• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.427-441
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• 2022

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) serving as a separator that can prevent the permeation of unreacted fuels as well as an electrolyte that selectively transports protons from the anode to the cathode has been considered a key component of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The perfluorinated sulfonic acid-based PEMs, represented by Nafion®, have been commercialized in PEMFC systems due to their high proton conductivity and chemical stability. Nevertheless, these PEMs have several inherent drawbacks including high manufacturing costs by the complex synthetic processes and environmental problems caused by producing the toxic gases. Although numerous studies are underway to address these drawbacks including the development of sulfonated hydrocarbon polymer-based PEMs (SHP-PEMs), which can easily control the polymer structures, further improvement of PEM performances and durability is necessary for practical PEMFC applications. Therefore, this study focused on the various strategies for the development of SHP-PEMs with outstanding performance and durability by 1) introducing cross-linked structures, 2) incorporating organic/inorganic composites, and 3) fabricating reinforced-composite membranes using porous substrates.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.233-239
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• 2023

The transport properties of membranes used in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB) are fundamental in battery performance. High proton conductivity and low vanadium ion permeability must be achieved to achieve high battery performance. However, there is a trade-off relationship between proton conductivity and vanadium ion permeability. So, solving this trade-off relationship is crucial in VRFB development. Also, maintaining high coulombic efficiency, voltage efficiency, and energy efficiency is essential for high-performing VRFB. Recently, various attempts have been made, primarily on composite membranes and SPEEK membranes, to overcome the existing limit of Nafion membranes. VRFB is an essential class of rechargeable battery in composite membranes reviewed here.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2009

Direct methanol fuel cells(DMFCs) are receiving significant attention in the portable power source and electric vehicular transportation because of its high energy efficiency as liquid fuel, low cost, and no requirement of fuel reforming process. In this study, we synthesized the Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) to evaluate the possibility of use as a proton exchange membrane for DMFC. And poly(vinylidienedifluoride) (PVDF) was used to increase proton conductivity in SPEEK and simultaneously to prevent methanol transport through the cross linked membrane. Furthermore, in order to improve the electrical composite properties for DMFC applications.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.87-90
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• 2005

This paper presents an evaluation of the effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) with sulfonation degree of 57%. A series of inorganic-organic hybrid membranes were prepared with a systematic variation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles content. Their water uptake, methanol permeability and proton conductivity as a function of temperature were investigated. The results obtained show that the inorganic oxide network decreases the proton conductivity and water swelling. It is also found that increase in inorganic oxide content leads to decrease of methanol permeability. In terms of morphology, membranes are homogeneous and exhibit a good adhesion between inorganic domains and the polymer matrix. The properties of the composite membranes are compared with standard nafion membrane.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.433-439
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• 2017

The high temperature performance of PEM type electrolyser at $120^{\circ}C$ based on covalently cross-linked sulfonated poly ether ether ketone (SPEEK) composie membrane was investigated. Ion conductivity and other properties of SPEEK membrane were improved by adding heteropoly acid and Ceria. The membrane electrode assemblies were prepared using commercial PtC and nano-sized $IrRuO_2$ catalyst by electro-spraying and decal process. Voltage efficiency of MEA equipped with SPEEK membrane was slightly better than that of $Nafion^{(R)}$ membrane, due to its higher proton conductivity at high temperature. The cell performance of MEA with CL-SPEEK/Cs-TSiA/Ceria is 1.71 V at $1A/cm^2$ and $120^{\circ}C$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.714-717
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• 2007

In this study, a novel actuator was developed by employing the newly-synthesized ionic networking membrane (INM) of poly (styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (PSMAn)-incorporated poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). Based on the same original membrane, various samples of INM actuator were prepared through different reduction times with the electroless-plating technique. The as-prepared INM actuators were tested in terms of surface resistance, platinum morphology, resonance frequency, tip displacement, current and blocked force, and their performance was compared to that of the widely-used traditional Nafion actuator. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that much smaller and more uniform platinum particles were formed on the surfaces of the INM actuators as well as within their polymer matrix. Although excellent harmonic response was observed for the newly-developed INM actuators, this was found to be sensitive to the applied reduction times during the fabrication. The mechanical displacement of the INM actuator fabricated after optimum reduction times was much larger than that of its Nafion counterpart of comparable thickness under the stimulus of constant and alternating current voltage.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.478-484
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• 2016

Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) composite membranes have been intensively investigated for polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE). Covalently linked (CL) sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK) and cellulose polymer composite membranes were prepared and characterized. Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and cellulose were sulfonated and then were covalently linked by 1,4-diiodobutane to produce covalently linked SPEEK and cellulose polymer composite membranes. The composite membranes showed better thermostability and electrochemical properties than SPEEK. The membranes were prepared by sol-gel casting method. CL-SPEEK/Cellulose composite membrane featured 0.2453 S/cm of proton conductivity at $80^{\circ}C$ which was better than that of Nafion.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.212-220
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• 2015

The engineering plastic of sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK) as a polymer matrix has been developed in this lab to replace Nafion, solid polymer electrolytes of perfluorosulfonic acid membrane which has several flaws such as high cost, and limited operational temperature above $80^{\circ}C$. The SPEEK was prepared in the sulfonation reaction of polyether ether ketone (PEEK). The organic-inorganic blended composite membranes were prepared by sol-gel casting method with loading the highly dispersed ceria and cesium-substituted tungstosilicic acid (Cs-TSiA) with cross-linking agent contents of 0.01 mL. In conclusion, CL-SPEEK/Cs-TSiA/ceria 1% membrane showed the optimum results such as 0.1882 S/cm of proton conductivity at $80^{\circ}C$, and 99.61 MPa of tensile strength which were better than Nafion 117 membrane.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.157-160
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• 2007

The catalyst layer of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is a mixture of polymer, carbon, and platinum. The characteristics of the catalyst layer play critical role in determining the performance of the PEM fuel cell. This research investigates the role of catalyst layer composition using a Central Composite Design (CCD) experiment with two factors which are Nafion content and carbon loading while the platinum catalyst surface area is held constant. For each catalyst layer composition， polarization curves are measured to evaluate cell performance at common operating conditions, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), and Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) are then applied to investigate the cause of the observed variations in performance. The results show that both Nafion and carbon content significantly affect MEA performance. The ohmic resistance and active catalyst area of the cell do not correlate with catalyst layer composition, and observed variations in the cell resistance and active catalyst area produced changes in performance that were not significant relative to compositions of catalyst layers.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.53-58
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• 1998

1. 서론 : 일반적으로 막 수송특성의 대부분은 막이 갖고 있는 하전밀도와 막내 포아의 크기가 지배적이다. 만약 2개의 요소가 조절 가능해질때 이온수송의 선택투과의 기능성을 갖는 분리막이 보다 독특한 성능의 복합막이 된다. 콜로디온막은 니트로 셀룰로오즈로 구성된 3차원 망 구조가 특징이고, 다른 물질과 결합이 쉽고, 탄화수소 화합물과 같은 활성이 센 물질과는 안정하게 반응한다. 콜로디온 용액에 ion-exchange-resin을 적절히 혼합시켜, 이온교환기를 갖는 고분자를 캐스팅하여 막을 제조한다. 또 다른 캐스팅막의 제법은 염(NaClO$_4$)을 콜로디온 혼합용액에다 반응시켜 다시 염-Nafion-콜로디온의 캐스팅 복합막이 된다. 제조한 막은 염의 수용액속에 보존한 후 사용하였다. 측정시에 막을 수용액으로 옮겨서 염을 충분히 추출시키면 이온이나 물분자와 결합하는 챤넬이 형성되어 포아가 막내에 생기게 된다. 결국 콜로디온을 지지로 한 이온교환막이 만들어지며 이것은 하전밀도와 포아를 갖는 독특한 분리막이 된다. 본 실험에서는 포아의 크기가 고정된 복합막에서 전하밀도의 변화에 따른 복합막을 제조하여서 복합막의 기능과 또 막의 구조내에 생성된 포아의 존재가 막현상에 어떤 결과를 가져오는가를 검토하였다.