• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.1344-1348
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• 2008

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) has been regarded as noble clean energy technology that can directly convert biomass to electricity. However, its low power density is a main limitation to be used as a new energy source. To overcome this limitation, we focused on the anode improvement in a mediator-type MFC using P. vulgaris as a biocatalyst. Fuel cell performance increased when the anode was coated with carbon black or polypyrrole. The best performance was observed when polypyrrole/carbon black (Ppy/CB) composite material was coated on a carbon paper electrode. Our obtained value of 452 mW $m^{-2}$ is the highest value among the reported ones for the similar system. The effects of amount of Ppy/CB, mediator concentration, and amount of P. vulgaris have also been examined.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.181-186
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• 2002

The displacement of carbon black to polypyrrole as a catalyst supporter in the fuel electrode of a direct methanol fuel cell was investigated. Polypyrrole was obtained as a black powder by the chemical polymerization of pyrrole with three different oxidants. The synthesized polypyrroles were pasted on carbon paper and transformed to the fuel electrodes with electrochemically deposited platinum. The prepared fuel electrode was assembled and mounted in a unit cell using a membrane and cathodic electrode film. In comparison with the carbon black fuel electrode, the performance of the unit cell was analyzed in relation to the state of the catalyst, the type of oxidant, and the morphology of the polypyrrole powder.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.425-431
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• 2005

New type of supercapacitor using high surface area activated carbons mixed with high conductivity polypyrrole (Ppy) has been prepared in order to achieve low impedance and high energy density. Mixed carbons of BP-20 and MSP-20 were used as the active electrode material, and polypyrrole doped with 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid (2-NSA) and carbon black (Super P) as conducting agents were added to activated carbons in order to enhance good electric conductivity. Electrodes prepared with the activated electrode materials and the conducting agents were added to a solution of organic binder [P(VdF-co-HFP) / NMP]. The ratio of optimum electrode composition was 78 : 17 : 5 wt.％ of (MSP20 : BP-20=1 : 1), (Super P : Ppy=10 : 7) and P(VdF-co-HFP) respectively. The performance of unit cell with addition of 7 wt％ Ppy have shown specific capacitance of 28.02 F/g, DC-ESR of $1.34{\Omega}$, AC-ESR of $0.36{\Omega}$, specific energy of 19.87 Wh/kg and specific power of 9.77 kW/kg. With addition of Ppy, quick charge-discharge of unit cell was possible because of low ESR, low charge transfer resistance and quick reaction rate. And good stability up to 500 chargedischarge cycles were retained about 80％ of their original capacity. It was concluded that the specific capacitance originated highly from compound phenomena of the pseudocapacitance by oxidation-reduction of polypyrrole and the nonfaradaic capacitance by adsorption-desorption of activated carbons.