• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.265-273
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• 2017

Solid-state alkaline water electrolysis is a promising method for producing hydrogen using renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. Despite active investigations of component development for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE), understanding of the device performance remains insufficient for the commercialization of AEMWE. The study of assembled AEMWE devices is essential to validate the activity and stability of developed catalysts and electrolyte membranes, as well as the dependence of the performance on the device operating conditions. Herein, we review the development of catalysts and membranes reported by different AEMWE companies such as ACTA S.p.A. and Proton OnSite and device operating conditions that significantly affect the AEMWE performance. For example, $CuCoO_x$ and $LiCoO_2$ have been studied as oxygen evolution catalysts by Acta S.p.A and Proton OnSite, respectively. Anion exchange membranes based on polyethylene and polysulfone are also investigated for use as electrolyte membranes in AEMWE devices. In addition, operation factors, including temperature, electrolyte concentration and acidity, and solution feed methods, are reviewed in terms of their influence on the AEMWE performance. The reaction rate of water splitting generally increases with increase in operating temperature because of the facilitated kinetics and higher ion conductivity. The effect of solution feeding configuration on the AEMWE performance is explained, with a brief discussion on current AEMWE performance and device durability.

• 멤브레인
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.283-291
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• 2022

재생에너지의 보급과 기후변화를 대응하기 위한 해결책으로 수소에너지에 대한 관심이 늘어나고 있다. 수소는 미이용 전력을 대용량 장주기로 저장하기에 가장 적합한 수단이며 이러한 수소를 생산하는 기술 중 수전해는 물에 전기에너지를 인가하여 수소를 생산하는 친환경적 수소생산 기술로 알려져 있다. 수전해의 구성 요소 중 분리막은 음극과 양극을 물리적으로 분리할 뿐만 아니라 생성되는 수소와 산소의 섞임 현상을 방지하며 이온의 전달을 가능하게 하는 복합적인 역할을 수행한다. 특히 기존의 수전해 기술들의 단점을 보완할 수 있는 차세대 음이온 교환막 수전해에서의 핵심은 우수한 음이온 교환막을 확보하는 것이다. 높은 이온 전도성과 알칼리 환경에서 우수한 내구성을 동시에 가지려는 많은 연구들이 진행되고 있으며 다양한 소재에 대한 탐색이 이루어지고 있다. 본 총설에서는 상용 블록 공중합체인 Polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-polystyrene (SEBS)를 기반으로 하는 음이온 교환막에 대한 연구에 대해 살펴보며 최신 연구 동향과 앞으로 나아가야할 점에 대해 논하고자 한다.

• 한국표면공학회지
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.159-165
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• 2016

The hydrogen has been recognized as a clean, nonpolluting and unlimited energy source that can solve fossil fuel depletion and environmental pollution problems at the same time. Water electrolysis has been the most attractive technology in a way to produce hydrogen because it does not emit any pollutants compared to other method such as natural gas steam reforming and coal gasification etc. In order to improve efficiency and durability of the water electrolysis, comprehensive studies for highly active and stable electrocatalysts have been performed. The platinum group metal (PGM; Pt, Ru, Pd, Rh, etc.) electrocatalysts indicated a higher activity and stability compared with other transition metals in harsh condition such as acid solution. It is necessary to develop inexpensive non-noble metal catalysts such as transition metal oxides because the PGM catalysts is expensive materials with insufficient it's reserves. The optimization of operating parameter and the components is also important factor to develop an efficient water electrolysis cell. In this study, we optimized the operating parameter and components such as the type of AEM and density of gas diffusion layer (GDL) and the temperature/concentration of the electrolyte solution for the anion exchange membrane water electrolysis cell (AEMWEC) with the transition metal oxide alloy anode and cathode electrocatalysts. The maximum current density was $345.8mA/cm^2$ with parameter and component optimization.

• 한국수소및신에너지학회논문집
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.715-722
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• 2022

Pt-Fe/carbon black nanocatalysts were prepared by spontaneous reduction reaction of Platinum(II) acetylacetonate and Iron(II) acetylacetonate in a nucleophilic solvent and they were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDS), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) surface area analysis and anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysis test station. The distribution of the Pt and Fe nanoparticles on carbon black was observed by TEM, and the loading weight of Pt-Fe nanocatalysts on the carbon black was measured by TGA. Elemental ratio of Fe:Pt was estimated by EDS and it was found that elemental ratio of Pt and Fe was changed in the range of 1:0 to 0:1, and the loading weight of Pt-Fe nanoparticles on the carbon black was 5.95-6.78 wt%. Specific surface area was greatly reduced because Pt-Fe nanocatalysts blocked the pores. I-V characteristics were estimated.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.369-376
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• 2022

In this study, the stability of an anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE) cell was evaluated in an on-off cycling operation with respect to an applied electric bias, i.e., a current density of 500 mA cm^-2, and an open circuit. The ohmic and polarization resistances of the system were monitored during operation (~800 h) using electrochemical impedance spectra. Specific consideration was given to the ohmic resistance of the cell, especially that of the membrane under on-off cycling conditions, by consistently feeding the cell with KOH solution. Owing to an excess feed solution, a momentary increase in the polarization resistance was observed immediately after the open-circuit. The excess feed solution was mostly recovered by subjecting the cell to the applied electric bias. Stability tests on the AEMWE cell under on-off cycling with continuous feeding even under an open circuit can guarantee long-term stability by avoiding an irreversible increase in ohmic and polarization resistances.

• 한국표면공학회지
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• 제55권3호
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• pp.180-186
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• 2022

The production of hydrogen via water electrolysis (i.e., green hydrogen) using renewable energy is key to the development of a sustainable society. However, most current electrocatalysts are based on expensive precious metals and require the use of highly purified water in the electrolyte. We demonstrated the preparation of a non-precious metal catalyst based on CuCo₂O₄ (CCO) via simple electrodeposition. Further, an optimization process for electrodeposition potential, solution concentration and electrodeposition method was develop for a catalyst-substrate integrated electrode, which indicated the highly electrocatalytic performance of the material in electrochemical tests and when applied to an anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer.

• 한국수소및신에너지학회논문집
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.285-292
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• 2021

To study the effect of the mixture ratio of Ni-Pt nanocatalysts on water electrolysis characteristics in anion exchange membrane system, Ni-Pt nanocatalysts were loaded on carbon black by using a spontaneous reduction reaction of acetylacetonate compounds. The loading weight of Ni-Pt nanocatalysts on the carbon black was measured by thermogravimetric analyzer and the elemental ratio of Ni and Pt was estimated by energy dispersive x-ray analyzer. It was found that the loading weight of Ni-Pt nanoparticles was 5.36-5.95 wt%, and the loading weight increased with increasing Pt wt%. As the Ni-Pt loading weight increased, the specific surface area decreased, because Ni-Pt nanoparticles block the pores of carbon black. It was confirmed by BET analysis and dynamic vapor sorption analysis. I-V characteristics were estimated.

• 멤브레인
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.371-383
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• 2021

음이온 교환막은 수소를 생산할 수 있는 수전해와 수소 연료를 사용하여 전기 에너지를 사용할 수 있는 연료전지 시스템에 사용될 수 있다. 음이온 교환막은 알칼라인 조건에서 수산화 이온(OH^-) 전도를 기반으로 작동한다. 하지만, 음이온 교환막은 상대적으로 낮은 이온 전도도와 알칼라인 안정성을 보이기 때문에 아직 수전해 및 연료전지에 상용화되는 데 한계가 존재한다. 이를 해결하기 위해서는 고분자 구조를 합리적으로 설계하여 새로운 음이온 교환막 소재를 개발하는 것이 필수적이다. 특히, 고분자의 물성, 이온전도도, 그리고 알칼라인 안정성이 우수하게 유지될 수 있도록 고분자 구조 및 합성 방법 등을 제어하여 한다. 음이온 교환막 중에서 Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) 기반의 소재는 상용화 되어 접근이 용이하다. 또한, 다른 고분자에 비해 상대적으로 기계적인 특성 및 화학적 안정성이 높아 음이온 교환막 개발에 자주 사용되고 있다. 본 총설에서는 음이온 교환막에서 사용되는 PPO 기반의 고분자 소재 개발 전략 및 특성에 대해서 소개하고자 한다.

• 대한환경공학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.149-154
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• 2010

전기분해와 공침법을 이용한 해수 중의 납 제거 가능성에 대하여 실험하였다. 전기분해조는 음이온교환수지를 채운 격막으로 분리되었다. 전기분해가 진행됨에 따라 음극식의 pH는 상승하여 콜로이드 형태의 $Mg(OH)_2$와 $CaCO_3$이 생성되었다. 넓은 표면적을 가지는 콜로이드 입자는 납 이온을 흡착하여 침천되었다. 전류밀도를 변화시키면서 바닷물의 전기분해하였으며 바닷물에 남아있는 Mg, Ca, Pb의 양을 적정법과 ASV 방법을 이용하여 측정하였다. 전류밀도와 pH가 증가함에 따라 바닷물 중의 납은 대부분 효과적으로 제거되었다.

• 한국표면공학회지
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• 제56권6호
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• pp.412-419
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• 2023

Anion exchange membrane electrolysis is considered a promising next-generation hydrogen production technology that can produce low-cost, clean hydrogen. However, anion exchange membrane electrolysis technology is in its early stages of development and requires intensive research on electrodes, which are a key component of the catalyst-system interface. In this study, we optimized the pressure conditions of the hot-pressing process to manufacture cobalt oxide electrodes for the development of a high uniformity and high adhesion electrode production process for the oxygen evolution reaction. As the pressure increased, the reduction of pores within the electrode and increased densification of catalytic particles led to the formation of a uniform electrode surface. The cobalt oxide electrode optimized for pressure conditions exhibited improved catalytic activity and durability. The optimized electrode was used as the anode in an AEMWE single cell, exhibiting a current density of 1.53 A cm^-2 at a cell voltage of 1.85 V. In a durability test conducted for 100 h at a constant current density of 500 mA cm^-2, it demonstrated excellent durability with a low degradation rate of 15.9 mV kh^-1, maintaining 99% of its initial performance.