• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.96-101
• /
• 2021

Developing effective and earth-abundant electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is critical for the commercialization of a water splitting system. In particular, the overpotential of the OER is relatively higher than the HER, and thus, it is considered that one of the important methods to enhance the performance of the electrocatalyst is to reduce the overpotential of the OER. We report effects of incorporation of metalloid into Ni(OH)2 microcrystal on electrocatalytic activities. In this study, Te incorporated Ni(OH)2 (��Te-Ni(OH)2) were grown on three-dimensional porous NF by a facile solvothermal method with �� = 1, 3 and 5. Homogeneous microplate structure on the NF was clearly observed for the Ni(OH)2/NF and ��Te-Ni(OH)2/NF samples. However, irregular and collapsed nanostructures were found on the surface of nickel foam when Te precursor ratio is (��) over 3. Electrocatalytic OER properties were analysed by Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The amount of Te incorporation used in the electrocatalytic reaction was found to play a crucial role in improving catalytic activity. The optimum Te amount (��) introduced into the Ni(OH)2/NF was discussed with respect to their OER performance.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.197-204
• /
• 2012

We explore the evolution of metal plasma generated by high laser irradiances and its effect on the surrounding air by using shadowgraph images after laser pulse termination and X-ray diffraction (XRD) of aluminum plasma ablated by a high-power laser pulse (>1000 mJ/pulse) and oxygen from air. Hence, the formation of laser-supported detonation and combustion processes has been investigated. The essence of this paper is in observing the initiation of chemical reaction between the ablated aluminum plasma and oxygen from air by the high-power laser pulse (>1000 mJ/pulse) and in conducting a quantitative comparison of the chemically reactive laser-initiated waves with the classical detonation of an exploding aluminum (dust) cloud in air. The findings in this work may lead to a new method of initiating detonation from a metal sample in its bulk form without any need to mix nanoparticles with oxygen for initiation.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.53 no.3
• /
• pp.306-311
• /
• 2016

Li-air batteries have received much attention due to their superior theoretical energy density. However, their sluggish kinetics on the cathode side is considered the main barrier to high performance. The rational design of electrode catalysts with high activity is therefore an important challenge. To solve this issue, we performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations to analyze the adsorption behavior of the $LiO_2$ molecule, which is considered to be a key intermediate in both the Li-oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the evolution reaction (OER). Specifically, to use the activity descriptor approach, the $LiO_2$ adsorption energy, which has previously been demonstrated to be a reliable descriptor of the cathode reaction in Li-air batteries, was calculated on $LaB_{1-x}B^{\prime}_xO_3$(001) (B, B' = Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni, x = 0.0, 0.5). Our fast screening results showed that $LaMnO_3$, $LaMn_{0.5}Fe_{0.5}O_3$, or $LaFeO_3$ would be good candidate catalysts. We believe that our results will provide a way to more efficiently develop new cathode materials for Li-air batteries.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
• /
• 2006.05a
• /
• pp.367-370
• /
• 2006

This paper deals with the modeling and simulation of the internal flowfield in a valveless airbreathing pulse detonation engine (PDE) currently under experimental development at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. The system involves no valves in the airflow path, and the isolation between the inlet and combustor is achieved through the gasdynamics in an isolator. The analysis accommodates the full conservation equations in axisymmetric coordinates, and takes into account variable properties for ethylene/oxygen/air system. Chemical reaction schemes with a single progress variable are implemented to minimize the computational burden. Detailed flow evolution during a full cycle is explored and propulsive performance is calculated. Effect of initiator mass injection rate is examined and results indicate that the mass injection rate should be carefully selected to avoid the formation of recirculation zones in the initial cold flowfield. Flow evolution results demonstrate a successful detonation transmission from the initiator to the combustor. However, strong pressure disturbance may propagate upstream to the inlet nozzle, suggesting the current configuration could be further refined to provide more efficient isolation between the inlet and combustor.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.145-149
• /
• 2007

Electrochemical studies were performed for a single particle of nickel hydroxide for the cathode of Ni-MH batteries. A carbon fiber microelectrode was manipulated to make electrical contact with an alloy particle, and electrochemical experiments were performed. As a result of cyclic voltammetry, the oxidation/reduction and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are clearly separated for a single particle. The total cathodic charge (Qred) is practically constant for the scan rate investigated, indicating that the whole particle has reacted. The total anodic charge(Qox) was larger than that of reduction reaction, and the magnitude of oxygen evolution taking place as a side reaction was enhanced at lower scan rates. As a result of galvanostatic charge and discharge measurement, the discharge capacity of single particle was found to be 250 mAh/g, value being very close to the theoretical capacity (289 mAh/g). The apparent proton diffusion coefficient(Dapp) using potential step method inside the nickel hydroxide was found to range within $3{\sim}4{\times}10^{-9}\;cm^2/s$.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.245-252
• /
• 1993

To investigate a simple and rapid screening method for photosynthetic inhibitory herbicides, responses of tobacco(Nicotiana tabacum L.) and liverwort(Marchantia polymorpha L.) PA(photoautotrophic) cells to various commercial herbicides with different modes of action and leaf extracts of four weed species were compared. PET (photosynthetic electron transport) inhibitory type of herbicides has greater inhibitory effect in liverwort photoautotrophic cells than the photomixotrophic and heterotrophic cultured cells. Similary, PET inhibitory type of herbicides inhibited the oxygen evolution more in liverwort PA cells than the other type of herbicides. Based on oxygen evolution, 60% inhibition was observed by the 10% aqueous extracts of Polygonum hydropiper, while there was 100% inhibition by the 10% methanol extracts of Polygonum hydropiper. This assay gave well correlated results to the Hill reaction data using isolated thylakoids. Thus liverwort photoautotrophic cells might be suitable materials for rapid screening method for photosynthetic inhibitory herbicides.

• Journal of Plant Biology
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.133-140
• /
• 1993

The photosynthetic activities in relation to oxygen evolution rates, quantum yield, CO2 uptake rates and room temperature chlorophyll fluorescence were investigated in cotyledons of cucumber seedlings exposed to low temperature (at 4$^{\circ}C$) for 24 h. Light-chilling caused more inhibition on light-saturated maximum oxygen evolution rates, quantum yield, and CO2 uptake rates than dark-chilling did in the cucumber plant. Light-chilling induced more marked increase in Fo and decrease in (Fv)m/Fm than dark-chilling did in the room temperature chlorophyll induction kinetics. The above results affected by chilling in the light are considered to be associated with the partial damage of the reaction center of PS II and the decreased photosynthetic activities. There occurred a large decrease in qQ with little change in qNP in the light-chilling plant. When light- and dark-chilled plants were recovered at room temperature for 24 h and their chlorophyll fluorescences were induced with light doubling technique, light-chilled plants showed more smaller magnitude and rate of fluorescence relaxation than dark-chilled plants. These suggest that light-chilling might cause some alterations in transthylakoid pH formation, and that photosynthetic apparatus of cucumber cotyledons is more susceptible to light-chilling. In the fast fluorescence induction kinetics, FR was decreased by 60% in the light-chilled plants with reference to $25^{\circ}C$ light-grown plants, while the dark-chilled plants showed a decreased rate of only 20% with reference to $25^{\circ}C$ dark-treated plants for 24 h, indicating that cucumber seedling is very sensitive to chilling stress. So, it is certain that chilling injury to the photosynthetic apparatus is strongly dependent on the presence of light in cucumber seedlings.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.335-340
• /
• 2016

Hydrogen production through proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is expeditiously receiving international attention for renewable energy sources as well as energy storage system applications due to its environmentally friendly uses. A series of $Ir_{0.2}Ru_{0.8}O_2$ $Ir_{0.5}Ru_{0.8}O_2$ & $IrO_2$ catalysts were synthesized and electrochemically evaluated by using linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) technique. Furthermore, the PEMWE performances of full cells were evaluated by recording I-V Curves. The developed PEMWE stack was also operated in combination with a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) to demonstrate the discrete regenerative fuel cell (DRFC) performances. Produced hydrogen and oxygen from PEMWE were used as a fuel to operate PEMFC to establish a DRFC system.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.52-58
• /
• 2019

The microstructure, hardness, and wear behaviors of a High Velocity Oxygen Fuel(HVOF) sprayed WC-CoFe coating are comparatively investigated before and after laser heat treatments of the coating surface. During the spraying, the binder metal is melted and a small portion of WC is decomposed to $W_2C$. A porous coating is formed by evolution of carbon oxide gases formed by the reaction of the free carbon and the sprayed oxygen gas. The laser heat treatment eliminates the porosity and provides a more densified microstructure. After laser heat treatment, the porosity in the coating layer decreases from 1.7 % to 1.2 and the coating thickness decreases from $150{\mu}m$ to $100{\mu}m$. The surface hardness increases from 1440 Hv to 1117 Hv. In the wear test, the friction coefficient of coating decreases from 0.45 to 0.32 and the wear resistance is improved by the laser heat treatment. The improvement is likely due to the formation of oxide tribofilms.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
• /
• 2017.05a
• /
• pp.99.1-99.1
• /
• 2017

$TiO_2$는 기계적, 화학적 안정성이 높아 가혹한 화학적 환경 또는 고온 운전 조건에서 훌륭한 내구성을 보여주어 산업적으로 일찍이 널리 이용되어 왔다. 예를 들어, 염소발생 (chlorine evolution reaction) 또는 산소발생반응은 (oxygen evolution reaction) 염소 또는 산소 라디칼에 전극이 지속적으로 노출되기에 강한 내부식성을 지닌 전극재가 요구되었고, 그 결과 $TiO_2$를 골조로 한 불용성전극 (dimensionally stable anode)이 개발되어 이용되고 있다. 그러나, $TiO_2$는 절연성이 높은 금속 산화물 재료이기 때문에 넓은 표면적 획득 및 촉매제 사용을 통해 소재의 단점을 극복해야만 한다. 넓은 반응 표면적 획득의 한 방법으로써 전기화학적 양극산화 (electrochemical anodization)를 통한 $TiO_2$ 나노튜브 제조법은 경제적이면서도 구조 제어도 간편한 방법이다. $TiO_2$ 나노튜브는 100nm 전후의 기공 크기를 가짐과 동시에 매우 높은 종횡비를 지니고 있어 넓은 반응 표면적 획득에 특히 유리하다. 그러나, 이 높은 종횡비는 촉매 도입을 어렵게 하는 저해요소가 되기도 한다. 이러한 문제를 해결하기 위하여 다양한 방법들이 연구되었으나 대부분이 번거롭거나 비싼 후단공정을 필요로 한다. 본 연구에서는 $TiO_2$ 나노튜브에 촉매를 도핑하기 위한 간단한 전기화학적 방법으로, 단일공정 양극산화법 (single-step anodization)과 전압충격법 (potential shock), 그리고 저전압충격법 (under potential shock)을 연구하였으며 이에 적용 가능한 촉매제의 종류를 소개한다. 또한, 촉매의 성질에 따른 응용분야와 그 성능평가 결과를 제시한다.