• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.362-367
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• 2009

Recently, the use of formic acid as a fuel for direct liquid fuel cells has emerged as a promising alternative to methanol. In the work presented herein, we evaluated direct formic acid fuel cells(DFAFCs) with various components under operating conditions, for example, the thickness of the proton exchange membrane, concentration of formic acid, gas diffusion layer, and commercial catalyst. The thickness of the proton exchange membrane influenced performance related to the fuel cross-over. To optimize the cell performance, we investigated on the proper concentration of formic acid and catalyst for the formic acid oxidation. Consequently, membrance-electrode assembly(MEA) consisted of $Nafion^{(R)}$-115 and the Pt-Ru black as a anode catalyst showed the maximum performance. This performance was superior to the DMFCs' one.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.340-346
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• 2013

Study on clean and efficient utilization technology for low rank coal with high moisture content is actively ongoing due to limited reserves of petroleum and of high grade coal and serious climate change caused by fossil fuel usage. In the present study, supercritical water gasification of low rank coal was performed. With increasing reaction temperature, content of combustible gases such as $H_2$ and $CH_4$ in the syngas increased while the $CO_2$ content decreased. As the reaction pressure increased from 210 to 300 bar, the $CO_2$ content in the syngas increased while the hydrocarbon gas content decreased. The $H_2$ and $CH_4$ content in the syngas increased slightly with pressure. With the addition of Pd, Pt, and Ru catalysts, it was possible to improve the production of $H_2$. Moreover, the increase of active metal content in the catalyst increased the $H_2$ productivity. The Ru catalyst shows the best performance for increasing the $H_2$ content in the syngas, while decreasing the $CO_2$ content.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.203-206
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• 2009

Agglomeration of catalysts is known as one of the major degradation mechanisms. Reforming of liquid fuel, which requires high temperature over $800^{\circ}C$, accelerates agglomeration of catalysts. In this work, The effects of agglomeration on catalysts activity in partial oxidation reforming conditions were investigated. Metal supported catalysts(Pt-CGO, Ru-CGO) were compared to perovskite-structured catalysts(NECS-P1, NECS-P2). High thermal stability of perovskite-structured catalysts was reported. Micro-reactor installed in electric furnace was used. its Temperature was raised from $800^{\circ}C$ to $1000^{\circ}C$ to accelerate agglomeration effect. To measure rate of agglomeration, BET analysis and CO pulse chemisorption were conducted on catalysts exposed to $1100^{\circ}C$. Metal supported catalysts showed degradation at $1000^{\circ}C$ and The rates were different according to metal supported. On the other hand perovskite-structured catalysts showed no degradation at $1000^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.769-774
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• 2011

Porous carbon nanofibers(CNF) were synthesized via NaOH activation at 700~$900^{\circ}C$, and the porous CNF-supported PtRu catalysts were evaluated for the anode in direct methanol fuel cells. The change of surface characteristics by NaOH activation was examined by analyses of the specific surface area and pore size distribution. The morphological and structural modification was investigated under scanning electron microscopy. The activity of catalysts supported on porous CNFs was examined by cyclic voltammograms and single cell tests. The pore formation on CNF by the NaOH activation was discussed, concerning the catalyst activity, when they were applied as catalyst supports.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.132-132
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• 2013

Colloidal synthesis of nanoparticles with well-controlled size, shape, and composition, together with development of in situ surface science characterization tools, such as ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS), has brought new opportunities to unravel the surface structure of working catalysts. Recent studies suggest that surface oxides on transition metal nanoparticles play an important role in determining the catalytic activity of CO oxidation. In this talk, I will outline the recent studies on the influence of surface oxides on Rh, Pt, Ru and Co nanoparticles on the catalytic activity of CO oxidation [1-3]. Transition metal nanoparticle model catalysts were synthesized in the presence of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) polymer capping agent and deposited onto a flat Si support as two-dimensional arrays using the Langmuir-Blodgett deposition technique. APXPS studies exhibited the reversible formation of surface oxides during oxidizing, reducing, and CO oxidation reaction [4]. General trend is that the smaller nanoparticles exhibit the thicker surface oxides, while the bigger ones have the thin oxide layers. Combined with the nature of surface oxides, this trend leads to the different size dependences of catalytic activity. Such in situ observations of metal nanoparticles are useful in identifying the active state of the catalysts during use and, hence, may allow for rational catalyst designs for practical applications. I will also show that the surface oxide can be engineered by using the simple surface treatment such as UV-ozone techniques, which results in changing the catalytic activity [5]. The results suggest an intriguing way to tune catalytic activity via engineering of the nanoscale surface oxide.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.433-439
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• 2017

The high temperature performance of PEM type electrolyser at $120^{\circ}C$ based on covalently cross-linked sulfonated poly ether ether ketone (SPEEK) composie membrane was investigated. Ion conductivity and other properties of SPEEK membrane were improved by adding heteropoly acid and Ceria. The membrane electrode assemblies were prepared using commercial PtC and nano-sized $IrRuO_2$ catalyst by electro-spraying and decal process. Voltage efficiency of MEA equipped with SPEEK membrane was slightly better than that of $Nafion^{(R)}$ membrane, due to its higher proton conductivity at high temperature. The cell performance of MEA with CL-SPEEK/Cs-TSiA/Ceria is 1.71 V at $1A/cm^2$ and $120^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.154-161
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• 2022

The carbon-neutrality induced by the global warming is important for the modern society. Hydrogen has been received the attention as a new energy source to replace the fossil fuels. Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, which convert the chemical reaction energy of hydrogen into electric power directly, are a type of eco-friendly power for future vehicles. Due to the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction and costly Pt catalyst in the cathode, the research related to the replacement of Pt-based catalysts has been vitally carried out. In this case, however, the performance is significantly different from each other and a variety of factors have existed. In this review paper, we rearrange and summarize relevant papers published within 5 years approximately. The selection of precursors, synthesis method, and co-catalyst are represented as a core factor, while the necessity of research for the further enhancement of activity may be raised. It can be anticipated to contribute to the replacement of precious metal catalysts in the various fields of study. The final objective of the future research is depicted in detail.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.1079-1085
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• 1999

An investigation was made of the effect of various transition metal catalysts, ligands, and a promoter on the synthesis of N,N'-diphenylurea(DPU) from nitrobenzene, aniline, and carbon monoxide. Homogeneous Pd and Ni catalysts were found to be highly efficient, giving almost quantitative isolated DPU yields at 100% nitrobenzene conversion. Bidentate ligand, 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)proane(dppp) showed much improved activity and significantly different reactivity relative to the usual monodentate $PPh_3$ ligand in the presence of Ni and Pd catalysts. These results were inferred to the effect of the cis coordination of bidentate dppp ligand on the metal. The use of a promoter $Et_4NCl$ was indispensable in the case of $PPh_3$, yet inhibited the reaction if used with dppp. It was possible to reuse the Pd-dppp catalyst system, although the catalytic activity was reduced slowly.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.317.2-317.2
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• 2013

Ultrathin oxide encapsulated metal-oxide hybrid nanocatalysts have been fabricated by a soft chemical and facile route. First, SiO2 nanoparticles of 25~30 nm size have been synthesized by modified Stobber's method followed by amine functionalization. Metal nanoparticles (Ru, Rh, Pt) capped with polymer/citrate have been deposited on functionalized SiO2 and finally an ultrathin layer of TiO2 coated on surface which prevents sintering and provides high thermal stability while maximizing the metal-oxide interface for higher catalytic activity. TEM studies confirmed that 2.5 nm sized metal nanoparticles are well dispersed and distributed throughout the surface of 25 nm SiO2 nanoparticles with a 3-4 nm TiO2 ultrathin layer. The metal nanoparticles are still well exposed to outer surface, being enabled for surface characterization and catalytic activity. Even after calcination at $600^{\circ}C$, the structure and morphology of hybrid nanocatalysts remain intact confirm the high thermal stability. XPS spectra of hybrid nanocatalyst suggest the metallic states as well as their corresponding oxide states. The catalytic activity has been evaluated for high temperature CO oxidation reaction as well as photocatalytic H2 generation under solar simulation. The design of hybrid structure, high thermal stability, and better exposure of metal active sites are the key parameters for the high catalytic activity. The maximization of metal-TiO2 interface interaction has the great role in photocatalytic H2 production.