• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.150-156
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• 2014

In this study, we implemented a research for improving performance of redox flow battery (RFB) via enhancing reaction rate of vanadium reaction ($[VO]^{2+}/[VO_2]^+$) that was a rate determining step. For doing that, porous catalyst, CMK3 was employed and its perfoamance was compared with that of Vulcan(XC-72) and commercial Pt/C (Johnson-Matthey Pt 20wt.%). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used for inspecting reactivity, while its structural feature was measured by TEM and BET&BJH. Also, Charge-discharge trend was evaluated by single cell tests. As result, CMK3 showed 6 times better catalytic activity and twice better reversibility than Vulcan(XC-72), while it showed larger surface area than Vulcan XR due to its porous structure. Furthermore, CMK3 indicated 85% of reactivity and reversibility of commercial Pt/C despite its Pt-less situation. In single cell tests, when RFB adopted CMK3 as catalyst for positive electrode, its charge-discharge curve result was better than that adopted commercial Pt/C.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.689-692
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• 2005

In order to improve the electrochemical performances of Li-ion batteries when spinel $LiMn_2O_4$ is employed as a cathode active material, binary conductive agents were prepared using two different particle-sized carbons like Super P Black and $Vulcan^{(R)}$ XC-72R. The electrochemical performances of the $LiMn_2O_4$ cell system using binary conductive agents were evaluated in terms of specific charge and discharge capacities and cycle life. The cell with binary conductive agent in the 3:7 weight ratios of Super P Black and $Vulcan^{(R)}$ XC-72R showed better electrochemical performances due to the proper combination of ionic diffusion rate and electric contact.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.57-67
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• 1990

This study is proposed to investigate the effect of electrode preparation method for Alkaline Fuel Cell using NaOH as an electrolyte on the Fuel Cell performance. The materials used for the preparation of electrode are Pt and Ag on Vulcan XC-72. Surface area of Vulcan XC-72 have different values according to the pretreatment conditions and the dispersion of Pt is dependent on the impregnation Particle size of Pt impregnated on unpretreated carbon was observed to be $20{\sim}40{\AA}$ and that on pretreated carbon in $N_2$ stream at $950^{\circ}C$ was found to be finely dispersed less then $15{\AA}$. The electrode performance was affected by the particle size of metals and operating temperature. It was revealed from this study that the optimum particle size about $30{\AA}$ and optimum temperature range is between $90{\sim}100^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.12 no.2 s.49
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• pp.117-121
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• 2005

Platinum catalysts for the DMFC (Direct Methanol Fuel Cell) were impregnated on several carbon supports and their catalytic activities were evaluated with cyclic voltammograms of methanol electro-oxidation. To increase the activities of the Pt/C catalyst, carbon supports with high electric conductivity such as mesoporous carbon, carbon nanofiber, and carbon nanotube were employed. The Pt/e-CNF (etched carbon nanofiber) catalyst showed higher maximum current density of $70 mA cm^{-2}$ and lower on-set voltage of 0.54 V vs. NHE than the Pt/Vulcan XC-72 in methanol oxidation. Although the carbon named by CNT (carbon nanotube) series turned out to have larger BET surface area than the carbon named by CNF (carbon nanofiber) series, the Pt catalysts supported on the CNT series were less active than those on the CNF series due to their lower electric conductivity and lower availability of pores for Pt loading. Considering that the BET surface area and electric conductivity of the e-CNF were similar to those of the Vulcan XC-72, smaller Pt particle size of the Pt/e-CNF catalyst and stronger metal-support interaction were believed to be the main reason for its higher catalytic activity.

• 한국전기화학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.07a
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• pp.197-200
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• 2002

The electrooxidation of methanol was studied using carbon-supported PtRu(1:1) alloy nanoparticles In sulfuric acid solution for application to a direct methanol fuel cell. The GNF-supported catalyst showed excellent catalytic activities compared to those of Vulcan XC-72. The structure and electrocatalytic activity of carbon-supported electrocatalyst were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The CV and CA confirmed the advantage of GNF as the supporting material. This can be explained by assuming that the enhanced activities of GNF-supported catalyst for methanol electrooxidation were caused by the unique properties of GNF.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2002

60% Pt on Vulcan XC-72 with similar Pt sizes to fuel cell grade Pt black was investigated by $\^$13/C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), cyclic voltammery (CV), transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Experiments were carried out on electrochemically cleaned samples as well as as-received. The TEM and CV results showed that the average particle sizes were changed by cleaning. However, the chemical shift （$\delta$$\_$G/） of $\^$13/C of $\^$13/CO absorbed on Pt surfaces did not show any appreciable variation with particle size change as did in Pt black. These results indicate that a combination of different analytic techniques is essential to understand the properties of the metal particle catalysts and that the presence of carbon black support strongly influences the NMR data, probably through metal-support interaction.

• 한국전기화학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.179-184
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• 2001

The diffusion layer within MEA(membrane electrode assembly) has been evaluated important factor for improvement of cell performance in DMFC. The diffusion layer in MEA structure leads to the reduction of catalyst loss in active catalysts layer as well as prevention of water-flooding in cathode. Cell performance is directly affected by interior properties of diffusion layer materials. Acetylene Black and $RuO_2$ with large pore size and low porosity compared to Vulcan XC-72R gave better performance caused by vigorous methanol diffusion and water removal. And $RuO_2$ as diffusion layer materials showed different behavior in anode and cathode compartment, that is, diffusion layers in anode and cathode side make methanol diffusion and water removal facilitate, respectively.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.93-93
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• 2011

Nanostructures consisting of $TiO_2$ particles as a core and carbon as a shell ($TiO_2$@C) were prepared by heat treatment of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles at high temperature in a methane atmosphere. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy showed that a carbon shell layer was formed well. These structures were used as supports for platinum nanoparticles and the hybrid particles exhibit improved catalytic activity and stability toward ORR compared to Pt on a carbon black (Vulcan XC-72R). It is likely that enhanced catalytic properties of the Pt on $TiO_2$@C could be due to the stability of the core-shell support in comparison with carbon black support.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.3145-3150
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• 2010

Ruthenium catalysts modified by selenium have been introduced as alternative materials to Pt in Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). RuSe nano-particles were synthesized on the Vulcan XC72R carbon supports via polyol method. The prepared catalysts were electrochemically and physically characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV,) linear sweep voltammetry, methanol tolerance test, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Energydispersive Spectrometer (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Increasing the Se concentration up to 20 at % increased the electro-catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction. By increasing Se amount, Ru metallic form on the surface was increased. The $Ru_{80}Se_{20}$/C catalysts showed the highest oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and outstanding methanol tolerant property in half cell tests as well as single cell test.

• Clean Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.320-326
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• 2013

Nano-sized PtRu-Ni/VC and PtRu-Sn/VC electrocatalysts were synthesized by a one-step radiation-induced reduction (RIR) (30 kGy) process using distilled water as the solvent and Vulcan XC-72 as the supporting material. The obtained electrocatalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope energy dispersive spectroscopic (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The catalytic efficiency of electrocatalysts was examined for oxygen reduction, MeOH oxidation and CO stripping decreased in the following order, Hydrogen stripping : PtRu-Sn/VC > PtRu-Ni/VC > PtRu/VC$^{(R)}$ (E-TEK). MeOH oxidation : PtRu-Sn/VC > PtRu-Ni/VC > PtRu/ VC$^{(R)}$ (E-TEK). Unit cell performance : PtRu-Sn/VC > PtRu-Ni/VC > PtRu/VC$^{(R)}$ (E-TEK) catalysts.