• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.847-853
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• 2016

Here has been examined a 3-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling in order to investigate the performance analysis of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells with serpentine flow fields. The present CFD model considers the isothermal transport phenomena in a fuel cell involving mass, momentum transport, electrode kinetics, and potential fields. Co-current flow patterns for a PEMFC are considered for various geometries in the single straight cell. Current density distribution from the calculated distribution of oxygen and hydrogen mass fractions has been determined, where the activation overpotential has been also calculated within anode and cathode. CFD results showed that profiles differ from those simulations subjected to each the calculated activation overpotential. It is interesting that the present serpentine flow field shows the specific distribution of current density with respect to the aspect ratio of depth to width and the ratio of reaction area for various serpentine geometries. Simulation results were considered reasonable with the other CFD results reported in literature and global comparisons of the PEMFC model.

• Carbon letters
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2005

Plasma carbon blacks of 20~30 nm diameter were synthesized by direct decomposition of natural gas using a hybrid plasma torch system with 50 kW direct current and 4 MHz of radio frequency. The insulating rector which inside diameter of 400 mm and length of 1500 mm, respectively was kept at 300~$400^{\circ}C$ during the preparation. The ultimate analysis of plasma carbon blacks reveals that the raw plasma carbon blacks contains a large quantity of volatile which is mainly consist of hydrogen. Therefore devolatilization of raw plasma carbon blacks were carried out at $900^{\circ}C$ for one hour under nitrogen atmosphere. The devolatilization leads to the decrease in electrical resistivity and surface oxygen functional groups of plasma carbon black significantly. In order to investigate the plasma carbon as a catalyst support, devolatilized plasma black at $900^{\circ}C$ (DPB) supported PtAu catalyst was synthesized by sodium boronhydride reduction method. Electrochemical measurements and direct formic acid fuel cell test indicated that catalytic activity of DPB supported PtAu catalyst for formic acid oxidation was similar to that of Vulcan XC-72 of commercial carbon black supported one.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.240-244
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• 2001

Recycling process involving mechanical, thermal, hydrometallurgical, and sol-gel step has been applied to recover cobalt and lithium from spent lithium ion batteries and to synthesize LiCoO$_2$from leach liquor as cathodic active materials. Electrode materials containing lithium and cobalt could be concentrated with 2-step thermal and mechanical treatment. Leaching behaviors of the lithium and cobalt in nitric acid media was investigated in terms of reaction variables. Hydrogen peroxide in 1 M HNO$_3$solution turned out to be an effective reducing agent by enhancing the leaching efficiency. O f many possible processes to produce LiCoO$_2$, the amorphous citrate precursor process (ACP) has been applied to synthesize powders with a large specific surface area and an exact stoichiometry. After leaching used LiCoO$_2$with nitric acid, the molar ratio of Li/Co in the leach liquor was adjusted at 1.1 by adding a fresh LiNO$_3$solution. Then, 1 M citric acid solution at a 100% stoichiometry was also added to prepare a gelatinous precursor. When the precursor was calcined at 95$0^{\circ}C$ for 24 hr, purely crystalline LiCoO$_2$was successfully obtained. The particle size and specific surface area of the resulting crystalline powders were 20 пm and 30 $\textrm{cm}^2$/g, respectively The LiCoO$_2$powder was proved to have good characteristics as cathode active materials in charge/discharge capacity and cyclic performance.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.197-200
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• 2014

We investigated the influence of blistering on $Al_2O_3$/SiON stacks and $Al_2O_3$/SiNx:H stacks passivation layers. $Al_2O_3$ film provides outstanding Si surface passivation quality. $Al_2O_3$ film as the rear passivation layer of a p-type Si solar cell is usually stacked with a capping layer, such as $SiO_2$, SiNx, and SiON films. These capping layers protect the thin $Al_2O_3$ layer from an Al electrode during the annealing process. We compared $Al_2O_3$/SiON stacks and $Al_2O_3$/SiNx:H stacks through surface morphology and minority carrier lifetime after annealing processes at $450^{\circ}C$ and $850^{\circ}C$. As a result, the $Al_2O_3$/SiON stacks were observed to produce less blister phenomenon than $Al_2O_3$/SiNx:H stacks. This can be explained by the differences in the H species content. In the process of depositing SiNx film, the rich H species in $NH_3$ source are diffused to the $Al_2O_3$ film. On the other hand, less hydrogen diffusion occurs in SiON film as it contains less H species than SiNx film. This blister phenomenon leads to an increase insurface defect density. Consequently, the $Al_2O_3$/SiON stacks had a higher minority carrier lifetime than the $Al_2O_3$/SiNx:H stacks.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.223-230
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• 2011

An electrolytic oxidation process was applied to remove odorous compounds from non-point odor sources including wastewater pipelines and manholes. In this study, a distance between the anode and the cathode of the electrolytic process was varied as a system operating parameters, and its effects on odor removal efficiencies and reaction characteristics were investigated. Odor precursors such as sediment organic matters and reduced sulfur/nitrogen compounds were effectively oxidized in the electrolytic process, and a change in oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) indicated that an stringent anaerobic condition shifted to a mild anoxic condition rapidly. At an electrode distance of 1 cm and an applied voltage of 30 V, a system current was maintained at 1 A, and the current density was 23.1 $mA/cm^{2}$. Under the condition, the removal efficiency of hydrogen sulfide in gas phase was found to be 100%, and 93% of ammonium ion was removed from the liquid phase during the 120 minute operating period. Moreover, the sulfate ion (${SO_4}^{2-}$) concentration increased about three times from its initial value due to the active oxidation. As the specific power consumption (i.e., the energy input normalized by the effective volume) increased, the oxidation progressed rapidly, however, the oxidation rate was varied depending on target compounds. Consequently, a threshold power consumption for each odorous compound needs to be experimentally determined for an effective application of the electrolytic oxidation.

• Proceedings of the Korea Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.18-25
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• 2001

A new wood-degrading fungus Trichophyton rubrum LKY-7 secretes a high level of laccase in a glucose-peptone liquid medium. The production of laccase by the fungus was barely induced by 2,5-xylidine. The laccase has been purified to homogeneity through three chromatography steps in an overall yield of 40%. The molecular mass of the purified laccase was about 65 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified laccase had the distinct blue color and had basic spectroscopic features of a typical blue laccase: two absorption maxima at 278 and 610 nm and a shoulder at 338 nm. The N-terminus of the laccase has been sequenced, revealing high homology to laccases from wood-degrading white-rot fungi such as Ceriporiopsis subvermispora. The enzyme had a "low" redox potential (0.5 V vs normal hydrogen electrode), yet it was one of the most active laccases in oxidizing a series of representative substrates/mediators. Compared with other fungal laccases, the laccase has a very low Km value with ABTS [2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid] as a substrate and a very high Km value with violuric acid as a substrate. The laccase has the isoelectric point of 4.0. The laccase had very acidic optimal pH values (pH 3-4) while it was more stable at neutral pH than at acidic pH. The laccase oxidized hydroquinone faster than catechol and pyrogallol. The oxidation of tyrosine by the laccase was not detectable under the reaction conditions. The laccase was strongly inhibited by sodium azide and sodium fluoride. fluoride.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.23-26
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• 1999

The Langmuir adsorption isotherm at the $(Pt)/0.1M\;H_2SO_4$ electrolyte interface has been qualitatively analyzed using the ac impedance measurement and phase-shift method. The phase shift $(\phi)$ depends on both the cathode potential (E<0) and frequency (f) and is inversely proportional to the factional surface coverage $(\theta)$. At an intermediate frequency band (ca. $1\~100$ Hz), the phase-shift profile $(\phi\;vs.\;E)$ can be related to the fractional surface coverage $(\theta\;vs.\;E)$. The phase-shift profile $(\phi\;vs.\;E)$ can be used as an experimental method to estimate and analyze the Langmuir adsorption isotherm $(\theta\;vs.\;E)$. The equilibrium constant (K) and the standard free energy $({\Delta}G_{ads})$ of the adsorbed hydrogen atom $(H_{ads})\;and\;3\times10^{-4}$ and 20.1 kJ/mol, respectively.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.38-40
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• 2010

Carbon supported electrocatalysts are commonly used as electrode materials for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs). These kinds of electrocatalysts provide large surface area and sufficient electrical conductivity. The support of typical PEM fuel cell catalysts has been a traditional conductive type of carbon black. However, even though the carbon particles conduct electrons, there is still significant portion of Pt that is isolated from the external circuit and the PEM, resulting in a low Pt utilization. Herein, new types of carbon materials to effectively utilize the Pt catalyst are being evaluated. Carbon nanofiber/activated carbon fiber (CNF/ACF) composite with multifunctional surfaces were prepared through catalytic growth of CNFs on ACFs. Nickel nitrate was used as a precursor of the catalyst to synthesize carbon nanofibers(CNFs). CNFs were synthesized by pyrolysising $CH_4$ using catalysts dispersed in acetone and ACF(activated carbon fiber). The as-prepared samples were characterized with transmission electron microscopy(TEM), scanning electron microscopy(SEM). In TEM image, carbon nanofibers were synthesized on the ACF to form a three-dimensional network. Pt/CNF/ACF was employed as a catalyst for PEMFC. As the ratio of prepared catalyst to commercial catalyst was changed from 0 to 50%, the performance of the mixture of 30 wt% of Pt/CNF/ACF and 70wt% of Pt/C commercial catalyst showed better perfromance than that of 100% commercial catalyst. The unique structure of CNF can supply the significant site for the stabilization of Pt particles. CNF/ACF is expected to be promising support to improve the performance in PEMFC.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.58.2-58.2
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• 2012

Heavy hydrocarbon reforming is a core technology for "Dirty energy smart". Heavy hydrocarbons are components of fossil fuels, biomass, coke oven gas and etc. Heavy hydrocarbon reforming converts the fuels into $H_2$-rich syngas. And then $H_2$-rich syngas is used for the production of electricity, synthetic fuels and petrochemicals. Energy can be used efficiently and obtained from various sources by using $H_2$-rich syngas from heavy hydrocarbon reforming. Especially, the key point of "Dirty energy smart" is using "dirty fuel" which is wasted in an inefficient way. New energy conversion laboratory of KAIST has been researched diesel reforming for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) as a part of "Dirty energy smart". Diesel is heavy hydrocarbon fuels which has higher carbon number than natural gas, kerosene and gasoline. Diesel reforming has difficulties due to the evaporation of fuels and coke formation. Nevertheless, diesel reforming technology is directly applied to "Dirty fuel" because diesel has the similar chemical properties with "Dirty fuel". On the other hand, SOFC has advantages on high efficiency and wasted heat recovery. Nippon oil Co. of Japan recently commercializes 700We class SOFC system using city gas. Considering the market situation, the development of diesel reformer has a great ripple effect. SOFC system can be applied to auxiliary power unit and distributed power generation. In addition, "Dirty energy smart" can be realized by applying diesel reforming technology to "Dirty fuel". As well as material developments, multidirectional approaches are required to reform heavy hydrocarbon fuels and use $H_2$-rich gas in SOFC. Gd doped ceria (CGO, $Ce_{1-x}Gd_xO_{2-y}$) has been researched for not only electrolyte materials but also catalysts supports. In addition, catalysts infiltrated electrode over porous $La_{0.8}Sr_{0.2}Ga_{0.8}Mg_{0.2}O_3-{\delta}$ and catalyst deposition at three phase boundary are being investigated to improve the performance of SOFC. On the other hand, nozzle for diesel atomization and post-reforming for light-hydrocarbons removal are examples of solving material problems in multidirectional approaches. Likewise, multidirectional approaches are necessary to realize "Dirty energy smart" like reforming "Dirty fuel" for SOFC.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.426-434
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• 2020

The performance characteristics of a lead acid battery are investigated with the content of Sodium Perborate Tetrahydrate (SPT, NaBO₃·4H₂O) in a positive plate active material. SPT, which reacts with water to form hydrogen peroxide, is applied as an additive in the positive plate active material to increase adhesion between the substrate (positive plate) and the active material; this phenomenon is caused by a chemical reaction on the surface of substrate. A positive plate with the increasing content of SPT is prepared to compare its properties. It is confirmed that the oxide layer increases at the interface between the substrate and the active material with increasing content of SPT; this is proven to be an oxide layer through EDS analysis. Battery performance is confirmed: when SPT content is 2.0 wt%, the charging acceptance and high rate discharge properties are improved. In addition, the lifetime performance according to the Standard of Battery Association of Japan (SBA) S0101 test is improved with increasing content of SPT.