• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.100-111
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• 2022

This paper presents a simple and inexpensive method to fabricate chemically and mechanically resistant hot electron-emitting composite electrodes on reusable substrates. In this study, the hot electron emitting composite electrodes were manufactured by doping a polymer, nylon 6,6, with few different brands of carbon particles (graphite, carbon black) and by coating metal substrates with the aforementioned composite ink layers with different carbon-polymer mass fractions. The optimal mass fractions in these composite layers allowed to fabricate composite electrodes that can inject hot electrons into aqueous electrolyte solutions and clearly generate hot electron- induced electrochemiluminescence (HECL). An aromatic terbium (III) chelate was used as a probe that is known not to be excited on the basis of traditional electrochemistry but to be efficiently electrically excited in the presence of hydrated electrons and during injection of hot electrons into aqueous solution. Thus, the presence of hot, pre-hydrated or hydrated electrons at the close vicinity of the composite electrode surface were monitored by HECL. The study shows that the extreme pH conditions could not damage the present composite electrodes. These low-cost, simplified and robust composite electrodes thus demonstrate that they can be used in HECL bioaffinity assays and other applications of hot electron electrochemistry.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.185-194
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• 2024

Fe-Ni nanocatalysts loaded on carbon black were prepared via spontaneous reduction reaction of iron (II) acetylacetonate and nickel (II) acetylacetonate in dry process. Their morphology and elemental analysis were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray analyzer. The loading weight of the nanocatalysts was measured by thermogravimetric analyze and the surface area was measured by BET analysis. TEM observation showed that Fe and Ni nanoparticles was well dispersed on the carbon black and their average particle size was 4.82 nm. The loading weight of Fe-Ni nanocatalysts on the carbon black was 6.83-7.32 wt%, and the value increased with increasing iron (II) acetylacetonate content. As the Fe-Ni loading weight increased, the specific surface area decreased significantly by more than 50%, because Fe-Ni nanoparticles block the micropores of carbon black. I-V characteristics showed that water electrolysis performance increased with increasing Ni nanocatalyst content.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.255-268
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• 2015

Single particle soot photometer (SP2) is an advanced instrument capable of real-time measurement of concentration, coating thickness, and size distribution of individual BC particle using laser-induced incandescence. So far, there have been insufficient studies examining the real-time characteristics of BC in Korea. In this study, we examined temporal variations in BC concentration and mass size distribution of BC in volume equivalence diameter at a background site of Aewol, Jeju in May. Average concentration and mass median diameter (MMD) of BC particles measured during the study period (06~ 16 May 2013) were $0.69{\pm}0.48{\mu}g/m^3$ and $196{\pm}17nm$, respectively. The BC concentration measured in Aewol was very similar to that observed in the spring of 2012 in Baengnyeong island, and showed diurnal profiles similar to those in other background areas. MMD of BC ranged from 172 to 222 nm. It was found that the mass size distribution of BC varied depending on the location (ground-based), season, types of air masses, and altitude (aircraft-based).

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.449-454
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• 2016

In this study, highly monodispersed porous carbon microcapsules with a hollow core were synthesized using polystyrene (PS) beads as a hard template. The surface of PS was first modified with polyvinylpyrollidone (PVP) for the easy attachment of inorganic silica sol. After coating the surface of PVP modified PS microspheres with SBA-16 sol, the carbon microcapsules with a hollow macroporous core were fabricated through reverse replication method by filling carbon sources in the mesopores of silica mold. The hollow carbons having a mesoporous shell structure and narrow particle size distribution could be obtained after the carbonization of carbon source and the dissolution of silica mold by HF solution. The mesoporous characteristics and electrochemical properties of hollow carbon microcapsules were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, $N_2$ adsorption/desorption analysis and cyclic voltammetry. They showed the high electric conductivity and capability for use as efficient electro-materials such as a supercapacitor.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.879-886
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• 2000

$H_2S$ adsorption characteristics of activated carbon adsorbent impregnated with NaOH were investigated. The concentrations of NaOH reagent were 1~8N and the particle size of activated carbon was $8{\times}30$ mesh. The experimental results showed that the BET surface area decreases from $1050m^2/g$ to $783m^2/g$ and acidity of activated carbon decreases from 0.541 meq/g-AC to 0 meq/g-AC, while pH increases from 9.56 to 10.86 when the impregnation ratio increases from 0.87% to 5.8%. It was also found that the $H_2S$ adsorption equilibrium capacity of activated carbon impregnated with NaOH increases with increasing temperature and $H_2S$ concentration and varies in the range of 17.87~30.34 mg/g-AC at adsorption temperature of $45^{\circ}C$, which is 2~3 times larger than that of pure activated carbon.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.220-228
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• 2018

This study introduced a carbon-free electrode for $Li-O_2$ cells with the aim of suppressing the side reactions activated by carbon material. Micro-particles of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), a conducting polymer, were used as the base material for the air electrode of $Li-O_2$cells. The PEDOT micro-particles were treated with $H_2SO_4$ to improve their electronic conductivity, and LiBr and CsBr were used as the redox mediators to facilitate the dissociation of there action products in the electrode and reduce the over-potential of the $Li-O_2$ cells. The capacity of the electrode employing PEDOT micro-particles was significantly enhanced via $H_2SO_4$ treatment, which is attributed to the increased electronic conductivity. The considerable capacity enhancement and relatively low over-potential of the electrode employing $H_2SO_4$-treated PEDOT micro-particles indicate that the treated PEDOT micro-particles can act as reaction sites and provide storage space for the reaction products. The cyclic performance of the electrode employing $H_2SO_4$-treated PEDOT micro-particles was superior to that of a carbon electrode. The results of the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic analysis showed that the accumulation of residual reaction products during cycling was significantly reduced by introducing the carbon-free electrode based on $H_2SO_4$-treated PEDOT micro-particles, compared with that of the carbon electrode. The cycle life was improved owing to the effect of the redox mediators. The refore, the use of the carbon -free electrode combined with redox mediators could realize excellent cyclic performance and low over-potential simultaneously.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.798-803
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• 2018

In order to use Si as an anode material for lithium-ion battery, the particle size was controlled to less than $0.5{\mu}m$ and carbon was coated on the surface with the thickness less than 10 nm. The carbon fiber was grown on the Si surface with 50~150 wt%, and the carbon coating was carried out once again. The Si composite material was mixed with dissimilar metals to increase the conductivity, and graphite was mixed to improve cyclic life characteristics. The physical and electrochemical characteristics of composite materials were measured with XRD, SEM, TEM and coin cell. The discharge capacity of Si/PC/CNF/PC was lower than that of Si/PC (Pyrolytic Carbon)/CNF (Carbon Nano Fiber). However, the cyclic life of Si/PC/CNF/PC was higher. Initial discharge capacity of 1512 mA h g-1 at 0.2 C rate and initial efficiency of 78% were shown. It also showed a capacity retention of 94% in 10 cycles.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.646-652
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• 2018

During a long-term operation of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs), the fuel cell performance may degrade due to severe agglomeration and dissolution of metal nanoparticles in the cathode. To enhance the electrochemical durability of metal catalysts and to prevent the particle agglomeration in PEMFC operation, this paper proposes a hybrid catalyst structure composed of PtCo alloy nanoparticles encapsulated by porous carbon layers. In the hybrid catalyst structure, the dissolution and migration of PtCo nanoparticles can be effectively prevented by protective carbon shells. In addition, $O_2$ can properly penetrate the porous carbon layers and react on the active Pt surface, which ensures high catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction. Although the hybrid catalyst has a much smaller active surface area due to the carbon encapsulation compared to a commercial Pt catalyst without a carbon layer, it has a much higher specific activity and significantly improved durability than the Pt catalyst. Therefore, it is expected that the designed hybrid catalyst concept will provide an interesting strategy for development of high-performance fuel cell catalysts.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.519-524
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• 2019

Spherical $Li_3V_2(PO_4)_3$ (LVP) and carbon-coated LVP with a monoclinic phase for the cathode materials are synthesized by a hydrothermal method using $N_2H_4$ as the reducing agent and saccharose as the carbon source. The results show that single phase monoclinic LVP without impurity phases such as $LiV(P_2O_7)$, $Li(VO)(PO_4)$ and $Li_3(PO_4)$ can be obtained after calcination at $800^{\circ}C$ for 4 h. SEM and TEM images show that the particle sizes are $0.5{\sim}2{\mu}m$ and the thickness of the amorphous carbon layer is approximately 3~4 nm. CV curves for the test cell are recorded in the potential ranges of 3.0~4.3 V and 3.0~4.8 V at a scan rate of $0.01mV\;s^{-1}$ and at room temperature. At potentials between 3.0 and 4.8 V, the third $Li^+$ ions from the carbon-coated LVP can be completely extracted, at voltages close to 4.51 V. The carbon-coated LVP exhibits an initial specific discharge capacity of $118mAh\;g^{-1}$ in the voltage region of 3.0 to 4.3 V at a current rate of 0.2 C. The results indicate that the reducing agent and carbon source can affect the crystal structure and electrochemical properties of the cathode materials.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.131-141
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• 2023

In this study, the relationship between organic carbon distribution characteristics and decomposition rate classified according to the particle size and biological degradation characteristics in water was investigated for the Nam river and Geumho river. The average concentrations of TOC in the Nam river and Geumho river were 2.7±1.2 mg/L and 5.0±1.2 mg/L, respectively, but the composition ratios for each type of organic carbon were similar. An average value of 80.9% of TOC was present as DOC and 72.8% of DOC consisted of Refractory-DOC (RDOC). In addition, the change in the RDOC composition ratio according to temporal and spatial distribution was the smallest. There was no difference in the decomposition rate of organic carbon except for TOC by the site (p≥0.108, one-way ANOVA), and the decomposition rates of Labile-POC (LPOC) and LDOC were similar at 0.139±0.102 and 0.137±0.149 day^-1, respectively (p=0.110, paired t-test). The coefficient of variation (CV) of the decomposition rate of DOC (average 8.1%), which had the smallest composition ratio of organic carbon, was 1.1, showing the largest temporal variation. The TOC, POC, and DOC decomposition rates showed a significant correlation with the ratio of the initial concentration to the concentration after 25 days of decomposition (OC₂₅/OC₀) (r²=0.89~0.94, p<0.001), and the decomposition rates of LPOC and LDOC were significantly correlated with the ratio of the initial concentration to the concentration after 5 days of decomposition (LOC₅/LOC₀) (r²=0.67~0.75). This suggests that it is possible to estimate the decomposition rate through the concentration of each type of organic carbon.