• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2004.05b
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• pp.133-135
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• 2004

A direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) using polymer electrolyte membranes are one of the most attractive power sources for a wide range of application from vehicles to portable utilities due to the stable operation at a rarely low temperature, the high energy generation yield and energy density, the simplicity of system.(omitted)

• Membrane Journal
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2003

In the present study, crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) membranes were prepared at various crosslinking agent content using sulfosuccinic acid (SSA) containing sulfonic acid group ($SO_3H)$. To reduce methanol permeability, silica was introduced to the membrane using sol-gel process. The hybrid membranes were studied in relation to proton conductivity and methanol permeability. It was found that both these properties were very dependent on the effect of SSA content as a crosslinking agent and as a donor of hydrophilic $SO_3H)$ group. The proton conductivities of these PVA/SSA/Silica membranes are in the range from $10^{-3}\;to\;10^{-2}$S/cm and the methanol permeabilities are in the range from $10^{-8}\;to\;10^{-7}\;cm^2/sec$.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2003

A numerical analysis of electrochemical reaction and dynamics of the fluid flow in the channels of a DMFC separator was carried out by using a commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD) code fluent(ver.6.0). From the simulation work, many valuable informations were obtained in terms of distributions of velocity, pressure, temperature, concentration and current density over the flow field. And it was possible to optimize the flow field structure by using the simulation results. The simulation work using the Cm code was found very helpful in analysing the phenomena occurring in the fuel cell and optimizing the structures of electrodes and flow field.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2011

In this work, the effect of surface treatment on mesoporous carbons (MCs) supports was investigated by analyzing surface functional groups. MCs were prepared by a conventional templating method using mesoporous silica (SBA-15) for using catalyst supports in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The MCs were treated with different phosphoric acid ($H_3PO_4$) concentrations i.e., 0, 1, 3, 4, and 5 M at 343 K for 6 h. And then Pt-Ru was deposited onto surface treated MCs (H-MCs) by chemical reduction method. The characteristics of Pt-Ru catalysts deposited onto H-MCs were determined by specific surface area and pore size analyzer, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron, transmission electron microscopy, and inductive coupled plasma-mass spectrometer. The electrochemical properties of Pt-Ru/H-MCs catalysts were also analyzed by cyclic voltammetry experiments. From the results of surface analysis, an oxygen functional group was introduced to the surface of carbon supports. From the results, the H4M-MCs carbon supports surface treated with 4 M $H_3PO_4$ led to uniform dispersion of Pt-Ru onto H4M-MCs, resulting in enhancing the electro-catalytic activity of Pt-Ru catalysts.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.649-655
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• 2011

Methane direct cracking can be utilized to produce $CO_x$ and $NO_x$-free hydrogen for PEM fuel cells, oil refineries, ammonia and methanol production. We present the results of a systematic study of methane direct cracking using a mixed conducting oxide, Y-doped $BaZrO_3$ ($BaZr_{0.85}Y_{0.15}O_3$), membrane. In this paper, dense $BaZr_{0.85}Y_{0.15}O_3$ membrane with disk shape was successfully sintered at $1400^{\circ}C$ with a relative density of more 93% via addition of 1 wt% ZnO. The ($BaZr_{0.85}Y_{0.15}O_3$) membrane is covered with Pd as catalyst for methane decomposition with an DC magnetron sputtering method. Reaction temperature was $800^{\circ}C$ and high purity methane as reactant was employed to membrane side with 1.5 bar pressure. The $H_2$ produced by the reaction was transported through mixed conducting oxide membrane to the outer side. In addition, it was observed that the carbon, by-product, after methane direct cracking was deposited on the Pd/ZnO-$BaZr_{0.85}Y_{0.15}O_3$ membrane. The produced carbon has a shape of sphere and nanosheet, and a particle size of 80 to 100 nm.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2020

Carbon supports for dispersed platinum (Pt) electrocatalysts in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are being continuously developed to improve electrochemical performance and catalyst stability. However, carbon supports still require solutions to reduce costs and improve catalyst efficiency. In this study, we prepare well-dispersed Pt electrocatalysts by introducing titanium dioxide (TiO₂) into biomass based nitrogen-doped carbon supports. In order to obtain optimized electrochemical performance, different amounts of TiO₂ component are controlled by three types (Pt/TNC-2 wt%, Pt/TNC-4 wt%, and Pt/TNC-6 wt%). Especially, the anodic current density of Pt/TNC-4 wt% is 707.0 mA g^-1_pt, which is about 1.65 times higher than that of commercial Pt/C (429.1 mA g^-1_pt); Pt/TNC-4wt% also exhibits excellent catalytic stability, with a retention rate of 91 %. This novel support provides electrochemical performance improvement including several advantages of improved anodic current density and catalyst stability due to the well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles on the support by the introduction of TiO₂ component and nitrogen doping in carbon. Therefore, Pt/TNC-4 wt% may be electrocatalyst a promising catalyst as an anode for high-performance DMFCs.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.365-368
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• 2009

메탄올 연료전지에서 기존의 탄소 지지체의 전기화학적인 특성과 유사한 새로운 지지체 물질을 개발하기위해서 $TiO_2$ 산화물을 선정하였고 이것의 전도성을 향상에 관한 연구를 하였다. 새로운 지지체인 Degussa $TiO_2$를 이용하여 고온에서 열처리하는 방법으로써 얻을 수 있었다. 이러한 지지체위에 백금 촉매를 담지하는 합성 실험은 간단한 방법인 sodium borohydride 방법으로써 수행하였고 구조적인 결과를 확인하기 위하여 XRD 분석으로써 확인하였다. 결과로부터 $TiO_2$에서 TiN으로 구조적인 변화를 알 수 있었고 상변화 과정이 높은 에너지와 소스로 인해 바뀐다는 것을 알 수 있었다. 이러한 지지체 촉매 전극의 전기적인 활성을 알아보기 위하여 CVs와 안전성을 확인하기 위하여 CA에서 분석하였다. 기존 탄소 지지체 촉매 전극과 황산과 메탄올 용액하에서 CVs와 CA를 비교하였을 때, 티타늄 질화물 지지체가 CVs에서 유사한 산화, 환원 활성을 나타내었고 CA에서 높은 전류에서 안정성을 보여주었다. 이러한 결과로부터 TiN 지지체는 탄소 지지체와 비교하였을 때 연료전지의 지지체로써의 가능성을 확인 할 수 있었다.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.481-491
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• 2017

In this study, we developed 300 W lightweight DMFC system for charging secondary battery in small unit military operation. In order to reduce the volumetric shape and weight of the system considering the environment of the individual soldier's, the arranging of system components has been optimized. A metal bipolar plates made of STS-470FC have been implemented to the DMFC stack to meet the weight demand of the system. As a result of the performance test of the stack, the target value was satisfied by outputting 561 W exceeding 24% of the stack output 450 W required to output 300 W required for the entire system. Moreover, 2,655 hours exceeding 1,000 hours also has been satisfied. To ensure good robustness of the metallic bipolar plate based DMFC stack, finite element method based simulations are conducted using a commercial ANSYS Fluent software.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2011

In this study, polymer composite membranes based on sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (SPAES) were prepared using a solution casting method with different amount of vermiculite (VMT) content. The dispersion of VMT particles in the SPAES matrix was confirmed by means of a scanning electron microscopy observation. The composite membrane containing less than 1 wt% of VMT has a smooth skin on the top and bottom, which means there is a good dispersion of VMT in the matrix. The water uptake of the composite membranes gradually increases as the temperature increases, and the results confirm that all the adsorbed water is bound water because VMT has a strong water affinity on account of its high cation exchange value. A composite membrane with a VMT content of less than 1 wt% increases the proton conductivity and reduces the methanol permeability. Of all the composite membranes, the membrane SPAES/VMT 1.0 has the best fuel cell performance in terms of membrane selectivity. The performance value of SPAES/VMT 1.0 is double that of Nafion 112, which suggests that SPAES/VMT1.0 could be an excellent candidate for direct methanol fuel cells.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.86.2-86.2
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• 2011

저온형 연료전지인 직접 메탄올 연료전지(Direct Methanol Fuel Cells, DMFC)는 친환경적인 발전 시스템, 높은 에너지 효율의 장점 때문에 주목을 받고 있으나 연료극의 촉매로 사용되는 금속은 고가의 귀금속인 Pt와 Ru가 요구되어 제조비용이 비싸기 때문에 촉매의 양을 줄이고, 반응 도중 생성되는 CO에 의한 촉매의 피독 문제 등 해결하여야 할 점이 산적해 있어 연료전지 중 촉매의 활성을 높이는 연구들이 활발히 이루어지고 있다. 종래의 MEA의 촉매층 제조공정은 우선 환원석출법에 의해 Pt-Ru/C를 합성하고 Nafion 용액에 혼합하여 Pt-Ru/C 슬러리를 제조한다. 이 방법에서는 carbon sheet에 spray 방법으로 Pt-Ru/C 촉매층이 만들어지기 때문에, Pt-Ru 촉매가 Nafion에 의해 부분적으로 매몰되어 촉매의 전기화학적 활성이 떨어지는 문제점이 있다. 이를 해결하는 방안으로 펄스전류를 이용하여 Pt-Ru 합금입자를 carbon sheet에 전기화학적으로 담지 시켜 Nafion에 매몰되는 것을 방지하는 펄스전해법 연구가 진행되고 있다. 그러나 촉매의 입자크기가 일반적으로 50~70 nm 이상으 크기 때문에 촉매의 낮은 활성이 문제점으로 야기되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 Pt-Ru/C 촉매층 제조 문제점을 해결하고, 촉매의 전기화학적 활성을 증가시키기 위해서 2~4 nm Pt-Ru 콜로이드를 전해액으로 사용하고, 전기영동법을 이용하여 Pt-Ru 나노 입자를 carbon sheet($1{\times}1cm^2$) 에 담지 시켰다. 전기영동법에서 균일한 Pt-Ru 촉매층의 제조를 위해 전류인가 방법으로는 펄스전류를 사용하였고, 실험변수로는 전해액 pH, duty cycle, 담지시간을 선정하였다. 합성된 Pt-Ru 콜로이드를 TEM분석으로 나노입자의 크기와 분산성 분석하였고, 콜로이드 나노입자의 표면전하 상태를 분석하기 위해 zeta-potential을 분석하였다. Pt-Ru/C의 촉매의 전기화학적 활성을 분석하기 위하여 0.5 M H_2SO_4$ 와 1 M $CH_3OH$ 혼합용액에 CV(Cyclic Voltammetry)실시하였고, carbon sheet 전극 상 Pt-Ru의 분산성 확인을 위하여 FE-SEM분석을 수행하였다.