• Title/Summary/Keyword: Potential energy (P)

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Fabrication of Pt-Ru/C Composite Catalyst Electrodes by Electrophoresis Deposition Method for DMFC Fuel Cell and their Characteristics (전기영동법에 의한 직접메탄올 연료전지용 Pt-Ru/C 복합촉매 전극제조 및 특성평가)

  • Kim, Jeonghyun;Song, Minkyeong;Kim, Jinwoo;Yu, Yeontae
    • 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2011.11a
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    • pp.86.2-86.2
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    • 2011
  • 저온형 연료전지인 직접 메탄올 연료전지(Direct Methanol Fuel Cells, DMFC)는 친환경적인 발전 시스템, 높은 에너지 효율의 장점 때문에 주목을 받고 있으나 연료극의 촉매로 사용되는 금속은 고가의 귀금속인 Pt와 Ru가 요구되어 제조비용이 비싸기 때문에 촉매의 양을 줄이고, 반응 도중 생성되는 CO에 의한 촉매의 피독 문제 등 해결하여야 할 점이 산적해 있어 연료전지 중 촉매의 활성을 높이는 연구들이 활발히 이루어지고 있다. 종래의 MEA의 촉매층 제조공정은 우선 환원석출법에 의해 Pt-Ru/C를 합성하고 Nafion 용액에 혼합하여 Pt-Ru/C 슬러리를 제조한다. 이 방법에서는 carbon sheet에 spray 방법으로 Pt-Ru/C 촉매층이 만들어지기 때문에, Pt-Ru 촉매가 Nafion에 의해 부분적으로 매몰되어 촉매의 전기화학적 활성이 떨어지는 문제점이 있다. 이를 해결하는 방안으로 펄스전류를 이용하여 Pt-Ru 합금입자를 carbon sheet에 전기화학적으로 담지 시켜 Nafion에 매몰되는 것을 방지하는 펄스전해법 연구가 진행되고 있다. 그러나 촉매의 입자크기가 일반적으로 50~70 nm 이상으 크기 때문에 촉매의 낮은 활성이 문제점으로 야기되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 Pt-Ru/C 촉매층 제조 문제점을 해결하고, 촉매의 전기화학적 활성을 증가시키기 위해서 2~4 nm Pt-Ru 콜로이드를 전해액으로 사용하고, 전기영동법을 이용하여 Pt-Ru 나노 입자를 carbon sheet($1{\times}1cm^2$) 에 담지 시켰다. 전기영동법에서 균일한 Pt-Ru 촉매층의 제조를 위해 전류인가 방법으로는 펄스전류를 사용하였고, 실험변수로는 전해액 pH, duty cycle, 담지시간을 선정하였다. 합성된 Pt-Ru 콜로이드를 TEM분석으로 나노입자의 크기와 분산성 분석하였고, 콜로이드 나노입자의 표면전하 상태를 분석하기 위해 zeta-potential을 분석하였다. Pt-Ru/C의 촉매의 전기화학적 활성을 분석하기 위하여 0.5 M H_2SO_4$ 와 1 M $CH_3OH$ 혼합용액에 CV(Cyclic Voltammetry)실시하였고, carbon sheet 전극 상 Pt-Ru의 분산성 확인을 위하여 FE-SEM분석을 수행하였다.

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The Effect of Activated Nitrogen Species for Diffusion Rate during a Plasma Nitriding Process (플라즈마질화에서 발생기 질소와 질화 속도에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Sang-Gweon;Kim, Sung-Wan;Brand, P.J.
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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    • v.23 no.3
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    • pp.150-155
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    • 2010
  • Generally, plasma nitriding process has composed with a nitriding layer within glow discharge region occurred by energy exchange. The dissociations of nitrogen molecules are very difficult to make neutral atoms or ionic nitrogen species via glow discharge area. However, the captured electrons in which a double-folded screen with same potential cathode can stimulate and come out some single atoms or activated ionic species. It was showed an important thing that is called "hat is a dominant component in this nitriding process?" in plasma nitriding process and it can take an effective species for without compound layer. During a plasma nitriding process, it was able to estimate with analyzing and identification by optical emission spectroscopy (OES) study. And then we can make comparative studies on the nitrogen transfer with plasma nitriding and ATONA process using plasma diagnosis and metallurgical observation. From these observations, we can understand role of active species of nitrogen, like N, $N^+$, ${N_2}^+$, ${N_2}^*$ and $NH_x$-radical, in bulk plasma of each process. And the same time, during DC plasma nitriding and other processes, the species of FeN atom or any ionic nitride species were not detected by OES analyzing.

The first insight into the structure of the Photosystem II reaction centre complex at $6{\AA}$ resolution determined by electron crystallography

  • Rhee, Kyong-Hi
    • Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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    • 1999.08a
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    • pp.83-90
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    • 1999
  • Electron crystallography of two-dimensional crystalsand electron cryo-microscopy is becoming an established method for determining the structure and function of a variety of membrane proteins that are providing difficult to crystallize in three dimension. In this study this technique has been used to investigate the structure of a ~160 kDa reaction centre sub-core complex of photosystem II. Photosystem II is a photosynthetic membrane protein consisting of more than 25 subunits. It uses solar energy to split water releasing molecular oxygen into the atmosphere and creates electrochemical potential across the thylakoid membrane, which is eventually utilized to generate ATP and NADPH. Images were taken using Philips CM200 field emission gun electron microscope with an acceleration voltage of 200kW at liquid nitrogen temperature. In total, 79 images recorded dat tilt angles ranging from 0 to 67 degree yielded amplitudes and phases for a three-dimensional map with an in-plant resolution of 6$\AA$ and 11.4$\AA$ in the third dimension shows at least 23 transmembrane helices resolved in a monomeric complex, of which 18 were able to be assigned to the D1, D2, CP47 , and cytochrome b559 alfa beta-subunits with their associated pigments that ae active in electron transport (Rhee, 1998, Ph.D.thesis). The D1/D2 heterodimer is located in the central position within the complex and its helical scalffold is remarkably similar to that of the reaction centres not only in purple bacteria but also in plant photosystem I (PSI) , indicating a common evoluationary origin of all types of reaction centre in photosynthetic organism known today 9RHee et al. 1998). The structural homology is now extended to the inner antenna subunit, ascribed to CP47 in our map, where the 6 transmembrane helices show a striking structural similarity to the corresponding helices of the PSI reaction centre proteins. The overall arrangement of the chlorophylls in the D1 /D2 heterodimer, and in particular the distance between the central pair, is ocnsistent with the weak exciton coupling of P680 that distinguishes this reaction centre from bacterial counterpart. The map in most progress towards high resolution structure will be presented and discussed.

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Electrochemical Characteristics of Tooth Colored NiTi Wire (치아색으로 코팅된 NiTi 와이어의 전기화학적 특성)

  • Kim, Won-Gi;Cho, Joo-Young;Choe, Han-Cheol;Lee, Ho-Jong
    • Corrosion Science and Technology
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    • v.9 no.5
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    • pp.223-232
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    • 2010
  • NiTi alloy has been used for orthodontic wire due to good mechanical properties, such as elastic strength, friction resistance, and high corrosion resistance. Recently, these wire were coated by polymer and ceramic materials for aesthetics. The purpose of this study was to investigate electrochemical characteristics of tooth colored NiTi wire using various instruments. Wires (round type and rectangular type) were used, respectively, for experiment. Polymer coating was carried out for wire. Specimen was investigated with optical microscopy (OM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The corrosion properties of the specimens were examined using potentiodynamic tests (potential range of -1500 ~ 2000 mV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (frequency range of 100 kHz ~ 10 mHz) in a 0.9 % NaCl solution by potentiostat. From the results of polarization behavior, the passive region of non-coated NiTi wire showed largely, whereas, the passive region of curved NiTi wire showed shortly in anodic polarization curve. In the case of coated NiTi wire, pitting and crevice corrosion occurred severely at interface between non-coated and coated region. From the results of EIS, polarization resistance(Rp) value of non-coated round and rectangular NiTi wire at curved part showed $5.10{\times}10^5{\Omega}cm^2$ and $4.43{\times}10^5{\Omega}cm^2$. lower than that of coated NiTi wire. $R_p$ of coated round and rectangular NiTi wire at curved part showed $1.31{\times}10^6{\Omega}cm^2$ and $1.19{\times}10^6{\Omega}cm^2$.

Energy-saving potential of cross-flow membrane emulsification by ceramic tube membrane with inserted cross-section reducers

  • Albert, K.;Vatai, Gy.;Giorno, L.;Koris, A.
    • Membrane and Water Treatment
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    • v.7 no.3
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    • pp.175-191
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    • 2016
  • In this work, oil-in-water emulsions (O/W) were prepared successfully by membrane emulsification with $0.5{\mu}m$ pore size membrane. Sunflower oil was emulsified in aqueous Tween80 solution with a simple crossflow apparatus equipped with ceramic tube membrane. In order to increase the shear-stress near the membrane wall, a helical-shaped reducer was installed within the lumen side of the tube membrane. This method allows the reduction of continuous phase flow and the increase of dispersed phase flux, for cost effective production. Results were compared with the conventional cross-flow membrane emulsification method. Monodisperse O/W emulsions were obtained using tubular membrane with droplet size in the range $3.3-4.6{\mu}m$ corresponded to the membrane pore diameter of $0.5{\mu}m$. The final aim of this study is to obtain O/W emulsions by simple membrane emulsification method without reducer and compare the results obtained by membrane equipped with helix shaped reducer. To indicate the results statistical methods, $3^p$ type full factorial experimental designs were evaluated, using software called STATISTICA. For prediction of the flux, droplet size and PDI a mathematical model was set up which can describe well the dependent variables in the studied range, namely the run of the flux and the mean droplet diameter and the effects of operating parameters. The results suggested that polynomial model is adequate for representation of selected responses.

Gamma irradiation-induced grafting of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) onto ePTFE for implant applications

  • Mohd Hidzir, Norsyahidah;Radzali, Nur Ain Mohd;Rahman, Irman Abdul;Shamsudin, Siti Aisyah
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.52 no.10
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    • pp.2320-2327
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    • 2020
  • The extreme hydrophobicity of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) hinders bone-tissue integration, thus limiting the use of ePTFE in medical implant applications. To improve the potential of ePTFE as a biomaterial, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was grafted onto the ePTFE surface using the gamma irradiation technique. The characteristics of the grafted ePTFE were successfully evaluated using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM)/energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Under the tensile test, the modified ePTFE was found to be more brittle and rigid than the untreated sample. In addition, the grafted ePTFE was less hydrophobic with a higher percentage of water uptake compared to the untreated ePTFE. The protein adsorption test showed that grafted ePTFE could adsorb protein, which was denoted by the presence of N peaks in the XPS analysis. Moreover, the formation of the globular mineral on the grafted ePTFE surface was successfully visualized using the FESEM analysis, with a ratio of 1.94 for Ca:P minerals by the EDX. To summarize, the capability of the modified ePTFE to show protein adsorption and mineralization indicates the improvement of the polymer properties, and it can potentially be used as a biomaterial for implant application.

White mineral trioxide aggregate mixed with calcium chloride dihydrate: chemical analysis and biological properties

  • Ahmed, Hany Mohamed Aly;Luddin, Norhayati;Kannan, Thirumulu Ponnuraj;Mokhtar, Khairani Idah;Ahmad, Azlina
    • Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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    • v.42 no.3
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    • pp.176-187
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    • 2017
  • Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the chemical and biological properties of fast-set white mineral trioxide aggregate (FS WMTA), which was WMTA combined with calcium chloride dihydrate ($CaCl_2{\cdot}2H_2O$), compared to that of WMTA. Materials and Methods: Surface morphology, elemental, and phase analysis were examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The cytotoxicity and cell attachment properties were evaluated on human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPLFs) using methyl-thiazoldiphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay and under SEM after 24 and 72 hours, respectively. Results: Results showed that the addition of $CaCl_2{\cdot}2H_2O$ to WMTA affected the surface morphology and chemical composition. Although FS WMTA exhibited a non-cytotoxic profile, the cell viability values of this combination were lesser than WMTA, and the difference was significant in 7 out of 10 concentrations at the 2 time intervals (p < 0.05). HPLFs adhered over the surface of WMTA and at the interface, after 24 hours of incubation. After 72 hours, there were increased numbers of HPLFs with prominent cytoplasmic processes. Similar findings were observed with FS WMTA, but the cells were not as confluent as with WMTA. Conclusions: The addition of $CaCl_2{\cdot}2H_2O$ to WMTA affected its chemical properties. The favorable biological profile of FS WMTA towards HPLFs may have a potential impact on its clinical application for repair of perforation defects.

Mineral, Nutritional, and Phytochemical Profile, Total Phenolic Content, and Radical Scavenging Activity of Philippine Bamboo "Bolo" Gigantochloa levis (Blanco) Merr. Leaves

  • Tongco, Jovale Vincent V.;Rodriguez, Evelyn B.;Abasolo, Willie P.;Mun, Sung Phil;Razal, Ramon A.
    • Natural Product Sciences
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    • v.22 no.1
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    • pp.60-63
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    • 2016
  • The study is a pioneering effort to determine the mineral, nutritional, and phytochemical composition and phenolic content and to determine the free radical scavenging activity of Gigantochloa levis (Blanco) Merr, a native bamboo species (locally known as "bolo") in the Philippines. Proximate analysis showed that air-dried G. levis leaves contain 15.8% ash, 22.6% crude protein, 1.2% crude fat, 29.3% crude fiber, and 19.7% total sugar. Phytochemical tests indicated the presence of diterpenes, triterpenes, saponins, phenols, tannins, and flavonoids in both the ethanolic and aqueous leaf extracts, while phytosterols were only detected in the ethanolic extract. Folin-Ciocalteu assay determined the total phenolic content in gallic acid equivalents (GAE) to be $85.86{\pm}3.71$ and $32.32{\pm}1.01mg\;GAE/100g$ dried sample for the ethanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively. The total phenolic content in quercetin equivalents (QE) was $74.44{\pm}3.11$ and $29.43{\pm}0.85mg\;QE/100g$ dried sample for the ethanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively. The radical scavenging activity of the different solvent fractions containing varying concentrations of the extract was determined using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The ethyl acetate and 1-butanol fractions were found to have the highest radical scavenging activity. Mineral analysis via Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDS) of the ash of G. levis leaves showed that Si is the major component, followed by K and Mg. These results point to the potential of G. levis leaves as a source of minerals and bioactive compounds with medicinal value.

Photoelectrochemical Behavior of Cu2O and Its Passivation Effect (산화구리의 광전기화학적 거동 특성)

  • Yun, Hongkwan;Hong, Soonhyun;Kim, Dojin;Kim, Chunjoong
    • Korean Journal of Materials Research
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    • v.29 no.1
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    • pp.1-6
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    • 2019
  • Recent industrialization has led to a high demand for the use of fossil fuels. Therefore, the need for producing hydrogen and its utilization is essential for a sustainable society. For an eco-friendly future technology, photoelectrochemical water splitting using solar energy has proven promising amongst many other candidates. With this technique, semiconductors can be used as photocatalysts to generate electrons by light absorption, resulting in the reduction of hydrogen ions. The photocatalysts must be chemically stable, economically inexpensive and be able to utilize a wide range of light. From this perspective, cuprous oxide($Cu_2O$) is a promising p-type semiconductor because of its appropriate band gap. However, a major hindrance to the use of $Cu_2O$ is its instability at the potential in which hydrogen ion is reduced. In this study, gold is used as a bottom electrode during electrodeposition to obtain a preferential growth along the (111) plane of $Cu_2O$ while imperfections of the $Cu_2O$ thin films are removed. This study investigates the photoelectrochemical properties of $Cu_2O$. However, severe photo-induced corrosion impedes the use of $Cu_2O$ as a photoelectrode. Two candidates, $TiO_2$ and $SnO_2$, are selected for the passivation layer on $Cu_2O$ by by considering the Pourbaix-diagram. $TiO_2$ and $SnO_2$ passivation layers are deposited by atomic layer deposition(ALD) and a sputtering process, respectively. The investigation of the photoelectrochemical properties confirmed that $SnO_2$ is a good passivation layer for $Cu_2O$.

Characterization and thermophysical properties of Zr0.8Nd0.2O1.9-MgO composite

  • Nandi, Chiranjit;Kaity, Santu;Jain, Dheeraj;Grover, V.;Prakash, Amrit;Behere, P.G.
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.53 no.2
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    • pp.603-610
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    • 2021
  • The major drawback of zirconia-based materials, in view of their applications as targets for minor actinide transmutation, is their poor thermal conductivity. The addition of MgO, which has high thermal conductivity, to zirconia-based materials is expected to improve their thermal conductivity. On these grounds, the present study aims at phase characterization and thermophysical property evaluation of neodymium-substituted zirconia (Zr0.8Nd0.2O1.9; using Nd2O3 as a surrogate for Am2O3) and its composites with MgO. The composite was prepared by a solid-state reaction of Zr0.8Nd0.2O1.9 (synthesized by gel combustion) and commercial MgO powders at 1773 K. Phase characterization was carried out by X-ray diffraction and the microstructural investigation was performed using a scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The linear thermal expansion coefficient of Zr0.8Nd0.2O1.9 increases upon composite formation with MgO, which is attributed to a higher thermal expansivity of MgO. Similarly, specific heat also increases with the addition of MgO to Zr0.8Nd0.2O1.9. Thermal conductivity was calculated from measured thermal diffusivity, temperature-dependent density and specific heat values. Thermal conductivity of Zr0.8Nd0.2O1.9-MgO (50 wt%) composite is more than that of typical UO2 fuel, supporting the potential of Zr0.8Nd0.2O1.9-MgO composites as target materials for minor actinides transmutation.