• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.162-173
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• 2023

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries are considered as promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries for energy storage owing to their safety and cost efficiency. However, their lifespan is limited by the irreversibility of Zn anodes because of Zn dendrite growth and side reactions such as the hydrogen evolution reaction and corrosion during cycling. Herein, we present a strategy to restrict direct contact between the Zn anode and aqueous electrolyte by fabricating a protective layer on the surface of Zn foil via phosphidation method. The Zn₃(PO₄)₂ protective layer effectively suppresses Zn dendrite growth and side reactions in aqueous electrolytes. The electrochemical properties of the Zn₃(PO₄)₂@Zn anode, such as the overpotential, linear polarization resistance, and hydrogen generation reaction, indicate that the protective layer can suppress interfacial corrosion and improve the electrochemical stability compared to that of bare Zn by preventing direct contact between the electrolyte and the active sites of Zn. Remarkably, MnO₂ Zn₃(PO₄)₂@Zn exhibited enhanced reversibility owing to the formation a stable porous layer, which effectively inhibited vertical dendrite growth by inducing the uniform plating of Zn²⁺ ions underneath the formed layer.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2022

Herein a rich, Se-nanoparticle modified Mo-W₁₈O₄₉ nanocomposite as efficient hydrogen evolution reaction catalyst is reported via hydrothermal synthesized process. In this work, Na₂SeSO₃ solution and selenium powder are used as Se precursor material. The structure and composition of the nanocomposites are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), EDX spectrum analysis and the corresponding element mapping. The improved electrochemical properties are studied by current density, and EIS analysis. The as-prepared Se modified Mo-W₁₈O₄₉ synthesized via Na₂SeSO₃ is investigated by FE-SEM analysis and found to exhibit spherical particles combined with nanosheets. This special morphology effectively improves the charge separation and transfer efficiency, resulting in enhanced photoelectric behavior compared with that of pure Mo-W₁₈O₄₉. The nanomaterial obtained via Na₂SeSO₃ solution demonstrates a high HER activity and low overpotential of -0.34 V, allowing it to deliver a current density of 10 mA cm^-2.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.377-384
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• 2023

Exploring earth-abundant, highly effective and stable electrocatalysts for electrochemical water splitting is urgent and essential to the development of hydrogen (H₂) energy technology. Iron-cobalt layered double hydroxide (FeCo-LDH) has been widely used as an electrocatalystfor OER due to its facile synthesis, tunable components, and low cost. However, LDH synthesized by the traditional hydrothermal method tends to easily agglomerate, resulting in an unstable structure that can change or dissolve in an alkaline solution. Therefore, studying the real active phase is highly significant in the design of electrochemical electrode materials. Here, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are used as template precursors to derive FeCo-LDH from different iron sources. Iron salts with different anions have a significant impact on the morphology and charge transfer properties of the resulting materials. FeCo-LDH synthesized from iron sulfate solution (FeCo-LDH-SO₄) exhibits a hybrid structure of nanosheets and nanowires, quite different from other electrocatalysts that were synthesized from iron chloride and iron nitrate solutions. The final FeCo-LDH-SO₄ had an overpotential of 247 mV with a low Tafel-slope of 60.6 mV dec^-1 at a current density of 10 mA cm^-2 and delivered a long-term stability of 40 h for the OER. This work provides an innovative and feasible strategy to construct efficient electrocatalysts.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2008

The effect of reduction of carbon dioxide by CODH(Carbon Monoxide Dehydrogenase) was compared on glassy carbon and gold working electrodes. In case of gold electrode, the choice of the optimum applied potential is very important since $H_2$ evolution can be mixed with $CO_2$ reduction. On the other hand, efficient $CO_2$ reduction was observed up to -650 mV vs. NHE on glassy carbon in neutral solution due to the larger overpotential for $H_2$ evolution on glassy carbon surface than that on gold surface. The optimum potential for $CO_2$ reduction was found to be $-570{\sim}600\;mV$ vs. NHE. The current efficiency of $CO_2$ to CO decreased dramatically at more negative potential according to the activity of enzyme decrease and the hydrogen evolution.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.425-432
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• 1994

Voltammogram analysis of U(VI) reduction at electrochemically non-pretreated/pretreated Ti electrodes in nitric acid and hydrazine($N_2$H$_4$)/protonated hydrazine($N_2$H$_{5}$$^{＋}$) media was done in order to determine the effect of hydrazine form and Ti electrode condition on the reduction of U(VI) in nitric acid. In the case of non-pretreated Ti electrode, the reduction in nitric acid and hydrazine mono-hydrate solution needed a high activation overpotential and was affected by the ratio of hydrazine to nitric acid rather than by only absolute amount of hydrazine because of the decrease of solution conductivity and increase of iR drop, which were caused by proton consumption in the solution by the hydrazine. In the case of pretreated Ti electrode in nitric acid and protonated hydrazine solution, the reduction current peaks of U(VI) were clearer and higher enough to perform a kinetic analysis, compared with the case with the non-pretreated Ti electrode at the same potential, and the behavior was strongly affected by nitric acid. The presence of hydrazine was important in the reduction of U(VI) at the pretreated Ti electrode for preventing the reoxidation of U(IV), but the concentration of protonated hydrazine was not.t.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 1996

Electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen on PdOx and Pd electrodes were investigated in aqueous 30% KOH solution at different temperatures and hydrogen concentrations(partial pressures). Anodic reaction by hydrogen on PdOx electrode was mainly due to the oxidation of adsorbed hydrogen at -0.8V~-0.5V(vs. Hg/HgO). For Pd electrode, the anodic reaction was participated by the adsorbed hydrogen on surface, as well as by the metal hydride formed from direct reaction between Pd and hydrogen at -0.5V~0.0V(vs. Hg/HgO). With the increase of hydrogen concentration the charge transfer resistance decreased and the exchange current increased. The transfer coefficient of PdOx and Pd electrodes were found to be 0.78 and 0.72 respectively, which shows the superior reactivity of Pd electrode. The activation energies of PdOx and Pd electrodes decreased with the increase of overpotential and were found to be 23.9~20.3 kJ/mole and 7.2~3.0kJ/mole, respectively.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.854-862
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• 2016

As the demand for a clean energy to replace fossil fuel being depleted increases, hydrogen energy is considered as a promising candidate for future energy source. Water electrolysis which produces hydrogen has high energy efficiency and stability but still has a large overpotential for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this study, $Co_3O_4$ catalysts with different morphology were prepared by spray pyrolysis from solutions which contain Co precursor and various organic additives (urea, sucrose, and citric acid), followed by post heat treatment. For the catalysts synthesized, X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements were performed to identify their crystal structure. Morphology and surface shape of the catalysts were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Surface area and pore volume were examined by nitrogen adsortpion & desorption tests and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was conducted to confirm nitrogen doping. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) was carried out to investigate OER activity of $Co_3O_4$ catalysts. As a result, bare-$Co_3O_4$ which has high surface area and small particle size determined by spray pyrolysis showed high activity toward OER.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2012

An annular flow type of copper electrolysis reactor was setup in order to generate the copper ions to remove algae in water. The operating characteristics of the reactor and the effect of copper ion on algae have been considered. By controling the applied current, the copper ion concentration could be obtained as desired level and the faradaic efficiency was above 90%. When the flow rate was increased, the copper ion concentration was linearly decreased due to the dilution effect and the effect of concentration overpotential was insignificant. With the increase of pH in water, the copper ion concentration was linearly decreased and not affected by the conductivity of the water. The concentration of chlorophyll-a was sharply decreased with the increase of copper ion concentration. The algae was effectively removed as the copper ion concentration was above 0.2 ppm. There was no difference between the copper ions obtained by dissolving copper sulfate and those produced by copper electrolysis. The algae removal efficiency was above 90% after 5 days as the copper ion concentration was above 0.4 ppm.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.284-288
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• 2008

Sn-thin film as high capacitive anode for thin film lithium-ion battery was prepared by organic-electrolyte electroplating using Sn(II) acetate. Electrolytic solution including $Li^+$ and $Sn^{2+}$ had 3 reduction peaks at cyclic voltammogram. Current peak at $2.0{\sim}2.5\;V$ region correspond to the electroplating of Sn on Ni substrate. This potential value is lower than 2.91 V vs. $Li^+/Li^{\circ}$, of the standard reduction potential of $Sn^{2+}$ under aqueous media. It is the result of high overpotential caused by high resistive organic electrolytic solution and low $Sn^{2+}$ concentration. Physical and electrochemical properties were evaluated using by XRD, FE-SEM, cyclic voltammogram and galvanostatic charge-discharge test. Crystallinity of electroplated Sn-anode on a Ni substrate could be increased through heat treatment at $150^{\circ}C$ for 2 h. Cyclic voltammogram shows reversible electrochemical reaction of reduction(alloying) and oxidation(de-alloying) at 0.25 V and 0.75 V, respectively. Thickness of Sn-thin film, which was calculated based on electrochemical capacity, was $7.35{\mu}m$. And reversible capacity of this cell was $400{\mu}Ah/cm^2$.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.187-194
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• 2020

Two types of sodium cobalt pyrophosphates, triclinic Na_3.12Co_2.44(P₂O₇)₂ and orthorhombic Na₂CoP₂O₇, are compared as high-voltage cathode materials for Na-ion batteries. Na₂CoP₂O₇ shows no electrochemical activity, delivering negligible capacity. In contrast, Na_3.12Co_2.44(P₂O₇)₂ exhibits good electrochemical performance, such as high redox potential at ca. 4.3 V (vs. Na/Na⁺) and stable capacity retention over 50 cycles, although Na_3.12Co_2.44(P₂O₇)₂ delivered approximately 40 mA h g^-1. This is attributed to the fact that Na₂CoP₂O₇ (~3.1 Å) has smaller diffusion channel size than Na_3.12Co_2.44(P₂O₇)₂ (~4.2 Å). Moreover, the electrochemical performance of Na_3.12Co_2.44(P₂O₇)₂ is examined using Na cells and Li cells. The overpotential of Na cells is smaller than that of Li cells. This is due to the fact that Na_3.12Co_2.44(P₂O₇)₂ has a smaller charge transfer resistance and higher diffusivity for Na⁺ ions than Li⁺ ions. This implies that the large channel size of Na_3.12Co_2.44(P₂O₇)₂ is more appropriate for Na⁺ ions than Li⁺ ions. Therefore, Na_3.12Co_2.44(P₂O₇)₂ is considered a promising high-voltage cathode material for Na-ion batteries, if new electrolytes, which are stable above 4.5 V vs. Na/Na⁺, are introduced.