• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.219-229
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• 2001

Hydrogen production by a 2-step water-splitting thermochemical cycle using metal oxides (ferrites) redox pairs and $CH_4$ have been studied in this experiment. The ferrites were reacted with $CH_4$ at $700{\sim}800^{\circ}C$ to produce CO, $H_2$ and various reduced phases (reduction step); these were then reoxidized with water vapor to generate $H_2$ in water-splitting step (oxidation step) at $600{\sim}700^{\circ}C$. The reduced ferrites, Ni-FeO and Ni-Fe alloy showed respectively different reactivity for $H_2$ formation from $H_2O$. In reduction reaction at $800^{\circ}C$, carbon was deposited on surface of Ni-ferrite due to $CH_4$ decomposition. This reduced phase containing carbon, which was taken quite different feature from other phase, produced $H_2$, CO, $CO_2$ by reacting with $H_2O$ at $600^{\circ}C$. The amount of $H_2$ evolved using reduced phase containing carbon was much higher than that of other phase.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.213-213
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• 2012

It has been known that quantum confinement effect of CdSe nanocrystal was observed by increasing the number of deposition cycle using successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. Here, we report on thermally-induced quantum confinement effect of CdSe at the given cycle number using spin-coating technology. A cation precursor solution containing $0.3\;M\;Cd(NO_3)_2{\cdot}4H_2O$ is spun onto a $TiO_2$ nanoparticulate film, which is followed by spinning an anion precursor solution containing $0.3\;M\;Na_2\;SeSO_3$ to complete one cycle. The cycle is repeated up to 10 cycles, where the spin-coated $TiO_2$ film at each cycle is heated at temperature ranging from $100^{\circ}C$ to $250^{\circ}C$. The CdSe-sensitized $TiO_2$ nanostructured film is contacted with polysulfide redox electrolyte to construct photoelectrochemical solar cell. Photovoltaic performance is significantly dependent on the heat-treatment temperature. Incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) increases with increasing temperature, where the onset of the absorption increases from 600 nm for the $100^{\circ}C$- to 700 nm for the $150^{\circ}C$- and to 800 nm for the $200^{\circ}C$- and the $250^{\circ}C$-heat treatment. This is an indicative of quantum size effect. According to Tauc plot, the band gap energy decreases from 2.09 eV to 1.93 eV and to 1.76 eV as the temperature increases from $100^{\circ}C$ to $150^{\circ}C$ and to $200^{\circ}C$ (also $250^{\circ}C$), respectively. In addition, the size of CdSe increases gradually from 4.4 nm to 12.8 nm as the temperature increases from $100^{\circ}C$ to $250^{\circ}C$. From the differential thermogravimetric analysis, the increased size in CdSe by increasing the temperature at the same deposition condition is found to be attributed to the increase in energy for crystallization with $dH=240cal/^{\circ}C$. Due to the thermally induced quantum confinement effect, the conversion efficiency is substantially improved from 0.48% to 1.8% with increasing the heat-treatment temperature from $100^{\circ}C$ to $200^{\circ}C$.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.277-290
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• 2021

A supercapacitor, also called an ultracapacitor or an electrochemical capacitor, stores electrochemical energy by the adsorption/desorption of electrolytic ions or a fast and reversible redox reaction at the electrode surface, which is distinct from the chemical reaction of a battery. A supercapacitor features high specific power, high capacitance, almost infinite cyclability (~ 100,000 cycle), short charging time, good stability, low maintenance cost, and fast frequency response. Supercapacitors have been used in electronic devices to meet the requirements of rapid charging/discharging, such as for memory back-up, and uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Also, their use is being extended to transportation and large industry applications that require high power/energy density, such as for electric vehicles and power quality systems of smart grids. In power generation using intermittent power sources such as solar and wind, a supercapacitor is configured in the energy storage system together with a battery to compensate for the relatively slow charging/discharging time of the battery, to contribute to extending the lifecycle of the battery, and to improve the system power quality. This article provides a concise overview of the principles, mechanisms, and classification of energy storage of supercapacitors in accordance with the electrode materials. Also, it provides a review of the status of recent research and patent, product, and market trends in supercapacitor technology. There are many challenges to be solved to meet industrial demands such as for high voltage module technologies, high efficiency charging, safety, performance improvement, and competitive prices.

• Clean Technology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 2018

Hollow carbon spheres (HCS) and carbon spheres (CS) were prepared by a hydrothermal reaction and they were introduced as a substrate for the deposition of $MnO_2$ nanoparticles. The $MnO_2$ nanoparticles were deposited on the carbon surface by a chemical redox deposition method. After deposition, the $MnO_2$ nanoparticles were uniformally distributed on the carbon surface in a slit-shape, and sparse $MnO_2$ slits appeared on the HCS surface. The $MnO_2-HCS$ showed an initial specific capacitance of $164.1F\;g^{-1}$ at scan rate of $20mv\;s^{-1}$, and after 1,000 cycles, the specific capacitance was maintained to $141.3F\;g^{-1}$. The capacity retention of $MnO_2-HCS$ and $MnO_2-CS$ were calculated to 86% and 78% in the cycle performance test up to 1,000 cycles, respectively. $MnO_2-HCS$ showed a good cycle stability due to the mesoporous hollow structure which can cause a faster diffusion of the electrolyte and can easily adsorb and desorb $Na^+$ ions on the surface of the electrode.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.669-675
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• 2010

One of the greatest challenges for our society is providing powerful electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells are among the most promising candidates in terms of energy and power density. As the starting material, $TiCl_4{\cdot}YCl_3$ solution and dispersing agent (HCP) were mixed and synthesized using ammonia as the precipitation agent, in order to prepare the nano size Y doped spherical $TiO_2$ precursor. Then, the $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ was synthesized using solid state reaction method through the stoichiometric mixture of Y doped spherical $TiO_2$ precursor and LiOH. The Ti mole increased the concentration of the spherical particle size due to the addition of HPC with a similar particle size distribution in a well in which $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ spherical particles could be obtained. The optimal synthesis conditions and the molar ratio of the Ti 0.05 mol reaction at $50^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes and at $850^{\circ}C$ for 6 hours heat treatment time were optimized. $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ was prepared by the above conditions as a working electrode after generating the Coin cell; then, electrochemical properties were evaluated when the voltage range of 1.5V was flat, the initial capacity was 141 mAh/g, and cycle retention rate was 86%; also, redox reactions between 1.5 and 1.7V, which arose from the insertion and deintercalation of 0.005 mole of Y doping is not a case of doping because the C-rate characteristics were significantly better.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2017

A spectroelectrochemical method has been applied to investigate the electrochemical behaviors and identify the kinds of samarium ions dissolved in high temperature molten LiCl-KCl eutectic. An optically transparent electrode (OTE) fabricated with a tungsten gauze as a working electrode has been used to conduct cyclic voltammetry and potential step chronoabsorptometry. Based on the reversibility of the redox reaction of $Sm^{3+}/Sm^{2+}$, which was determined from the cyclic voltammograms, the formal potential and the diffusion coefficient were calculated to be -1.99 V vs. $Cl_2/Cl^-$ and $2.53{\times}10^{-6}cm^2{\cdot}s^{-1}$, respectively. From the chronoabsorptometry results at the applied potential of -1.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl (1wt%), the characteristic peaks of absorption for samarium ions were determined to be 408.08 nm for $Sm^{3+}$ and 545.62 nm for $Sm^{2+}$. Potential step chronoabsorptometry was conducted using the anodic and the cathodic peak potentials from the voltammograms. Absorbance analysis at 545.63 nm shows that the diffusion coefficient of $Sm^{3+}$ is $2.15{\times}10^{-6}cm^2{\cdot}s^{-1}$, which is comparable to the value determined by cyclic voltammetry at the same temperature.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2006

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are ubiquitously distributed and play important functions in diverse cellular signaling systems. The proteins are largely classified into three groups, such as typical 2-Cys Prx, atypical 2-Cys Prx, and 1-Cys Prx, that are distinguished by their catalytic mechanisms and number of Cys residues. From the three classes of Prxs, the typical 2-Cys Prx containing the two-conserved Cys residues at its N-terminus and C-terminus catalyzes $H_2O_2$ with the use of thioredoxin (Trx) as an electron donor. During the catalytic cycle, the N-terminal Cys residue undergoes a peroxide-dependent oxidation to sulfenic acid, which can be further oxidized to sulfinic acid at the presence of high concentrations of $H_2O_2$ and a Trx system containing Trx, Trx reductase, and NADPH. The sulfinic acid form of 2-Cys Prx is reduced by the action of sulfiredoxin which requires ATP as an energy source. Under the strong oxidative or heat shock stress conditions, 2-Cys Prx in eukaryotes rapidly switches its protein structure from low-molecular-weight species to high-molecular-weight protein structures. In accordance with its structural changes, the protein concomitantly triggers functional switching from a peroxidase to a molecular chaperone, which can protect its substrate denaturation from external stress. In addition to its N-terminal active site, the C-terminal domain including 'YF-motif' of 2-Cys Prx plays a critical role in the structural changes. Therefore, the C-terminal truncated 2-Cys Prxs are not able to regulate their protein structures and highly resistant to $H_2O_2$-dependent hyperoxidation, suggesting that the reaction is guided by the peroxidatic Cys residue. Based on the results, it may be concluded that the peroxidatic Cys of 2-Cys Prx acts as an '$H_2O_2$-sensor' in the cells. The oxidative stress-dependent regulation of 2-Cys Prx provides a means of defense systems in cells to adapt stress conditions by activating intracellular defense signaling pathways. Particularly, 2-Cys Prxs in plants are localized in chloroplasts with a dynamic protein structure. The protein undergoes conformational changes again oxidative stress. Depending on a redox-potential of the chloroplasts, the plant 2-Cys Prx forms super-molecular weight protein structures, which attach to the thylakoid membranes in a reversible manner.