• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.640-645
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• 2018

The design of non-precious electrocatalysts with low-cost, good stability, and an improved oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) to replace the platinium-based electrocatalyst is significant for application of fuel cells and metal-air batteries with high energy density. In this study, we synthesize iron-carbide($Fe_3C$) embedded nitrogen(N) doped carbon nanofiber(CNF) as electrocatalysts for ORRs using electrospinning, precursor deposition, and carbonization. To optimize electrochemical performance, we study the three stages according to different amounts of iron precursor. Among them, $Fe_3C$-embedded N doped CNF-1 exhibits the most improved electrochemical performance with a high onset potential of -0.18 V, a high $E_{1/2}$ of -0.29 V, and a nearly four-electron pathway (n = 3.77). In addition, $Fe_3C$-embedded N doped CNF-1 displays exellent long-term stabillity with the lowest ${\Delta}E_{1/2}=8mV$ compared to the other electrocatalysts. The improved electrochemical properties are attributed to synergestic effect of N-doping and well-dispersed iron carbide embedded in CNF. Consequently, $Fe_3C$-embedded N doped CNF is a promising candidate for non-precious electrocatalysts for high-performance ORRs.

• Composites Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.31-36
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• 2010

A new material, carbon-nanofiber/polypyrrole (CNF/PPy) composite films, with different CNF weight ratios were fabricated electrochemically. Compared to the fabrication process based on simple physical mixing, the flexibility of the new film has been improved much better than the previous similar material. Pure PPy films were also fabricated by the new electrochemical process for the comparison of difference. Several SEM images were taken at two locations (electrode-side and solution-side) and at the cross section of the samples. Electrical conductivity of the composite films was measured by the four-probe method. The conductivity of the pure PPy film 0.013cm thick was 79.33S/cm. The CNF/PPy composite film with 5% CNF showed a conductivity of 93S/cm. One with 10% CNF showed a conductivity of 126 S/cm. The conductivity of PPy improves, as the CNF weight ratio increases. The good conductivity of CNF/PPy composites makes them a candidate for a small bending actuator. A bending sensor consists of PPy and PVDF, which can be operated in the air, was designed and the bending deflection was calculated using FEM.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.145-146
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.42-45
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• 2003

Nondestructive damage sensing and mechanical properties for acid-treated carbon nanotube (CNT) and nanofiber (CNF)/epoxy composites were investigated using electro-micromechanical technique and acoustic emission (AE). Carbon black (CB) was used to compare to CNT and CNF. The results were compared to the untreated case. The fracture of carbon fiber was detected by nondestructive acoustic emission (AE) relating to electrical resistivity under double-matrix composites test. Sensing for fiber tension was performed by electro-pullout test under uniform cyclic strain. The sensitivity for fiber damage such as fiber fracture and fiber tension was the highest for CNT/epoxy composites. Reinforcing effect of CNT obtained from apparent modulus measurement was the highest in the same content. For surface treatment case, the damage sensitivity and reinforcing effect were higher than those of the untreated case. The results obtained from sensing fiber damage were correlated with the morphological observation of nano-scale structure using FE-SEM. The information on fiber damage and matrix deformation and reinforcing effect of carbon nanocomposites could be obtained from electrical resistivity measurement as a new concept of nondestructive evaluation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.125-128
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• 2005

The dispersion of carbon nanofiber (CNF) was carried out by solution blending, mechanical mixing, and sonication. CNFs at levels of 5-50% fiber weight content were mixed with polypropylene (PP) powder, and then were melt-mixed using a twin-screw extruder. For the further alignment of fibers, extruded rods were stacked uni-directionally in the mold cavity for the compression molding. For the evaluation of mechanical properties of nanocomposites, tension, in-plane shear, and flexural tests were conducted. CNF/PP composites clearly showed reinforcing effect in the longitudinal direction. The tensile modulus and strength have improved by 100% and 40%, respectively for 50 % fiber weight content, and the flexural modulus and strength have increased by 120% and 25%, respectively for the same fiber weight content. The shear modulus showed 65% increase, but the strength dropped sharply by 40%. However, the property enhancement was not significant due to the poor adhesion between fiber and matrix. In the transverse direction, the tensile, flexural, and shear strength decreased as more fibers were added.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.347-356
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• 2010

Recently, the use of thermal conductive polymeric composites is growing up, where the polymers filled with the thermally conductive fillers effectively dissipate heat generated from electronic components. Therefore, the management of heat is directly related to the lifetime of electronic devices. For the purpose of the improvement of thermal conductivity of composites, fillers with excellent thermally conductive behavior are commonly used. Thermally conductive particles filled polymer composites have advantages due to their easy processibility, low cost, and durability to the corrosion. Especially, carbon-based 1-dimensional nanomaterials such as carbon nanotube (CNT) and carbon nanofiber (CNF) have gained much attention for their excellent thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance and low thermal expansion coefficient than the metals. This paper aims to review the research trends in the improvement of thermal conductivity of the carbon-based materials filled polymer composites.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.69-70
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• 2003

10 wt.% of PAN was dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and 1 wt. % of the multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was evenly dispersed in PAN solution by using ultrasonic miner. The 1 wt.% addition of MWCNT increased the specific capacitance by two times more from 82 to 160 F/g. The specific capacitance of carbon nanofiber(CNF)/carbon nanotube(CNT) composite capacitors was about 90 F/g at the current density of 500 mA/g. This value is even larger than the capacitance from the CNF electrode at the current density of 5 mA. The relatively high capacitance at the high current density is a practical importance for applications to supercapacitor in motor vehicle.

• Composites Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.21-26
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• 2005

Nondestructive damage sensing and load transfer mechanisms of carbon nanotube (CNT) and nanofiber (CNF)/epoxy composites have been investigated by using electro-micromechanical technique. The electrospun PVDF nanofibers were also prepared as a piezoelectric sensor. The electro-micromechanical techniques were applied to evaluate sensing response of carbon nanocomposites by measuring electrical resistance under an uniform cyclic loading. Composites with higher volume content of CNT showed significantly higher tensile properties than neat and low volume$\%$ CNT composites. CNT composites showed humidity sensing within limited temperature range. CNT composites with smaller aspect ratio showed higher apparent modulus due to high volume content in case of shorter aspect ratio. Thermal treated electrospun PVDF nanofiber showed higher mechanical properties than the untreated case due to crystallinity increase, whereas load sensing decreased in heat treated case. Electrospun PVDF nanofiber web also showed sensing effect on humidity and temperature as well as stress transferring. Nanocomposites and electrospun PVDF nanofiber web can be applicable for sensing application.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2013

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are electrically conductive. When CNFs are used as fillers in resin, this electrical conductivity can be yielded without adversely affecting the mechanical properties of the resin. When an elastomer is adopted as the resin, a conductive elastomer can then be produced. Due to its flexibility and conductive properties, a large strain sensor based on changes in resistivity may be produced, for strain sensing in flexible structures. In this study, a patch-type large strain sensor using resistivity change in a CNF/elastomer composite was proposed. The measurement limits of the sensor were investigated experimentally, and the limit was found to be 40%, which greatly exceeded the limits of conventional metal-foiled strain gages. Also, the proposed CNF/elastomer large strain sensor can be used to measure flexible materials, while conventional strain gages cannot be used to measure such strains.