• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• 제12권3호
• /
• pp.297-301
• /
• 2021

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) convert chemical energy to electrical energy via electrochemically active microorganisms. The interactions between microbes and the surface of a carbon electrode play a vital role in capturing the respiratory electrons from bacteria. Therefore, improvements in the electrochemical and physicochemical properties of carbon materials are essential for increasing performance. In this study, a microwave and sulfuric acid treatment was used to modify the surface structure of graphite granules. The prepared expandable graphite granules (EGG) exhibited a 1.5 times higher power density than the unmodified graphite granules (1400 vs. 900 mW/m³). Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed improved physical and chemical characteristics of the EGG surface. These results suggest that physical and chemical surface modification using sulfuric acid and microwave heating improves the performance of electrode-based bioprocesses, such as MFCs.

• 한국에너지공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국에너지공학회 2003년도 춘계 학술발표회 논문집
• /
• pp.643-647
• /
• 2003

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) employing proton exchange polymer electrolyte have recently gained considerable interest because of their attractiveness as the power source for electronic devices or vehicular applications. However, it suffers from the fuel crossover and its impact on cathode operation and the consequent penalty in system energy efficiency. Efforts to circumvent the methanol crossover in DMFC have been made basically along three different strategies.(Omitted)

• 응용화학
• /
• 제15권1호
• /
• pp.81-84
• /
• 2011

Platinum catalyst activity and stability is excellent in terms of fuel cells as a catalyst here. Although it is widely used, to compensate for the high price issue non-precious fuel cell catalysts are being developed. In this study, Co/PANi/CNT composite and non-precious as a catalyst for oxygen reduction was applied. Polyaniline on the interaction between cobalt and the oxygen reduction reaction and the structural characteristics observed in the impact and heat treatment was carried out according to the improved catalytic performance. Potential range is oxygen reduction reaction 0.55 V to 0.78 V(vs. NHE) after pyrolysis. Through this study, Co /PANi/CNT composites as a potential catalyst for fuel cells were non-precious.

• 한국수소및신에너지학회논문집
• /
• 제32권6호
• /
• pp.514-523
• /
• 2021

This study investigated the effect of anode fuel composition on the performance of direct borohydride/hydrogen peroxide fuel cells (DBHPFCs). The effect of sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentrations on fuel cell performance was determined through fuel cell tests. Fuel cell performance increased with an increase in the NaBH₄ concentration, whereas it decreased with an increase in the NaOH concentration. The anode fuel composition was selected as 10 wt% NaBH₄+10 wt% NaOH+80 wt% H₂O based on the fuel viscosity, electrochemical reaction rate, and decomposition reaction rate. DBHPFCs were also tested to analyze the effect of operating temperature and operation time on fuel cell performance. The present results can be used as a reference basis to determine operating conditions of DBHPFCs.

• 한국전산구조공학회논문집
• /
• 제26권5호
• /
• pp.343-349
• /
• 2013

항공기 연료셀은 추락 상황에서 승무원의 생존성과 직결되는 중요 구성품으로 회전익 항공기에 적용되고 있는 내충격성 연료셀은 추락시 승무원의 생존성 향상에 큰 역할을 하고 있다. 미육군은 항공기가 처할수 있는 다양한 상황에서 연료셀이 제 기능을 발휘할 수 있도록 1960년대 초부터 MIL-DTL-27422 이라는 연료셀 개발규격을 제정하여 현재까지 적용해 오고 있다. 해당 개발규격에 규정된 시험 중에서 충돌충격시험은 연료셀의 내충격 성능을 검증하는 시험으로써, 해당 시험을 통과하는 연료셀은 생존가능 충돌환경에서 화재가 발생하지 않아 승무원의 생존성이 대폭 향상될 수 있음을 의미한다. 그러나 충돌충격시험은 작용하는 하중 수준이 너무 높기 때문에 실패 위험성이 가장 큰 시험이기도 하다. 연료셀이 해당 시험을 통과하지 못하는 경우에는 재시험을 위한 비용과 준비기간이 상당히 소요되어 항공기 개발일정에 심각한 지장을 초래할 가능성도 높다. 따라서, 연료셀 설계 초기부터 내충격성능 만족여부에 대한 예측을 위해 충돌충격시험의 수치해석을 통한 실물시험에서의 실패 가능성을 최소화해야 한다는 필요성이 제기되어 왔다. 본 연구에서는 충돌모사 프로그램인 LS-DYNA에서 지원하는 유체-구조 연성해석 방법인 SPH 방법을 사용하여 연료셀 충돌충격시험 수치 모사를 수행하였다. 수치해석 조건으로 MIL-DTL-27422에서 요구하는 시험조건을 고려하였고, 실물 연료셀의 시편시험을 통해 확보한 물성데이타를 해석에 반영하였다. 그 결과로 연료셀 자체의 응력수준을 평가하고 취약부위에 대한 고찰을 수행하였다.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제34권9호
• /
• pp.2657-2662
• /
• 2013

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-g-poly (aniline-co-2,5-diaminobenzenesulfonic acid) (DABSA) reinforced Nafion$^{(R)}$ nanocomposite membranes were prepared and characterized for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The nanocomposite membranes with approximately $90{\mu}m$ thickness were prepared by the water assisted solution casting method. To evaluate the properties of nanocomposite membranes for DMFC applications, the nanocomposite membranes were characterized by methanol and water uptake, thermal stability, and ion exchange capacity (IEC). Furthermore, oxidative stability measurements in terms of the hydrogen peroxide decomposition rate that represent the oxidative stability of the membranes were examined. The methanol uptake values of the nanocomposite membranes were dramatically decreased compared to the cast Nafion$^{(R)}$ membranes. The IEC values of the nanocomposite membranes were increased about 30% compared to the cast Nafion$^{(R)}$ membrane.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• 제13권2호
• /
• pp.51-65
• /
• 2008

The increasing demand for energy in the near future has created strong motivation for environmentally clean alternative energy resources. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have opened up new ways of utilizing renewable energy sources. MFCs are devices that convert the chemical energy in the organic compounds to electrical energy through microbial catalysis at the anode under anaerobic conditions, and the reduction of a terminal electron acceptor, most preferentially oxygen, at the cathode. Due to the rapid advances in MFC-based technology over the last decade, the currently achievable MFC power production has increased by several orders of magnitude, and niche applications have been extended into a variety of areas. Newly emerging concepts with alternative materials for electrodes and catalysts as well as innovative designs have made MFCs promising technologies. Aerobic bacteria can also be used as cathode catalysts. This is an encouraging finding because not only biofouling on the cathode is unavoidable in the prolonged-run MFCs but also noble catalysts can be substituted with aerobic bacteria. This article discusses some of the recent advances in MFCs with an emphasis on the performance, materials, microbial community structures and applications beyond electricity generation.

• Carbon letters
• /
• 제14권2호
• /
• pp.121-125
• /
• 2013

In this study, PtRu nanoparticles deposited on binary carbon supports were developed for use in direct methanol fuel cells using carbon blacks (CBs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The particle sizes and morphological structures of the catalysts were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, and the PtRu loading content was determined using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer. The electrocatalytic characteristics for methanol oxidation were evaluated by means of cyclic voltammetry with 1 M $CH_3OH$ in a 0.5 M $H_2SO_4$ solution as the electrolyte. The PtRu particle sizes and the loading level were found to be dependent on the mixing ratio of the two carbon materials. The electroactivity of the catalysts increased with an increasing MWCNT content, reaching a maximum at 30% MWCNTs, and subsequently decreased. This was attributed to the introduction of MWCNTs as a secondary support, which provided a highly accessible surface area and caused morphological changes in the carbon supports. Consequently, the PtRu nanoparticles deposited on the binary support exhibited better performance than those deposited on the single support, and the best performance was obtained when the mass ratio of CBs to MWCNTs was 70:30.

• 한국환경보건학회지
• /
• 제39권5호
• /
• pp.474-481
• /
• 2013

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the application of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to the wastewater treatment systems employed in the Living Building Challenge. Methods: I reviewed a range of information on decentralized wastewater treatment technologies such as composting toilets, constructed wetlands, recirculating biofilters, membrane bioreactors, and MFCs. Results: The Living Building Challenge is a set of standards to make buildings more eco-friendly using renewable resources and self-treating water systems. Although there are various decentralized wastewater treatment technologies available, MFCs have been considered an attractive future option for a decentralized system as used in the Living Building Challenge. MFCs can directly convert substrate energy to electricity with high conversion efficiency at ambient and even at low temperatures. MFCs do not require energy input for aeration if using open-air cathodes. Moreover, MFCs have the potential for widespread application in locations lacking water and electrical infrastructure Conclusions: This paper demonstrated the feasibility of MFCs as a novel decentralized wastewater treatment system employed in the Living Building Challenge.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• 제18권3호
• /
• pp.145-150
• /
• 2013

Optimal preparation guidelines of a cathode catalyst layer by non-precious metal catalysts were evaluated based on electrochemical performance in single-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Experiments for catalyst loading rate revealed that iron(II) phthalocyanine (FePc) can be a promising alternative, comparable to platinum (Pt) and cobalt tetramethoxyphenylporphyrin (CoTMPP), including effects of substrate concentration. Results showed that using an optimal FePc loading of $1mg/cm^2$ was equivalent to a Pt loading of $0.35mg/cm^2$ on the basis of maximum power density. Given higher loading rates or substrate concentrations, FePc proved to be a better alternative for Pt than CoTMPP. Under the optimal loading rate, it was further revealed that 40 wt% of FePc to carbon support allowed for the best power generation. These results suggest that proper control of the non-precious metal catalyst layer and substrate concentration are highly interrelated, and reveal how those combinations promote the economic power generation of single-chamber MFCs.