• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.598-603
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• 2023

Electrochemical ammonia production using catalysts offers a promising alternative to the conventional Haber-Bosch process, allowing for ambient temperature and pressure conditions, environmentally friendly operations, and high-purity ammonia production. In this study, we focus on the nitrogen reduction reactions occurring on the surfaces of ruthenium catalysts, employing first-principles calculations. By modeling reaction pathways for nitrogen reduction on the (0001) and (1000) surfaces of ruthenium, we optimized the reaction structures and predicted favorable pathways for each step. We found that the adsorption configuration of N₂ on each surface significantly influenced subsequent reaction activities. On the (0001) surface of ruthenium, the end-on configuration, where nitrogen molecules adsorb perpendicularly to the surface, exhibited the most favorable N₂ adsorption energy. Similarly, on the (1000) surface, the end-on configuration showed the most stable adsorption energy values. Subsequently, through optimized hydrogen adsorption in both distal and alternating configurations, we theoretically elucidated the complete reaction pathways required for the final desorption of NH₃.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 1999

Copper-containig enzyme, laccase (Rhus vernicifera) was immobilized onto gold electrode using self-assembly technique and its surface properties and catalytic activities were examined. Laccase is an oxidoreductase capable to oxidize diphenols or diamines by 4-electron reduction of molecular oxygen without superoxide or peroxide intermediates. The electrode surface were modified by $\beta-mercaptopropionate$ to have a net negative charge in neutral solution and positively charged laccase (pI=9) was immobilized by electrostatic interaction. The successful immobilization was confirmed by cyclic voltammograms which showed typical surface-confined shapes and behaviors. The amount of charge to reduce the surface was similar to the charge calculated assuming the surface being covered by monolayer. The activity of the immobilized enzyme was tested by the capbility of oxidizing a substrate, ABTS (2,2-azine-bis-(3-ethylbenzthioline-6-sulfonic acid) and it was maintained for $2\~3$ days at $4^{\circ}C$. The immobilzed laccase showed about $10\~15\%$ activity compared to that in solution. The laccase-modified electrode showed the activity of elefoocatalytic reduction of oxygen in the presence of mediator, $Fe(CN)_6^{3-}$ The addtion of azide which is an inhibitor of laccase compeletly eliminated the catalytic current.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.561-566
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• 2012

PtRuW/C catalysts were prepared with the different molar ratios of Pt : Ru : W and their compositions were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The uniform distribution of particles was observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). An average crystalline size of 3.5~5.5 nm was calculated based on x-ray diffraction (XRD) data. The electrochemical properties such as electrochemically active surface areas, current densities, specific activities and poisoning rates, were analyzed via CO stripping, linear sweep voltammetry and chronoamperometry. From the analysis, we observed that ternary alloy catalysts, except $PtRu_2W_2/C$, have higher current densities, specific activities and stabilities than those of commercial binary catalysts. Among all in-house catalysts, Pt5Ru4W/C showed the highest specific activity of $121.05mA{\cdot}m^{-2}$ and the lowest poisoning rate of $0.01%{\cdot}s^{-1}$.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.692-700
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• 1993

Corrosivities and catalytic activities of platinum-transition metal alloy catalyses loaded on carbon substrate and were studied by electrochemical method using a unit cell. And the analysis of Pt-alloy catalyst was conducted by x-ray diffractometer. Among the catalysts, the Pt-Mo/carbon, Pt-Fe-Co/carbon and Pt-Fe/carbon catalyst showed more excellent cathodic current densities than others. It was found that most of cathodic current density for the Pt-Mo/carbon electrode was $120mA/cm^2$. The current density of the Pt-Fe-Co/carbon was much higher than that of Pt/carbon, reaching $200mA/cm^2$.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.168-177
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• 2008

An indoor environmental monitoring system using IEEE 802.15.4 based wireless sensor network is proposed to monitor the amount of pollutant entering to the room from outside and also the amount of pollutant that is generated in indoor by the building materials itself or human activities. Small-size, low-power wireless sensor node and low power electrochemical sensor board is designed to measure the condition of indoor environment in buildings such as home, offices, commercial premises and schools. In this paper, two query models, the broadcasting query protocol and flooding query protocol, were designed and programmed as a query-based routing protocol in wireless sensor network for an environment monitoring system. The flooding query routing protocol in environment monitoring is very effective as a power saving routing protocol and reliable data transmission between sensor nodes.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.3671-3676
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• 2013

A series of carbon nanotube, $C_{60}$, and graphene modified $TiO_2$ nanocomposites were prepared by hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction, $N_2$ adsorption, UV-Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and Electrochemical impedance spectra were used to characterize the prepared composite materials The results reveal that incorporating $TiO_2$ with carbon materials can extend the adsorption edge of all the $TiO_2$-carbon nanocomposites to the visible light region. The photocatalytic activities were tested in the degradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) under visible light. No obvious difference in essence was observed in structural and optical properties among three series of carbon modified $TiO_2$ nanocomposites. Three series of carbon materials modified $TiO_2$ composites follow the analogous tentative reaction mechanism for TCP degradation. GR modified $TiO_2$ nanocomposite exhibits the strongest interaction and the most effective interfacial charge transfer among three carbon materials, thus shows the highest electron-hole separation rate, leading to the highest photocatalytic activity and stability.

• Clean Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.408-412
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• 2017

Pigment red 53:1 is a dye used in various products as a component of the inks, suspected of being carcinogenic. Thus, the environmental and occupational issues related to it are important. The enzyme-based approach with reusability has advantages to consume less energy and generate less harsh side- products compared to the conventional strategies including separations, microbe, and electrochemical treatment. The degradation of Pigment red 53:1 by the lignin peroxidase immobilized on the surface of magnetic particles has been studied. The immobilization of the peroxidase was conducted on magnetic particle surface with the treatment of polyethyleneimine, glutaraldehyde, and the peroxidase, in sequence. The immobilization was confirmed using X-ray photon spectroscopy. The absorbance peak of the pigment was monitored at 495 nm of UV/Vis spectrum with respect to time to calculate the catalytic activities of the pigment for the immobilized lignin peroxidase. For the comparison, the absorbance of the lignin peroxidase free in solution was also monitored. The catalytic rate constant values for the free lignin peroxidases and the immobilized those were 0.51 and $0.34min^{-1}$, respectively. The reusable activity for the immobilized lignin peroxidase was kept to 92% after 10 cycles. The stabilities for heat and storage were also investigated for both cases.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.717-721
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• 2006

In vitro analyses of type I signal peptidase activities require protein precursors as substrates. Usually, these pre-proteins are expressed in vitro and cleavage of the signal sequence is followed by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis coupled with autoradiography. Radioactive amino acids have to be incorporated in the expressed protein, since the amount of the in vitro expressed protein is usually very low and processing of the signal peptide cannot be followed by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis alone. Here we describe a rapid and simple method to express large amounts of a protein precursor in E. coli. We have analyzed the effect of ionophors as well as of azide on the accumulation of expressed protein precursors. Azide blocks the function of SecA and the ionophors dissipate the electrochemical gradient across the cytoplasmic membrane of E. coli. Addition of azide ions resulted in the formation of inclusion bodies, highly enriched with pre-apo-plastocyanine. Plastocyanine is a soluble copper protein, which can be found in the periplasmic space of cyanobacteria as well as in the thylakoid lumen of cyanobacteria and chloroplasts, and the pre-protein contains a cleavable signal sequence at its N-terminus. After purification of cyanobacterial pre-apo-plastocyanine, its signal sequence can be cleaved off by the E. coli signal peptidase, and protein processing was followed on Coomassie stained SDS polyacrylamide gels. We are optimistic that the presented method can be further developed and applied.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.318.1-318.1
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• 2014

Metal nano-crystals have been received much attentions owing to their excellent catalytic property and surface plasmon effect. In the last decade, many studies on synthesizing well-dispersive nanoparticles and on understanding their distinct physical properties have been performed. There were tremendous reports revealing the electrochemical activities and enhancement of surface plasmonic effect were dependent mainly on the size, shape, and composition. So far, most fabrication methods have been based on vacuum based deposition techniques, such as chemical vapor deposition and electron-beam evaporation, and then annealed them to transform into the nanoparticles. Recently, there were several reports regarding to the photoinduced nano-crystal synthesis as an effective way to produce the metal nanoparticles. In this study, we report synchrotron x-ray mediated synthesis of Au nanoparticles on ZnO nanowires. ZnO nanowires were fabricated by hydrothermal method, and then they were dip into a solution having Au clusters. Detailed structural evolution of Au nanoparticles was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and photoluminescence measurements. The results on formation of well-dispersive Au nanoparticles on ZnO nanowires will be presented.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.421-425
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• 2012

Two types of Pt nanoparticle electrocatalysts were composited on Pt nanowires by a combination of an electrospinning method and an impregnation method with NaBH4 as a reducing agent. The structural properties and electrocatalytic activities for methanol electro-oxidation in direct methanol fuel cells were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and cyclic voltammetry. In particular, SEM, HRTEM, XRD, and XPS results indicate that the metallic Pt nanoparticles with polycrystalline property are uniformly decorated on the electro-spun Pt nanowires. In order to investigate the catalytic activity of the Pt nanoparticles decorated on the electro-spun Pt nanowires, two types of 20 wt% Pt nanoparticles and 40 wt% Pt nanoparticles decorated on the electro-spun Pt nanowires were fabricated. In addition, for comparison, single Pt nanowires were fabricated via an electrospinning method without an impregnation method. As a result, the cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry results demonstrate that the electrode containing 40 wt% Pt nanoparticles exhibits the best catalytic activity for methanol electro-oxidation and the highest electrochemical stability among the single Pt nanowires, the 20 wt% Pt nanoparticles decorated with Pt nanowires, and the 40 wt% Pt nanoparticles decorated with Pt nanowires studied for use in direct methanol fuel cells.