\%$ of charge/discharge efficiency at the 1C rate of discharge.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.101-106
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• 2016

In this study, we prepared an ionic liquid composite solid polymer electrolyte (PEO-LiTFSI-$Pyr_{14}TFSI$) with poly(ethylen oxide), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide by blending-cross linking process. Although the PEO-LiTFSI-$Pyr_{14}TFSI$ composite solid polymer electrolyte displayed a small peak at 4.4 V, it had high electrochemical oxidation stability up to 5.7 V. Ionic conductivity of the PEO-LiTFSI-$Pyr_{14}TFSI$ composite solid polymer electrolyte increased with increasing temperature from $10^{-6}S\;cm^{-1}$ at $30^{\circ}C$ to $10^{-4}S\;cm^{-1}$ at $70^{\circ}C$. To investigate the electrochemical properties, the PEO-LiTFSI-$Pyr_{14}TFSI$ composite solid polymer electrolyte assembled with $LiFePO_4$ cathode and Li-metal anode. At 0.1 C-rate, the cell delivered $40mAh\;g^{-1}$ for $30^{\circ}C$, $69.8mAh\;g^{-1}$ for $40^{\circ}C$ and $113mAh\;g^{-1}$ for $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. The PEO-LiTFSI-$Pyr_{14}TFSI$ solid polymer electrolyte exhibited good charge-discharge performance in Li/SPE/$LiFePO_4$ cells at $50^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.877-885
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• 2013

A seawater pipe of the engine room in the ships is being surrounded with severely corrosive environments caused by fast flowing of the seawater, containing aggressive chloride ion and high conductivity etc.. Therefore, the leakage of the seawater from its pipe have been often occurred due to its local corrosion by aggressive chloride ions. Subsequently, its leakage area is usually welded by AC shielded metal arc welding with various electrodes. In this study, when the sea water pipe is welded with several types of electrodes such as E4301, E4311, E4313 and E4316, a difference of the corrosion resistance on the welding metal zones was investigated using an electrochemical method, observing microstructure, measuring polarization behaviors and hardness. The weld metal zone welded with E4313 electrode exhibited the lowest value of hardness compared to other weld metal zones. In addition, its zone indicated also the best corrosion resistance than those of other weld metal zones. Furthermore, all of the weld metal zones revealed a relatively better corrosion resistance than those of the base metal zones. and also showed higher hardness than the base metal zones.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2008

Even though fuel cell have high efficiency when pure hydrogen from gas tank is used as a fuel source, it is more beneficial to generate hydrogen from city gas (mainly methane) in residential application such as domestic or office environments. Thus hydrogen is generated by reforming process using hydrocarbon. Unfortunately, the reforming process for hydrogen production is accompanied with unavoidable impurities. Impurities such as CO, $CO_2$, $H_2S$, $NH_3$, $CH_4$, and $CH_4$ in hydrogen could cause negative effects on fuel cell performance. Those effects are kinetic losses due to poisoning of the electrode catalysts, ohmic losses due to proton conductivity reduction including membrane and catalyst ionomer layers, and mass transport losses due to degrading catalyst layer structure and hydrophobic property. Hydrogen produced from reformer eventually contains around 73% of $H_2$, 20% or less of $CO_2$, 5.8% of less of $N_2$, or 2% less of $CH_4$, and 10ppm or less of CO. This study is aimed at investigating the effect of carbon dioxide on fuel cell performance. The performance of PEM fuel cell was investigated using current vs. potential experiment, long run(10 hr) test, and electrochemical impedance measurement when the concentrations of carbon dioxide were 10%, 20% and 30%. Also, the concentration of impurity supplied to the fuel cell was verified by gas chromatography(GC).

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.259-259
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• 2011

염료감응형 태양전지(Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells:DSSC)는 환경 친화적이며, 저가의 공정에 대한 가능성으로 기존의 고가의 결정질 실리콘 태양전지의 경제적인 대안으로 각광을 받고 있다. 최근 염료감응형 태양전지는 투명 전도성 산화막(Transparent Conducting Oxide : TCO)으로 사용되는 Fluorine Tin Oxide (FTO)가 증착된 유리기판 위에 주로 제작된다. FTO는 낮은 비저항과 가시광선 영역에서 높은 투과도를 가지는 우수한 전기-광학적 특성을 갖지만, 비교적 공정이 까다로운 Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)법으로 제조하며, 전체 공정비용의 60%를 차지하는 높은 생산단가로 인해 현재 FTO를 대체할 재료개발 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 그 중 ZnO (Zinc Oxide)는 우수한 전기-광학적 특성과 비교적 저렴한 가격으로 새로운 TCO로써 주목받고 있다. ZnO는 넓은 energy band gap (3.4 [eV])의 육방정계 울자이트(hexagonal wurtzite) 결정 구조를 가지는II-VI족 n형 반도체 물질이며, III족 금속원소인 Al, Ga 및 In 등의 불순물을 첨가하면 TCO로서 우수한 전기-광학적 특성과 안정성을 나타낸다. 이들 물질중 $Zn^{2+}$ (0.060 nm)의 이온반경과 유사한 $Ga^{2+}$0.062 nm) 이온이 ZnO의 격자반경을 최소화 시킬 수 있다는 장점으로 최근 주목 받고 있다. 하지만 Ga-doped ZnO (GZO)의 경우 DSC에 사용되는 루테늄 계열의 산성 염료 하에 장시간 두면 표면이 파괴되는 문제가 발생하며, $TiO_2$ paste를 Printing 후 열처리하는 과정에서도 박막의 파괴가 발생할 수 있다. 이를 방지하기 위해 $TiO_2$ Blocking Layer를 GZO 투명전극 위에 증착하였다. 또한, $TiO_2$ Blocking Layer를 적용한 GZO 박막을 전면전극으로 이용하여 DSC를 제작하여 효율을 확인하였다. 2wt%의 $Ga_2O_3$가 도핑된 ZnO 박막은 20mTorr 400$^{\circ}C$에서 Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD)에 의해 성장되었고, $TiO_2$박막은 Ti 금속을 타겟으로 이용하여 30mTorr 400$^{\circ}C$에서 증착되었다. Scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM)을 이용한 박막 분석 결과 $TiO_2$가 증착된 GZO 박막의 경우 표면 파괴가 일어나지 않았다. Solar Simulator을 이용하여 I-V특성 측정결과 상용 FTO를 사용한 DSC 수준의 효율을 나타내었다. 이에 따라 Pulsed Laser Deposition을 이용해 제작된 GZO 기판은 $TiO_2$ Blocking Layer를 이용하여 표면 파괴를 방지할 수 있었으며, 이는 향후 염료감응형 태양전지의 투명전극에 적용 가능 할 것으로 판단된다.

• Clean Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.433-438
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• 2014

There is an increasing interest in the development of rechargeable batteries suitable for use in both hybrid electric vehicles and energy storage systems that require higher charge & discharge rates, bigger battery sizes and increased safety of the batteries. Spinel-type lithium titanium oxide ($Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$) as a potential anode for lithium ion batteries has many advantages. It is a zero-strain materials and it experiences no structural change during the charge/discharge precess. Thus, it has long cycle life due to its structural integrity. It also offers a stable operation voltage of approximately 1.55 V versus $Li^+/Li$, above the reduction potential of most organic electrolyte. In this study, Ru added $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ composites were synthesized by solid state process. The characteristics of active material were investigated with TGA-DTA, XRD, SEM and charge/discharge test. The capacity was reduced when Ru was added, however, the polarization decreased. The capacity rate of $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ with Ru (3%, 4%) addition was reduced during the charge/discharge precess with 10 C-rate as a high current density.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.427-441
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• 2022

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) serving as a separator that can prevent the permeation of unreacted fuels as well as an electrolyte that selectively transports protons from the anode to the cathode has been considered a key component of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The perfluorinated sulfonic acid-based PEMs, represented by Nafion®, have been commercialized in PEMFC systems due to their high proton conductivity and chemical stability. Nevertheless, these PEMs have several inherent drawbacks including high manufacturing costs by the complex synthetic processes and environmental problems caused by producing the toxic gases. Although numerous studies are underway to address these drawbacks including the development of sulfonated hydrocarbon polymer-based PEMs (SHP-PEMs), which can easily control the polymer structures, further improvement of PEM performances and durability is necessary for practical PEMFC applications. Therefore, this study focused on the various strategies for the development of SHP-PEMs with outstanding performance and durability by 1) introducing cross-linked structures, 2) incorporating organic/inorganic composites, and 3) fabricating reinforced-composite membranes using porous substrates.