• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.265-273
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• 2017

Solid-state alkaline water electrolysis is a promising method for producing hydrogen using renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. Despite active investigations of component development for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE), understanding of the device performance remains insufficient for the commercialization of AEMWE. The study of assembled AEMWE devices is essential to validate the activity and stability of developed catalysts and electrolyte membranes, as well as the dependence of the performance on the device operating conditions. Herein, we review the development of catalysts and membranes reported by different AEMWE companies such as ACTA S.p.A. and Proton OnSite and device operating conditions that significantly affect the AEMWE performance. For example, $CuCoO_x$ and $LiCoO_2$ have been studied as oxygen evolution catalysts by Acta S.p.A and Proton OnSite, respectively. Anion exchange membranes based on polyethylene and polysulfone are also investigated for use as electrolyte membranes in AEMWE devices. In addition, operation factors, including temperature, electrolyte concentration and acidity, and solution feed methods, are reviewed in terms of their influence on the AEMWE performance. The reaction rate of water splitting generally increases with increase in operating temperature because of the facilitated kinetics and higher ion conductivity. The effect of solution feeding configuration on the AEMWE performance is explained, with a brief discussion on current AEMWE performance and device durability.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.28-38
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• 2014

The organic-inorganic composite membrane in polymer exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have several fascinating technological advantages such as a proton conductivity, thermal stability and mechanical properties. As the inorganic filler, silicon carbide (SiC) fiber have been used in various fields due to its unique properties such as thermal stability, conductivity, and tensile strength. In this study, composite membrane was successfully fabricated by modified-silicon carbide fiber. Modified process, as a novel process in SiC, takes reaction by phosphoric acid after oxidation process (generated homogeniusly $SiO_2$ layer on SiC fiber). The mechanical property which was conducted by tensile test of the 5wt% modified-$SiO_2@SiCf$ composite membrane was better than that of Aquivion casting membrane as well as ion cxchange capacity(IEC) and proton conductivity. In addition, the single cell performance was observed that the 5wt% modified-$SiO_2@SiCf$ composite membrane was approximately $0.2A/cm^2$ higher than that of a Aquivion casting electrolyte membrane and electrochemical impedance was improved with the charge transfer resistance and membrane resistance.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2017

A fluorinated polybenzimidazole (FPBI) was synthesized from 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) of tetraamine, 2,2-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane of aromatic biscarboxylic acid, and 4,4-sulfonyldibenzoic acid of aromatic biscarboxylic acid in polyphosphoric acid (PPA). A FPBI was easily cast and made into clear films. The structure of condensation polymers and corresponding membranes were analyzed using GPC (gel permeation chromatography), $^1H$-NMR ($^1H$ nuclear magnetic resonance) and FT-IR (fourier transform infrared). TGA (thermogravimetric analysis) analysis showed that the prepared membranes were thermally stable, so that elevated temperature fuel cell operation would be possible. The proton conductivity of the FPBI membranes increased with increasing temperatures in the polymer. A FPBI membrane has a maximum ion conductivity of 45 mS/cm at $90^{\circ}C$ and 100% relative humidity.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 1998

Purpose : A precise NMR technique for measuring the rate of water exchange and cell membrane permeability across the hepatocyte membrane using liver-specific MR contrast agent is described. Materials and Methods : The rat hepatocytes isolated by perfusion of the livers were used for the NMR measurements. All experiments were performed on an IBM field cycling relaxometer operating from 0.02MHz to 60 MHz proton Larmor frequency. spin-echo pulse sequence was empolyed to measure spin-lattice relaxation time, T1. The continuous distribution analysis of water proton T1 data from rat hepatocytes containing low concentrations of the liver specific contrast agent, Gd-EOB-DTPA, modeled by a general two compartment exchange model. Results : The mean residence time of water molecule inside the hepatocyte was approximately 250 msec. The lower limit for the permeability of the hepatocyte membrane was $(1.3{\pm}0.1){\;}{\times}{\;}10^{-3}cm/sec$. The CONTIN analysis, which seeks the natural distribution of relaxation times, reveals direct evidence of the effect of diffusive exchange. the diffusive water exchange is not small in the intracellular space in the case of hepatocytes. Conclusions : Gd-EOB-DTPA, when combined with continuous distribution analysis, provides a robust method to study water exchange and membrane permeability in hepatocytes. Water exchange in hepatocyte is much slower thatn that in red blood cells. Therefore, tissue-specific contrast agent may be used as a functional agent to give physiological information such as cell membrane permeability.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.332-339
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• 2021

Recently, due to concerns about the depletion of fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gases, the importance of hydrogen energy technology, which is a clean energy source that does not emit greenhouse gases, is being emphasized. Water electrolysis technology is a green hydrogen technology that obtains hydrogen by electrolyzing water and is attracting attention as one of the ultimate clean future energy resources. In this study, the surface properties of the porous transport layer (PTL), one of the cell components of the proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE), were controlled using a sandpaper to reduce overvoltage and increase performance and stability. The surfaces of PTL were sanded using sandpapers of 400, 180, and 100 grit, and then all samples were finally treated with the sandpaper of 1000 grit. The prepared PTL was analyzed for the degree of hydrophilicity by measuring the water contact angle, and the surface shape was observed through SEM analysis. In order to analyze the electrochemical characteristics, I-V performance curves and impedance measurements were conducted.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.6-10
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• 2021

The shorting resistance (SR) of the PEMFC(Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell) polymer membrane is an important indicator of the durability of the membrane. When SR decreases, shorting current (SC) increases, reducing durability and performance. When SR becomes less than about 0.1 kΩ·㎠, shorting occurs, the temperature rises rapidly, and MEA(Membrane Electrode Assembly) is burned to end stack operation. In order to prevent shorting, we need to control the SR, so the conditions affecting the SR were studied. There were differences in the SR measurement methods, and the SR measurement method, which improved the DOE(Department of Energy) and NEDO(New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) method, was presented. It was confirmed that the SR decreases as the relative humidity, temperature and cell compression pressure increase. In the final stage of the accelerated durability evaluation process of the polymer membrane, SR rapidly decreased to less than 0.1 kΩ·㎠, and the hydrogen permeability became higher than 15 mA/㎠. After dismantling the MEA, SEM(Scanning Electron Microscope) analysis showed that a lot of platinum was distributed inside the membrane.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2022

In this study, we synthesized a poly(pheneylene oxide) (PPO)-based organic/inorganic composite membrane having silicotungstic acid (STA) for the development of an anion exchange membrane with excellent ionic conductivity and physicochemical stability. The organic/inorganic composite membranes were prepared by introducing different STA contents (0 wt%, 10 wt%, 30 wt%, and 50 wt%) into the quaternizaed(Q)-PPO matrix. The prepared anion exchange membranes were subjected to structural analysis by proton neclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared, and thermal behavior of membranes was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis. Among the prepared composite membranes, the ion conductivity of Q-PPO/STA-50 (40.5 mS cm^-1) showed 1.46 times compared to that of the pristine membrane (27.6 mS cm^-1). Therefore, these results demonstrated that organic/inorganic composite membranes are promising candidates for application of anion exchange membranes.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.296-301
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• 2017

Recently, there are many efforts focused on development of more economical non-fluorinated membranes for PEMFCs (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells). In this study, sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (sPEEK) membrane reinforced with poly imide was made to enhance of membrane durability. In order to test durability of single (un-reinforced) membrane and reinforced membrane MEA (Membrane and Electrode Assembly), degradation accelerated stress test was used. Before and after degradation, I-V polarization curve, hydrogen crossover current, electrochemical surface area, membrane resistance and charge transfer resistance were measured. As a result of experiments, hydrogen crossover current of reinforced MEA was lower than that of single MEA, therefor durability of reinforced MEA was higher than that of single MEA. There was not especially short phenomena in reinforced MEA after degradation accelerated stress test.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.58-59
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• 2006

Less than a decade ago, most alternate membrane materials for fuel cells relied upon a post-sulfonation process to generate ionic groups capable of transporting protons from the anode to the cathode. These random post sulfonations showed some promise, but in general they produced materials that were not sufficiently stable or protonically conductive at ion exchange capacities where aqueous swelling could be restricted. Our group began to synthesize disulfonated monomers that could be used to incorporate into random copolymer proton exchange membranes. The expected limitation was that the aromatic polymers might not be stable enough to withstand fuel cell conditions. However, this was mostly based upon an accelerated test known was the Fenton's Reagent Test, which did not seem to this author as being a reliable predictor of performance. A much better approach has been to evaluate the open circuit voltage (OCV) for alternate membranes, as well as the benchmark perfluorosulfonic acid systems. When this is done, the aromatic ionomers of this study, primarily based upon disulfonated polyarylene ether sulfones, show up quite well. Real time 3000 hours DMFC results have also been generated. Obtaining conductive materials at low humidities is another major issue where alternate membranes have not been particularly successful. In order to address this problem, multiblock copolymers with relatively high water diffusion coefficients have been designed, which show promise for conductivity at lowered humidity.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05b
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• pp.3377-3382
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• 2007

In proton exchange membrane fuel cell, the heat is generated at the catalyst layer as result of exothermic electrochemical reaction. This heat increases temperature of gas diffusion layer and membrane whose conductivity is very sensitive to humidity, function of temperature. So it is very important to analysis heat transfer through fuel cell to maintain temperature at specified range. In this paper numerical simulation was done including reversible, irreversible, ionic resistance, water formation loss to source term of energy equation. Results show that irreversible and water formation loss contributes mainly to energy source term and as current density increases, all of energy source terms become increased and Nusselt number is increased as results of more heat generation. Particularly irreversible loss is found to be predominant among the all energy source and water formation at cathode channel influences the temperature distribution of fuel cell greatly.