• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.667-671
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• 2015

Enzyme fuel cells were operated with cells composed of enzyme anode and PEMFC cathode. Enzyme anodes was fabricated by compression of a mixture of graphite particle, glucose oxidase(Gox) as a enzyme and ferrocene as a redox mediator, and then coated with Nafion ionomer solution. Performances of enzyme unit cell were measured with variation of anode manufacture factors, to find optimum condition of enzyme anode. Optimum pressure was 8.89MPa for enzyme anode pressing process. Highest power density was obtained at 60% graphite composition in enzyme anode. Optimum glucose concentration was 1.7 mol/l in anode substrate solution. The enzyme anode was stabilized by two times of deeping in Nafion solution for 1 sec.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.2657-2662
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• 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.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.399-402
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• 2006

현재까지 연료전지 전해질 막으로는 Nafion으로 잘 알려져 있는 perfluorosulfonic acid(PFSA)막이 주를 이루고 있다. 이 막들은 $80^{\circ}C$ 이하의 낮은 온도의 연료전지에서 가장 좋은 성능을 보인다. PFSA 막들은 탄소-불소로 이루어진 사슬의 특성상 산화, 환원의 조건에서도 뛰어난 안정성을 보이며 이온 전도도가 0.1S/cm 이상으로 기존에 알려진 전해질 막들 중 가장 우수한 성능을 나타낸다. 하지만 연료전지의 작동온도가 $100^{\circ}C$ 이상의 높은 온도에서 는 막에 존재하던 수분이 제거되면서 수소이온 전도도가 떨어지며 기계적 물성도 떨어지는 문제점을나타낸다. $100^{\circ}C$ 이상의 온도에서 연료전지를 작동시키면 양쪽의 전극에서 일어나는 촉매반응의 속도가 향상되며, 물의 끓는점 이상에서 작동되므로, 전지 내에서 다양한 상을 고려하지 않고 기화된 물만을 고려하여 설계를 할 수가 있다. 따라서 최근 이러한 고온/저가습 운전을 위 한 전해질 막의 개발을 위해 기존의 Nafion 막에 전도성 무기 입자를 도입하는 연구들이 활발히 진행되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 전도성 무기 입자로서 $ZrO_2$나노입자를 합성하고, 이를 상용 10 wt.% Nafion 용액에 분산하여 solution casting 방법을 통해 $61{\mu}m$ 두께의 유기-무기 복합막을 제조하였다. 제조한 유기-무기 복합막의 성능 평가를 위하여 함수율, 이온 전도도, 당량무게 및 단위 전지를 이용한 전류-전압 곡선을 측정하여 상용 Nafion 112 막과 비교해 보았다. $ZrO_2$ 입자는 전도성이며 동시에 친수성을 나타내기 때문에 상용 막에 비하여 함수율 및 수소이온 전도도가 우수하게 나타났다. 복합막의 이러한 물성은 $100^{\circ}C$이상의 고온에서 전해질 막 내의 물 관리를 용이하게 한다. 단위 전지 운전 온도 $130^{\circ}C$, 상대습도 37%의 운전 조건에서도 상당히 우수한 전지 성능을 보임에 따라 고온/저가습 조건에서 상용 Nafion 112 막보다 우수한 막 특성을 나타냄을 확인하였다.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 2006

An amperometric glucose biosensor has been developed based on the use of the nanoporous composite film of sol-gel-derived zirconia and perfluorosulfonated ionomer, Nafion, for the encapsulation of glucose oxidase (GOx) on a platinized glassy carbon electrode. Zirconium isopropoxide (ZrOPr) was used as a sol-gel precursor for the preparation of zirconia/Nafion composite film and the performance of the resulting glucose biosensor was tuned by controlling the water content in the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of sol-gel stock solution. The presence of Nafion polymer in the sol-gel-derived zirconia in the biosensor resulted in faster response time and higher sensitivity compared to those obtained at the pure zirconia- and pure Nafion-based biosensors. Because of the nanoporous nature of the composite film, the glucose biosensor based on the zirconia/Nafion composite film can reach 95% of steady-state current less than 5 s. In addition, the biosensor responds to glucose linearly in the range of 0.03-15.08 mM with a sensitivity of 3.40 $\mu$A/mM and the detection limit of 0.037 mM (S/N = 3). Moreover, the biosensor exhibited good sensor-to-sensor reproducibility (~5%) and long-term stability (90% of its original activity retained after 4 weeks) when stored in 50 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7 at 4 ${^{\circ}C}$.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2016

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) using the electrolytes containing various vanadium ions in sulfuric acid as supporting solution are one of the energy storage devices in alternatively charging and discharging operation modes. The positive electrolyte contains $V^{5+}/V^{4+}$ and the negative electrolyte $V^{2+}/V^{3+}$ depending on the operation mode. To prevent the mixing of two solutions, proton exchange membranes are mainly used in VRFBs. Nafion 117 could be the most promising candidate due to the strong oxidative property of $V^{5+}$ ion, but causes high crossover of electroactive species to result in a decrease in coulombic efficiency. In this study, the composite membranes using Nafion ionomer and porous polyethylene substrate were prepared to keep good chemical stability and to decrease the cost of membranes, and were compared to the properties and performance of the commercially available electrolyte membrane, Nafion 117. As a result, the water uptake and ionic conductivity of the composite membranes increased as the thickness of the composite membranes increased, but those of Nafion 117 slightly decreased. The permeability of vanadium ions for the composite membranes significantly decreased compared to that for Nafion 117. In a single cell test for the composite membranes, the voltage efficiency decreased and the coulombic efficiency increased, finally resulting in the similar energy efficiency. In conclusion, the less cost of the composite membranes by decreasing 6.4 wt.% of the amount of perfluorinated sulfonic acid polymer due to the introduction of porous substrate and lower vanadium ion permeability to decrease self-discharge were achieved than Nafion 117.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.568-571
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• 2008

A novel self-humidifying composite membrane for the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) at low humidity condition was developed. The Pt/$TiO_2$ catalyst particles were synthesized via supercritical impregnation methods. Pt precursor was dissolved in supercritical carbon dioxide and impregnated onto $TiO_2$ particles. Pt precursors were platinum(II) acetylacetonate, Dimethyl(1,5-cyclooctadiene) platinum(II) and we controlled the ratio of Pt to $TiO_2$. The impregnated Pt precursor was converted to $TiO_2$ supported Pt nanoparticle under various reducing conditions. Pt/$TiO_2$ catalyst particles were dispersed uniformly into the Nafion solution, and then Pt/$TiO_2$/Nafion composite membrane was prepared using solution-cast method. The self-humidifying composite membrane could minimize membrane conductivity loss under dry conditions due to the presence of catalyst and hydrophilic Pt/$TiO_2$ particles. To optimize the performance of MEA, amount of ionomer loading was controlled. And mixed catalysts were used. The cell performance of MEA was obviously improved under dry conditions at $65^{\circ}C$.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.449-455
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• 2006

Ionic cluster mimic, polymer electrolyte membranes were prepared using polymer composites of crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with sulfated-${\beta}$-cyclodextrins (${\beta}-CDSO_3H$) or phosphated-${\beta}$-cyclodextrins (${\beta}-CDPO(OH)_2$). When Nafion, developed for a fuel cell using low temperature, polymer electrolyte membranes, is used in a direct methanol fuel cell, it has a methanol crossover problem. The ionic inverted micellar structure formed by micro-segregation in Nafion, known as ionic cluster, is distorted in methanol aqueous solution, resulting in the significant transport of methanol through the membrane. While the ionic structure formed by the ionic sites in either ${\beta}-CDSO_3H$ or ${\beta}-CDPO(OH)_2$ in this composite membrane is maintained in methanol solution, it is expected to reduce methanol transport. Proton conductivity was found to increase in PVA membranes upon addition of ionized cyclodextrins. Methanol permeability through the PVA composite membrane containing cyclodextrins was lower than that of Nafion. It is thus concluded that the structure and fixation of ionic clusters are significant barriers to methanol crossover in direct methanol fuel cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.204-207
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• 2003

Determination of Lead(II) using nafion-DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid)-glycerol-modified glassy carbon electrodes is described. Lead(II) is accumulated at the electrode by complexing with the DTPA, reduced, and detected by differential pulse voltammetry. In this study, we demonstrate that at a preconcentration time of 5min the nafion-DTPA-glycerol-modified glassy carbon electrode has a linear calibration curve at range 1.0${\times}$10$\^$-9/M∼1.0${\times}$10$\^$-7/M in pH 4.0 buffer solution. The detection limit(3$\sigma$) is as low as 5.0${\times}$10$\^$-6/M. This method is applied to the determination of lead(II) in certified reference material and the result agrees satisfactorily with the certified value.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.434-439
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• 2012

To improve the performance of ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) actuators, Nafion films sandwiched with Nafion/conducting nanoparticulate electrospun webs were used as polymer electrolytes of IPMC. Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) and silver were the conducting nanoparticulates and the nanoparticles dispersed in a Nafion solution were electrospun. IPMCs with the Nafion/conducting nanoparticulate electrospun webs displayed improved displacements, response rates, and blocking forces. MWNT was superior to silver in terms of displacement and blocking force, and the webs without the conducting fillers also caused enhanced performances compared with the conventional IPMCs. These improvements were attributed to an elevated electrolyte flux through highly porous interlayers and capacitance induced by well dispersed conducting fillers, and low interfacial resistance between electrolyte and electrodes.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 1996

Voltage-current profiles are measured when hydrogen-oxygen gas is in contact with solid polymer membrane ($Nafion^{(R)}$) as the electrolyte. The feed gas is prepared by mixing hydrogen and oxygen gas in various ratios. The carbon gas diffusion electrodes contacting the electrolyte are treated by platinum catalyst. The platinum surface is impregnated with a 5% $Nafion^{(R)}$ solution to ensure its good surface contact with the electrolyte. The constant voltage between anode and cathode was applied by a DC power supply. The results on the profiles show that the energy efficiency critically depends on the hydrogen concentration in $H_2/O_2$ mixture gas.