• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1945-1948
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• 2012

Rhodamine B (RhB) and rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) were employed as catalysts for the synthesis of cyclic carbonate from carbon dioxide and epoxide. It turned out that the catalytic activity of Rh6G was nearly 29 times higher than that of RhB at 1 atm pressure, $90^{\circ}C$. Furthermore, the catalytic efficiency of RhB and Rh6G was greatly enhanced with triethylamine as co-catalyst. Under the optimized conditions, the best isolated yield (93%) of cyclic carbonate was achieved without organic solvent and metal component.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.68 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2024

The commercialization of rechargeable metal-air batteries is extremely desirable but designing stable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts with non-noble metal still has faced challenges to replace platinum-based catalysts. The nonnoble metal catalysts for ORR were prepared to improve the catalytic performance and stability by the thermal decomposition of ZIF-8 with optimum cobalt loading. The porous carbon was obtained by the calcination of ZIF-8 and different loading amounts of Co nanoparticles were anchored onto porous carbon forming a Co/PC catalyst. Co/PC composite shows a significant increase in the ORR value of current and stability (500 h) due to the good electronic conductive PCN support and optimum cobalt metal loading. The significantly improved catalytic performance is ascribed to the chemical structure, synergistic effects, porous carbon networks, and rich active sites. This method develops a new pathway for a highly active and advantageous catalyst for electrochemical devices.

• Carbon letters
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• v.26
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• pp.1-10
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• 2018

Biochar obtained from the thermal conversion of biomass has high potential as a substitute material for activated carbon and other carbon-based materials because it is economical, environmentally friendly, and carbon-neutral. The physicochemical properties of biochar can also be controlled by a range of activation methods such as physical, chemical, and hydrothermal treatments. Activated biochar can be used as a catalyst for the catalytic pyrolysis of a biomass and as an absorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions and atmospheric pollutants. The applications of biochar are also expanding not only as a key component in producing energy storage materials, such as supercapacitors, lithium ion batteries, and fuel cells, but also in carbon capture and storage. This paper reviews the recent progress on the activation of biochar and its diverse present and future applications.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

The importance of high capacity energy storage devices has recently emerged for stable power supply through renewable energy generation. From this point of view, the Na-air battery (NAB), which is a next-generation secondary battery, is receiving huge attention because it can realize a high capacity through abundant and inexpensive raw materials. In this study, activated carbon-based catalysts for hybrid type Na-air batteries were prepared and their characteristics were compared and analysed. In particular, from the viewpoint of resource recycling, activated carbon (Orange-C) was prepared using discarded orange peel, and performance was compared with Vulcan carbon, which is widely used. In addition, a Pt/C catalyst (homemade-Pt/C, HM-Pt/C) was synthesized using a modified polyol method to check whether the prepared activated carbon can be used as a supported catalyst, and a commercial Pt/C catalyst (Commercial Pt/C) and electrochemical performance were compared. The prepared Orange-C exhibited a typical H3 type BET isotherm, which is evidence that micropore and mesopore exist. In addition, in the case of HM-Pt/C, it was confirmed through TEM analysis that Pt particles were evenly distributed on the activated carbon supported catalyst. In particular, the HM-Pt/C-based NAB showed the smallest voltage gap (0.224V) and good voltage efficiency (92.34%) in the 1st galvanostatic charge-discharge test. In addition, the cycle performance test conducted for 20 cycles showed the most stable performance.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.487-492
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• 2008

In this paper, Thermocatalytic decomposition of methane in a fluidized bed reactor (FBR) was studied. The technical approach is based on a single-step decomposition of methane over carbon catalyst in air/water vapor free environment. The factors affecting methane decompostion catalyst activity in methane decomposition reactions were examined. The fluidization phenomena in a gas-fluidized bed of catalyst was determined by the analysis of pressure fluctuation properties, and the results were confirmed with characteristics of methane decomposition. The effect of parameters on the H2 yield was examined for methane decompostion. The decompstion rate was affected by the fluidization quality such as mobility, U-Umf, carbon attrition, elutriation and effectiveness density of fluidization gas.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.182-188
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• 2018

Nitrogen (N)-doped protein-based carbon as platinum (Pt) catalyst supports from tofu for oxygen reduction reactions are synthesized using a carbonization and reduction method. We successfully prepare 5 wt% Pt@N-doped protein-based carbon, 10 wt% Pt@N-doped protein-based carbon, and 20 wt% Pt@N-doped protein-based carbon. The morphology and structure of the samples are characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron micro scopy, and crystllinities and chemical bonding are identified using X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The oxygen reduction reaction are measured using a linear sweep voltammogram and cyclic voltammetry. Among the samples, 10 wt% Pt@N-doped protein-based carbon exhibits exellent electrochemical performance with a high onset potential of 0.62 V, a high $E_{1/2}$ of 0.55 V, and a low ${\Delta}E_{1/2}=0.32mV$. Specifically, as compared to the commercial Pt/C, the 10 wt% Pt@N-doped protein-based carbon had a similar oxygen reduction reaction perfomance and improved electrochemical stability.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.488.2-488.2
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• 2014

Carbon-based materials such as carbon nanotubes and graphene have emerged as promising building blocks in applications for nanoelectronics and energy devices due to electrical property, ease of processability, and relatively inert electrochemistry. In recent years, there has been considerable interest in core-shell nanomaterials, in which inorganic nanowires are surrounded by inorganic or organic layers. Especially, carbon encapsulated semiconductor nanowires have been actively investigated by researchers in lithium ion batteries. We report a method to synthesize silicon nanowire (SiNW) core/carbon shell structures by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), using methane (CH4) as a precursor at growth temperature of $1000{\sim}1100^{\circ}C$. Unlike carbon-based materials synthesized via conventional routes, this method is of advantage of metal-catalyst free growth. We characterized these materials with FE-SEM, FE-TEM, and Raman spectroscopy. This would allow us to use these materials for applications ranging from optoelectronics to energy devices such as solar cells and lithium ion batteries.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.394-399
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• 2015

In this study, the Cu catalyst decorated with activated carbon fibers were prepared for improving $SO_2$ adsorption properties. Flame retardant and heat treatments of Lyocell fibers were carried out to obtain carbon fibers with high yield. The prepared carbon fibers were activated by KOH solution for the high specific surface area and controlled pore size to improve $SO_2$ adsorption properties. Copper nitrate was also used to introduce the Cu catalyst on the activated carbon fibers (ACFs), which can induce various reactions in the process; i) copper nitrate promotes the decomposition reaction of oxygen group on the carbon fiber and ii) oxygen radical is generated by the decomposition of copper oxide and nitrates to promote the activation reaction of carbon fibers. As a result, the micro and meso pores were formed and Cu catalysts evenly distributed on ACFs. By Cu-impregnation process, both the specific surface area and micropore volume of carbon fibers increased over 10% compared to those of ACFs only. Also, this resulted in an increase in $SO_2$ adsorption capacity over 149% than that of using the raw ACF. The improvement in $SO_2$ adsorption properties may be originated from the synergy effect of two properties; (i) the physical adsorption from micro, meso and specific surface area due to the transition metal catalyst effect appeared during Cu-impregnation process and ii) the chemical adsorption of $SO_2$ gas promoted by the Cu catalyst on ACFs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.732-738
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• 2018

Novel carbon-based solid acid catalysts were synthesized through a sustainable route from lipid-extracted microalgal residue of Dunaliella tertiolecta, for biodiesel production. Two carbon-based solid acid catalysts were prepared by surface modification of bio-char with sulfuric acid ($H_2SO_4$) and sulfuryl chloride ($SO_2Cl_2$), respectively. The treated catalysts were characterized and their catalytic activities were evaluated by esterification of oleic acid. The esterification catalytic activity of the $SO_2Cl_2$-treated bio-char was higher ($11.5mmol\;Prod.{\cdot}h^{-1}{\cdot}gCat.\;^{-1}$) than that of commercial catalyst silica-supported Nafion SAC-13 ($2.3mmol\;Prod.{\cdot}h^{-1}{\cdot}gCat.^{-1}$) and $H_2SO_4$-treated bio-char ($5.7mmol\;Prod.{\cdot}h^{-1}{\cdot}gCat.^{-1}$). Reusability of the catalysts was examined. The catalytic activity of the $SO_2Cl_2$-modified catalyst was sustained from the second run after the initial activity dropped after the first run and kept the same activity until the fifth run. It was higher than that of first-used Nafion. These experimental results demonstrate that catalysts from lipid-extracted algae have great potential for the economic and environment-friendly production of biodiesel.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.158-167
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• 2018

In this study, in-situ trans-selective polymerization of isoprene was carried out using titanium-based Ziegler-Natta catalysts. The catalysts were prepared by high-energy ball milling. Individually Large-inner-diameter carbon nanotubes (CNTL), and hydroxylated carbon nanotubes (CNTOH), along with magnesium chloride ($MgCl_2$) were used as the carriers for the catalysts. The optimum ball-milling time for preparing the $CNT/MgCl_2/TiCl_4$ Ziegler-Natta catalysts was 4 h. The $CNTOH/MgCl_2/TiCl_4$ catalyst showed a higher efficiency than that of the $CNTL/MgCl_2/TiCl_4$ catalyst, based on the rate of polymerization. The effects of the CNT-filler type on the isoprene polymerization behaviors and polymer properties were investigated. The morphologies of the trans-1,4-polyisoprene (TPI)/CNT and TPI/CNTOH nanocomposites exhibited a tube-like shape, and the CNTL and CNTOH fillers were well dispersed in the TPI matrix. In addition, the thermal stability of TPI significantly increased upon the introduction of a small amount of both CNTL/CNTOH fillers (0.15 wt%), owing to the satisfactory dispersion of the CNTL/CNTOH in the TPI matrix.