• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.1043-1048
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• 2012

In this study, activated carbons (ACs) were modified as electrode materials for an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) by controlling oxygen- and nitrogen-containing functional groups. The morphological and chemical properties of ACs were analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, automatic elemental analyzer (EA) and Boehm titration. Also, charge/discharge tests were performed to investigate the EDLC performance. Oxygen- and nitrogen-containing functional groups were introduced on the surface of ACs through acid and urea treatments, respectively. ACs with nitrogen-containing functional groups showed 2 mA increase of gravimetric discharge capacity and quick achievement of maximum charge/discharge performance. However, ACs with oxygen-containing functional groups showed low discharge capacity and its gradual decrease during further cyclic test, since the functional groups interrupted adsorption/desorption of charges in the electrolyte on the surface of ACs.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.214.1-214.1
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• 2011

In this work, the electrochemical properties of the surface treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are investigated for supercapacitors. Nitrogen- and oxygen functional groups containing MWNTs are prepared by nitrogen precursors and acidic treatment, respectively. The surface properties of the MWNTs are confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Zeta-potential measurements. The electrochemical properties of the MWNTs are investigated by cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectra, and charge-discharge cycling performance in 1 M $H_2SO_4$ at room temperature. As a result, these functionalized MWNTs lead to an increase in the specific capacitance as compared with the pristine MWNTs. It proposes that the pyridinic and pyridinic-N-oxides nitrogen species influence on the specific capacitance due to their positive charges, and thus an improved electron transfer at high current loads, since they are the most important functional groups affecting capacitive behaviors.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.1596-1600
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• 2010

Surface functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) was carried out by means of acid treatment. The presence of oxygen functional groups on the surface of acid-treated MWNTs was confirmed with the aid of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray spectroscopy. In addition, carboxylic groups generally formed on the surface of acid-treated MWNTs, and the dispersion was increased by the duration of the acid treatment. The zeta-potential indicated the surface charge transfer and the dispersion of MWMTs. Morphological characteristics of acid-treated MWNTs were also observed using a transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman analysis, which was revealed the significantly unchanged morphologies of MWNTs by acid treatment. The hydrogen adsorption capacity of the MWNTs was evaluated by means of adsorption isotherms at 77 K/1 atm. The hydrogen storage capacity was dependent upon the acid treatment conditions and the formation of oxygen functional groups on the MWNT surfaces. The latter have an important effect on the hydrogen storage capacity.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.819-826
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• 2003

This article is concerned with the overview of activated carbons as electrode materials in electric double-layer capacitors. Firstly, this article introduced various types of activated carbons with their precursors and manufacturing conditions which can be divided into two main steps of the carbonization and activation processes. Secondly, the present article gave the detailed discussion about the porous structures and examined previous works on the electrochemical behaviors of activated carbons in relation to their porous structures, along with our recent works. Finally, this article characterized the surface oxygen functional groups and presented their influence on the electrochemical properties of activated carbons by reviewing our recent results.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.164-170
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• 2021

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB) have emerged as large-scale energy storage systems (ESS) due to their advantages such as low cross-contamination, long life, and flexible design. However, Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in the negative half-cell causes a harmful influence on the performance of the VRFB by consuming current. Moreover, HER hinders V²⁺/V³⁺ redox reaction between electrode and electrolyte by forming a bubble. To address the HER problem, carbon nanotube/graphite felt electrode (CNT/GF) with oxygen functional groups was synthesized through the hydrothermal method in the H₂SO₄ + HNO₃ (3:1) mixed acid solution. These oxygen functional groups on the CNT/GF succeed in suppressing the HER and improving charge transfer for V²⁺/V³⁺ redox reaction. As a result, the oxygen functional group applied electrode exhibited a low overpotential of 0.395 V for V²⁺/V³⁺ redox reaction. Hence, this work could offer a new strategy to design and synthesize effective electrodes for HER suppression and improving the energy density of VRFB.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.40-43
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• 1999

Electrochemical surface treatment of PAN-based carbon fibers in acidic electrolyte has been studied in increasing the surface functional groups on fiber surfaces for the improvement of fiber-matrix adhesion of the resulting composites. According to the FT-IR and XPS measurements, it reveals that the oxygen functional groups on fibers are largely influence on the composite mechanical behaviors, whereas the nitrogen functional groups are not affected in the system. In this work, a good correlation between surface functionality and mechanical properties is established.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2003

The surface energy and the effect of functional groups on the surface of the ozone-treated low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film were studied. Treatment conditions were treatment time, total amount of transferred ozone, and ozone concentration. The introduction of polar groups on the surface of LDPE film after ozone treatment was confirmed by FTIR-ATR and XPS analyses. Surface fee energy of the LDPE film was examined by a contact angle method. The ozone treated-LDPE film showed a decreased water contact angles about 15$^{\circ}$ mainly due to the increased concentration of oxygen-containing functional groups, which was attributed to the increased surface free energy or $O_{IS}/C_{IS}$Also, the concentrations of the oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of LDPE film increased with ozone treatment time and concentration, whereas no significant effects were found for the total amount of transferred ozone. From the dyeability test using Kubelka-Munk equation, it was found that the ozone treatment plays an important role in the growth of oxygen-containing functional groups of LDPE film, resulting in the improvement of dyeability for basic dyeing agent.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.94.2-94.2
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• 2011

In this work, multi-functional groups, i.e., nitrogen and oxygen, contained microporous carbons (MF-MCs) were prepared by the one step carbonization of the poly(vinylidene chloride-co-acrylonitrile-co-methyl methacryalte) (PVDC-AN-MMA) without activation. The electrochemical performance of MF-MCs was investigated as a function of carbonization temperature. It was found that MF-MCs had a high specific surface area over $800m^2/g$ without additional activation, resulting from the micropore's formation by the release of chlorine groups. In addition, although functional groups decreased, specific surface area was increased with increasing carbonization temperature, leading to the enhanced electrochemical performance. The pore size of the carbon distributed mainly in small micropore of 1.5 to 2 nm, which was idal for aqueous electrolyte. Indeed, the unique microstructure features, i.e. high specific surface area and optimized pore size provided high energy storage capability of MF-MCs. These results indicated that the microporous features of MF-MCs lead to feasible electron transfer during charge/discharge duration and the presence of nitrogen and oxygen groups on the MF-MCs electrode led to a pseudocapacitive reaction.

• Carbon letters
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.74-78
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• 2003

Four kinds of plasma blacks were prepared by plasma pyrolysis under various metallic catalysts coated on honeycomb, and investigated the catalytic effect on the characteristics of the plasma blacks prepared under plasma pyrolysis condition. Pt, Pt-Rh, and Pd catalysts were employed as active materials to prepare the plasma blacks. In the experimental range studied, the metallic catalysts influenced on surface area, particle size, surface oxygen content and electrical conductivity of the plasma blacks prepared. It was showed that more dense particle of plasma blacks were prepared under existence of metallic catalysts. Presence of the metallic catalyst reduces the electrical resistivity of plasma blacks due to the decrease in the amount of oxygen functional groups. The highest electrical conductivity of plasma black was observed in the Pt catalyst and then followed by those Pt-Rh, Pd and bare cordierite honeycomb.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2009

Activated carbon fiber (ACF) was surface modified by nitric acid to improve the adsorption efficiency of the propylamine. Functional groups and textural properties of modified ACF were investigated. The total surface acidity increased about 7 times to that of as-received ACF by modification with 1 M nitric acid solution, carboxylic and phenolic groups mainly increased. However, the specific surface areas and the total pore volumes of the modified ACFs were decreased by 5-8% due to the increased blocking (or demolition) of micropores in the presence of newly introduced complexes. Despite the decrease of textural properties, it was found that the amount of propylamine adsorbed by the modified ACFs was increased by approximately 17%. The oxygen and nitrogen contents on the modified ACF increased by 1.5 and 3 times compared with the as-received ACF. From the XPS results, it was observed that propylamine reacted with strong or weak acidic groups, such as -COOH or -OH on the ACF surfaces, resulting in the formation of pyrrolic-, pyridonic- or pyridine-like structures.