• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.25-38
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• 2020

Photoelectrochemical water splitting has been considered as the most promising technology for generating hydrogen energy. Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) compounds have currently attracted tremendous attention due to their outstanding ability towards the catalytic water-splitting hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we report the synthesis method of various transition metal dichalcogenide including MoS₂, MoSe₂, WS₂, and WSe₂ nanosheets as excellent catalysts for solar-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen evolution. Photocathodes were fabricated by growing the nanosheets directly onto Si nanowire (NW) arrays, with a thickness of 20 nm. The metal ion layers were formed by soaking the metal chloride ethanol solution and subsequent sulfurization or selenization produced the transition metal chalcogenide. They all exhibit excellent PEC performance in 0.5 M H₂SO₄; the photocurrent reaches to 20 mA cm^-2 (at 0 V vs. RHE) and the onset potential is 0.2 V under AM1.5 condition. The quantum efficiency of hydrogen generation is avg. 90%. The stability of MoS₂ and MoSe₂ is 90% for 3h, which is higher than that (80%) of WS₂ and WSe₂. Detailed structure analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for before/after HER reveals that the Si-WS₂ and Si-WSe₂ experience more oxidation of Si NWs than Si-MoS₂ and Si-MoSe₂. This can be explained by the less protection of Si NW surface by their flake shape morphology. The high catalytic activity of TMDs should be the main cause of this enhanced PEC performance, promising efficient water-splitting Si-based PEC cells.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.141-150
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• 2006

Nanocrystalline CoW thin/thick film alloys were electodeposited from citrate baths to investigate the influences of metal ion concentration, current density and solution pH on chemical composition, current efficiency, residual stress, surface morphology, and microstructure of the film. Deposit W (tungsten) content in CoW thin/thick film increased with increasing W ion concentration, current density, and solution pH in the plating bath. It was observed that residual stress in CoW thin/thick film decreased with increasing W ion concentration and solution pH. CoW thin film exhibited mixed phases of hop Co [(100) and (002)] and hcp $Co_3W$ [(002) and (201)] at W ion concentration with 0.02 to 0.08 M. The microstructure of CoW thin film at W ion concentration of 0.1 to 0.2 M was close to amorphous phase. The dominant phases were found to be hop Co (002) and hop $Co_3W$ [(200), (002) and (201)] at the current densities of 5, 10, 25, and $100mA{\cdot}cm^{-2}$ CoW thin film at the current densities of 50 and $75mA{\cdot}cm^{-2}$ was close to amorphous phase. At solution pH 8.7, CoW thin film exhibited hcp Co (002) and hop $Co_3W$ [(200), (002) and (201)]. Below solution pH 8.7, CoW thin film exhibited amorphous microstructure. The optimum electrodeposition conditions for CoW thin/thick film were found to be W ion concentration of 0.08 M, current density of $10mA{\cdot}cm^{-2}$, and solution pH 8.7.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2007

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell(PEMFC) performance could be affected by various factors such as cell temperature, total pressure, partial pressure of reactants and relative humidity. Hydrogen ion is combined with water to form hydronium ion [$H_3O^+$] and pass through membrane resulting electricity generation. Cooling system is needed to remove heat and other uses on large scale fuel cell. In case that collant conductivity is increased, fuel cell performance could be decreased because produced electricity could be leaked through coolant. In this study, triple distilled water(TDW) and antifreeze solution containing ethylene glycol was used to observe resistance change. Resistance of TDW was taken 28 days to reach preset value, and effect on fuel cell operation was not observed. Resistance of antifreeze solution was not reached to preset value up to 48 days, but performance failure occurred presumably caused by bipolar plate junction resulting stoppage resistance experiment. Generally PEMFC humidification is performed near-saturated operating conditions at various temperatures and pressures, but non-humidifying condition could be applied in small scale fuel cell to improve efficiency and reduce system cost. However, it was difficult to operate large scale fuel cell without humidifying, especially higher than $50{\sim}60^{\circ}C$. In case of small flux such as 0.78 L/min, temperature difference between inlet and outlet was occurred larger than other cases resulting performance decrease. Non-humidifying performance experiments were done at various cell temperature. When both of anode and cathode humidification were removed, cell performance was strongly depended on cell operating temperature.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.251-264
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• 2000

Organic removal from synthetic wastewater by electrochemical methods was investigated with various operating parameters, such as current density, retention time, electrode gap and $Cl^-/COD_{Cr}$ ratio. In electrolysis, dioxide iridium coated titanium ($IrO_2/Ti$) and stainless steel plate were used for anode and cathode respectively. The $COD_{Cr}$ removal efficiencies between plate type anode and net type anode were about same effect, but electrolytic power using net type anode is low than plate type anode. The $Cl^-/COD_{Cr}$ ratio was about $1.3kgCl^-/kgCOD_{Cr}$ when organic removal obtained 70 %, $Cl^-/COD_{Cr}$ ratio needs $2.2kgCl^-/kgCOD_{Cr}$ so as to organic completely remove. The removal efficiency of organics increased with current density, retention time and $Cl^-/COD_{Cr}$ ratio, but decreased with increasing electrode gap. The relationship of operating conditions and $COD_{Cr}$ removal efficiencies are as follows. $$COD_{Cr}(%)=80.0360(Current\;density)^{0.4451}{\times}(HRT)^{0.8102}{\times}(Gap)^{-0.4915}{\times}(Cl^-/COD_{Cr})^{0.5805}$$ There existed a competition between the removals for $COD_{Cr}$ and ammonium during electrolysis, the removal of ammonium was shown to be dominant and $COD_{Cr}$ removal was low. But $COD_{Cr}$ removal was raised as addition of alkalinity.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.23-29
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• 2017

As the Enforcement Ordinance of Environmental Policy Act was revised in 2013, Total Organic Carbon (TOC) was added as an indicative parameter for organic matter in Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Environmental Criteria. Under these imminent circumstances, a regulatory standard is needed to achieve the proposed TOC limitation control water quality from the STP (Sewage Treatment Plant). In this study, a electrolysis utilizing the electrochemical reaction was investigated in lab-scale experiments for the treatment of TOC in sewage effluent. TOC reduction by a electrolysis was investigated response surface methodology using the Box-Begnken methods were applied to the experimental results. A central composite design was used to investigate the effects of the independent variables of electrode space ($x_1$), current density ($x_2$) and electrolyte concentration ($x_3$) on the dependent variables removal efficiency of TOC (y). The optimal conditions for electrolysis were determined: electrode space, current density and electrolyte concentration were 50 mm, $10.3mA/cm^2$ and 0.1M, respectively. Statistical results showed the order of significance of the independent variables to be electrode space > current density > electrolyte concentration.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.36-44
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• 2017

The small commercial fuel cell is a new energy system that produces electricity and heat through electrochemical reaction between air and hydrogen. In Korea, hundreds of domestic small commercial fuel cell systems have been installed and operated every years and many parts in fuel cell systems depend on overseas products. KOGAS(Korea Gas Corporation) has developed the fuel processor which is an important part of fuel cell system and has evaluated the long-term durability. And KOGAS has evaluated domestic and overseas NG blower and fuel processor connected to NG blower. The fuel processor developed by KOGAS have maintained an efficiency of 76% and constant performance over 3,000 hours. The NG blower developed in Korea showed similar characteristics as overseas NG blower in the evaluation of power consumption according to rear pressure and outside temperature. The fuel processor module, fuel processor connected to BOP showed excellent performance.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2010

A solid oxide fuel cells(SOFC) is a clean energy technology which directly converts chemical energy to electric energy. When the SOFC is used in cogeneration then the efficiency can reach higher than 80%. Also, it has flexibility in using various fuels like natural gases and bio gases, so it has an advantage over polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells in terms of fuel selection. A typical cathode material of the SOFC in conjunction with yttria stabilized zirconia(YSZ) electrolyte is still Sr-doped $LaMnO_3$(LSM). Recently, application of mixed electronic and ionic conducting perovskites such as Sr-doped $LaCoO_3$(LSCo), $LaFeO_3$(LSF), and $LaFe_{0.8}Co_{0.2}O_3$(LSCF) has drawn much attention because these materials exhibit lower electrode impedance than LSM. However, chemical reaction occurs at the manufacturing temperature of the cathode when these materials directly contact with YSZ. In addition, thermal expansion coefficient(TEC) mismatch with YSZ is also a significant issue. It is important, therefore, to develop cathode materials with good chemical stability and matched TEC with the SOFC electrolyte, as well as with high electrochemical activity.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.220-228
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• 2018

The internal resistance of microbial fuel cell (MFC) using stainless steel skein for oxidizing electrode was investigated and the factors affecting the voltage generation were identified. We also investigated the effect of power management system (PMS) on the usability for MFC and the removal efficiency of organic pollutants. The performance of a stack microbial fuel cell connected with (PMS) or PMS+LED was analyzed by the voltage generation and organic matter reduction. The maximum power density of the unit cells was found to be $5.82W/m^3$ at $200{\Omega}$. The maximum current density was $47.53A/m^3$ without power overshoot even under $1{\Omega}$. The ohmic resistance ($R_s$) and the charge transfer resistance ($R_{ct}$) of the oxidation electrode using stainless steel skein electrode, were $0.56{\Omega}$ and $0.02{\Omega}$, respectively. However, the sum of internal resistance for reduction electrode using graphite felts loaded Pt/C catalyst was $6.64{\Omega}$. Also, in order to understand the internal resistance, the current interruption method was used by changing the external resistance as $50{\Omega}$, $300{\Omega}$, $5k{\Omega}$. It has been shown that the ohm resistance ($R_s$) decreased with the external resistance. In the case of a series-connected microbial fuel cell, the reversal phenomenon occurred even though two cells having the similar performance. However, the output of the PMS constantly remained for 20 hours even when voltage reversal occurred. Also the removal ability of organic pollutants (SCOD) was not reduced. As a result of this study, it was found that buffering effect for a certain period of time when the voltage reversal occurred during the operation of the microbial fuel cell did not have a serious effect on the energy loss or the operation of the microbial fuel cell.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.87-96
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• 2010

The electrode material is one of the factors affecting the power production of microbial fuel cell. In this study, effects of carbon electrode material, thickness and configuration on the power density, biofilm formation and microbial community diversity of microbial fuel cell were investigated. To optimize the anode-cathode electrode assembly, seven lab-scale reactors which had various carbon electrode constructions were operated in continuous mode. Under the steady state condition, the electrode combination of graphite felt (6 mm) with hole showed the highest cell voltage of 238 mV and the coulombic efficiency of 37%. As a result of SEM analysis, the bacteria growing on surface of knitted type of carbon cloth and graphite felt electrode ncreased significantly. The change of dominant species between seeding sludge and biofilm on the surface of anode electrode, microbial analysis with PCR-DGGE showed that the dominant species of seeding sludge are quite different from those of biofilm on the surface of each anode electrode. Especially Geobacter sp., a well known electrochemical bacteria, was found as the dominant species of the electrode combination with graphite felt.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1993.05a
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• pp.79-84
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• 1993

This paper describes the development of lithium rechargeable cell. $LiCoO_2$ is recently recognized as a suitable cathode active material of a high voltage, high energy lithium rechargeable batteries because $Li^+$ ion can be electrochemically deintercalated/intercalated from/to $Li_xCoO_2$. The transition metal oxide of $LiCoO_2$ was investigated for using as a cathode active material of 4V class Li rechargeable cell. $LiCoO_2$ cathode was prepared by using a active material of 85 wt%, graphite powder of 12 wt% as a conductor and poly-vinylidene fluoride of 3 wt% as a binder. The electrochemical and charge/discharge properties of $LiCoO_2$ were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge. The open circuit voltage of prepared $LiCoO_2$ electrode exhibited approximately. potential range between 3.32V and 3.42V. During the galvanostatic charge/discharge, $LiCoO_2/Li$ cell showed stable cycling behavior at scan rate of 1mV/sec and potential range between 3.6V and 4.2V. Also its coulombic efficiency as function of cycling was 81%~102%. In this study the $LiCoO_2/Li$ cell showed the available discharge capacity of 90.1 mAh/g at current density of $1mA/cm^2$ and cell discharge voltage range between 3.6V~4.2V.