• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.491-496
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• 2017

The hydrogen($H_2$) is promising energy carrier of renewable energy in the microgrid system such as small village and military base due to its high energy density, pure emission and convenient transportation. $H_2$ can be generated by photocatalytic water splitting, gasification of biomass and water electrolysis driven by solar cell or wind turbine. Solid oxide electrolysis cells(SOECs) are the most efficient way to mass production due to high operating temperature improving the electrode kinetics and reducing the electrolyte resistance. The SOECs are consist of nickel-yttria stabilized zirconia(NiO-YSZ) fuel electrode / YSZ electrolyte / lanthanum strontium manganite-YSZ(LSM-YSZ) air electrode due to similarity to Solid Oxide Fuel Cells(SOFCs). The Ni-YSZ most widely used fuel electrode shows several problems at SOEC mode such as degradation of the fuel electrode because of Ni particle's redox reaction and agglomeration. Therefore Ni-YSZ need to be replaced to an alternative fuel electrode material. In this study, We studied on the Double perovskite $PrBrMnO_{5+{\delta}}$(PBMO) due to its high electric conductivity, catalytic activity and electrochemical stability. PBMO was impregnated into the scaffold electrolyte $La_{0.8}Sr_{0.2}Ga_{0.85}Mg_{0.15}O_{3-{\delta}}$(LSGM) to be synthesized at low temperature for avoiding secondary phase generated when it exposed to high temperature. The Half cell test was conducted at SOECs and SOFCs modes.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.169-171
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• 2007

A breaking layer was introduced to conventional decal transfer method in membrane electrolyte assembly fabrication for high catalyst transfer ratio. In this study, the modified decal transfer method with high catalyst transfer ratio was introduced and its performance is studied. The structural features of electrodes made by decal method were investigated using scanning electron microscopy and current-voltage polarization measurement.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.505-506
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• 2008

The direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is a promising power source for portable applications due to many advantages such as simple construction, compact design, high energy density, and relatively high energy-conversion efficiency. In this work, an electrochemical methanol sensor for monitoring the methanol concentration in direct methanol fuel cells was fabricated using a thin composite nafion membrane as the electrolyte. We have analyzed the I-V characteristic of the fabricated methanol sensor as a function of methanol concentration, catalyst electrode and platinum(Pt) dot.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.174-183
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• 2022

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells and water electrolysis are attracting attention in terms of high energy density and high purity hydrogen production. The catalyst layer for the polymer electrolyte fuel cell and water electrolysis is a porous electrode composed of a precious metal-based electrocatalyst and an ionomer binder. Among them, the ionomer binder plays an important role in the formation of a three-dimensional network for ion conduction in the catalyst layer and the formation of pores for the movement of materials required or generated for the electrode reaction. In terms of the use of commercial perfluorinated ionomers, the content of the ionomer, the physical properties of the ionomer, and the type of the dispersing solvent system greatly determine the performance and durability of the catalyst layer. Until now, many studies have been reported on the method of using an ionomer for the catalyst layer for polymer electrolyte fuel cells. This review summarizes the research results on the use of ionomer binders in the fuel cell aspect reported so far, and aims to provide useful information for the research on the ionomer binder for the catalyst layer, which is one of the key elements of polymer electrolyte water electrolysis to accelerate the hydrogen economy era.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.86.2-86.2
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• 2010

In order to improve polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) durability, the durability of membrane electrode assemblies (MEA), in which the electrochemical reactions actually occur, is one of the vital issues. Many articles have dealt with catalyst layer degradation of the durability-related factors on MEAs in relation to loss of catalyst surface area caused by agglomeration, dissolution, migration, formation of metal complexes and oxides, and/or instability of the carbon support. Degradation of catalyst layer during long-term operation includes cracking or delamination of the layer which result either from change in the catalyst microstructure or loss of electronic or ionic contact with the active surface, can result in apparent activity loss in the catalyst layer. Membrane degradation of the durability-related factors on MEAs can be caused by mechanical or thermal stress resulting in formation of pinholes and tears and/or by chemical attack of hydrogen peroxide radicals formed during the electrochemical reactions. All of these effects, the mechanical damage of membrane and degradation of catalyst layers are more facilitated by uneven stress or improper MEA fabrication process. In order to improve the PEMFC durability, therefore, it is most important to minimize the uneven stress or improper MEA fabrication process in the course of the fabrication of MEA. We analyzed the effects of the MEA fabrication condition on the PEMFC durability with MEA produced using CCM (catalyst coated membrane) method. This paper also investigated the effects of MEA fabrication condition on the PEMFC durability by adding additional treatment process, hot pressing and pressing, on the MEA produced using CCM method.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.512-518
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• 2019

To develop a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with lower Pt loading and higher performance in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), it is an important research issue to understand interfacial structure of Pt/C catalyst and ionomer and design the catalyst layer structure. In this study, we prepared short-side-chain Nafion-based ionomer dispersion using propylene glycol (PG) as a solvent instead of water which is commonly used as a solvent for commercially available ionomers. Cathode catalyst layers with different ionomer content from 20 to 35 wt% were prepared using the ionomer dispersion for the fabrication of four different MEAs, and their fuel cell performance was evaluated. As the ionomer content increased to 35 wt%, the performance of the prepared MEAs increased proportionally, unlike the commercially available water-based ionomer, which exhibited an optimum at about 25 wt%. Small size micelles and slow evaporation of PG in the ionomer dispersion were effective in proton transfer by inducing the formation of a uniformly structured catalyst layer, but the low oxygen permeability problem of the PG-based ionomer film should be resolved to improve the MEA performance.

• 한국전기화학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.07a
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• pp.129-134
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• 2002

The present paper highlights on the need to understand the correlation of the characteristics of the catalyst layer with the performance of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. The paper deals with the correlation of the platinum loading in the catalyst layer and the performance of the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell(PEMFC) and also the correlation of the required hydrophiliticityihydrophobicity in the catalyst layer to get the optimum performance under given operating conditions.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.110-112
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• 2006

Membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) are commonly prepared in the research laboratory by spraying, screen-printing and brushing catalyst slurry onto membrane or other support material like carbon paper or polyimide film in a batch style. These hand applications of the catalyst slurry are painstaking process with respect to precision of catalyst loading and reproducibility. It has been generally mentioned that the adoption of continuous process is very helpful to develop the reliable product. In the present work, we report the results of using continuous type coater with doctor-blade to coat catalyst slurry for preparing the MEA catalyst layers In a faster and highly reproducible fashion. We show that while expectedly faster than batch style, the machine coater requires the use of slurry of appropriate composition and a properly selected transfer decal material in order to achieve superior MEA plat lnw loading reproducibility. To make highly viscous catalyst slurry that is imperative for using coater, we use 40wt.% Nafion solution and minimize the content of organic solvent. And the choice of proper high surface area catalyst is important in the viewpoint of making well-dispersed slurry. After catalyst coating onto the support material, we transferred the catalyst layer to both sides of Nafion membrane by hot-pressing In this case, the degree of transfer was Influenced by hot-pressing condition including temperature, pressure, and time. To compare the transferring ability, we compared so many films and detaching papers. And among the support, polyethylene terephthalate(PET) film shows the prominent result.

• Clean Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2013

Pt/carbon Electrode catalysts for PEMFC were synthesized using colloidal method. PSA (platinum sulfite acid) was used as a Pt precursor and CPA (chloroplatinic acid) was also used to replace relatively expensive PSA. Electrode catalysts prepared using PSA showed Pt particle size less than 3.5 nm and Pt yield higher than 90% in 10~40 wt% Pt loading. Electrode catalysts prepared using CPA also showed Pt particle size less than 4.4 nm and Pt yield higher than 80% in 10~40 wt% Pt loading. The MEA (membrane electrode assembly) using 20 wt% Pt/VXC72 showed equivalent I-V curve comparing with commercial electrode catalyst in single cell test.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.84.1-84.1
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• 2010

Since the discovery of the carbon nanotube(CNTs), they have attracted much attention because of unique properties that may impact many fields of science and technology. The considerable properties of CNTs include high surface area, outstanding thermal, electrical conductivity and mechanical stability. However, uniform deposition of Pt nanoparticles on carbon surface remains inaccessible territory because of the inert carbon surface. In this study, we prepared directly oriented CNTs on carbon paper as a catalyst support in cathode electrode. carbon surface was functionalized using aryl diazonium salt for increasing adhesion of Ni particles which is precursor for growing CNTs. For fabricate electrode, CNTs on carbon paper were grown by chemical vapor deposition using Ni catalyst and Pt nanoparticles were deposited on CNTs oriented carbon paper by polyol method. The performance was measured using Proton electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell(PEMFC). The structure and morphology of the Pt nanoparticles on CNTs were characterized by Scanning electron Microscopy(SEM) and Transmission electron Microscopy (TEM). The average diameter of Pt nanoparticles was 3nm.