• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.143-148
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• 2021

Alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts have been widely studied for improving the efficiency and green hydrogen production through electrochemical water splitting. Transition metal-based electrocatalysts have emerged as promising materials that can significantly reduce the hydrogen production costs. Among the available electrocatalysts, transition metal-based layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have demonstrated outstanding OER performance owing to the abundant active sites and favorable adsorption-desorption energies for OER intermediates. Currently, cobalt doped nickel LDHs (NiCo LDHs) are regarded as the benchmark electrocatalyst for alkaline OER, primarily owing to the physicochemical synergetic effects between Ni and Co. We report effects of heat-treatment of the as-grown NiCo LDH on electrocatalytic activities in a temperature range from 250 to 400℃. Electrocatalytic OER properties were analysed by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The heat-treatment temperature was found to play a crucial role in catalytic activity. The optimum heat-treatment temperature was discussed with respect to their OER performance.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.507-514
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• 2022

There is growing interest in sustainable energy sources that can reduce fossil fuel dependence and environmental pollution while meeting rapidly growing energy demands. Hydrogen have been investigated as one of the ideal alternative energies because it has relatively high efficiency without emitting pollutants. The light-sensitized enzymatic (LSE) system, which uses hydrogenase-enzymes, is one of the methods towards economically feasible system configurations that enhance the rate of hydrogen generation. Hydrogenase is an enzyme that catalyzes a reversible reaction that oxidizes molecular hydrogen or produces molecular hydrogen from protons and electrons. In this paper, utilization of [NiFe]-hydrogenase (from Pyrococcus furiosus) in photoelectrochemical hydrogen production system such as handling, immobilization, physicochemical and electrochemical analysis, process parameters, etc. was introduced.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.265-272
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• 2023

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is one of the promising methods for hydrogen production by solar energy. Iron oxide has been effectively investigated as a photoelectrode material for PEC water splitting due to its intrinsic property such as short minority carrier diffusion length. However, iron oxide has a low PEC efficiency owing to a high recombination rate between photoexcited electrons and holes. In this study, we synthesized nanoporous structured iron oxide by anodization to overcome the drawbacks and to increase surface area. The anodized iron oxide was annealed in Ar atmosphere with different purging times. In conclusion, the highest current density of 0.032 mA/cm² at 1.23 V vs. RHE was obtained with 60 s of pursing for iron oxide(Fe-60), which was 3 times higher in photocurrent density compared to iron oxide annealed with 600 s of pursing(Fe-600). The resistances and donor densities were also evaluated for all the anodized iron oxide by electrochemical impedance spectra and Mott-Schottky plot analysis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.91-91
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• 2013

Imagine a world where we could biomanufacture hybrid nanomaterials having atomic-scale resolution over functionality and architecture. Toward this vision, a fundamental challenge in materials science is how to design and synthesize protein-like material that can be fully self-assembled and exhibit information-specific process. In an ongoing effort to extend the fundamental understanding of protein structure to non-natural systems, we have designed a class of short peptides to fold like proteins and assemble into defined nanostructures. In this talk, I will talk about new strategies to drive the self-assembled structures designing sequence of peptide. I will also discuss about the specific interaction between proteins and inorganics that can be used for the development of new hybrid solar energy devices. Splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen is one of the promising pathways for solar to energy convertsion and storage system. The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) has been regarded as a major bottleneck in the overall water splitting process due to the slow transfer rate of four electrons and the high activation energy barrier for O-O bond formation. In nature, there is a water oxidation complex (WOC) in photosystem II (PSII) comprised of the earthabundant elements Mn and Ca. The WOC in photosystem II, in the form of a cubical CaMn4O5 cluster, efficiently catalyzes water oxidation under neutral conditions with extremely low overpotential (~160 mV) and a high TOF number. The cluster is stabilized by a surrounding redox-active peptide ligand, and undergo successive changes in oxidation state by PCET (proton-coupled electron transfer) reaction with the peptide ligand. It is fundamental challenge to achieve a level of structural complexity and functionality that rivals that seen in the cubane Mn4CaO5 cluster and surrounding peptide in nature. In this presentation, I will present a new strategy to mimic the natural photosystem. The approach is based on the atomically defined assembly based on the short redox-active peptide sequences. Additionally, I will show a newly identified manganese based compound that is very close to manganese clusters in photosystem II.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2022

Recently, research on the development of low-cost/high-efficiency water electrolysis catalysts to replace noble metal catalysts is being actively conducted. Since overvoltage reduces the overall efficiency of the water splitting device, lowering the overvoltage of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the most important task in order to generate hydrogen more efficiently. Currently, noble metal catalysts show excellent characteristics in OER performance, but they are experiencing great difficulties in commercialization due to their high price and efficiency limitations due to low reactivity. In this study, a water electrolysis catalyst Ni-MWCNT was prepared by successfully doping Ni into the MWCNTs structure through the pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) process. High resolution-transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were performed for the structure and chemical composition of the synthesized Ni-MWCNT. Catalytic oxygen evolution reaction evaluation was performed by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) overvoltage characteristics, Tafel slope, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and Chronoamperometry (CA) was used for measurement.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.667-675
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• 2017

One of the main disadvantages of Ultra High Performance Concrete exists in the large suggested value of UHPC ingredients. The purpose of this study was to find the models mechanical properties which included a 7, 14 and 28-day compressive strength test, a 28-day splitting tensile and modulus of rupture test for Ultra High Performance Concrete, as well as, a study on the interaction and correlation of five variables that includes silica fume amount (SF), cement 42.5 amount, steel fiber amount, superplasticizer amount (SP), and w/c mechanical properties of UHPC. The response surface methodology was analyzed between the variables and responses. The relationships and mathematical models in terms of coded variables were established by ANOVA. The validity of models were checked by experimental values. The offered models are valid for mixes with the fraction proportion of fine aggregate as; 0.70-1.30 cement amount, 0.15-0.30 silica fume, 0.04-0.08 superplasticizer, 0.10-0.20 steel fiber, and 0.18-0.32 water binder ratio.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 1996

This paper gives a description about the germination inhibition of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) seed coat. The existence of seed coat is one of the inhibitory factors which inhibit the embryo growth, particularly during the morphological after-ripening stage. The seed coat can obstruct the water absorption at the beginning of seed stratification, but it can not threaten seed germination. The inhibition of seed coat is not caused by the mechanical fetter neither. However, before splitting the seed coat, the inhibition of seed coat comes from both air-tight character and inhibitors, and after splitting the seed coat, the inhibition may come mainly from the inhibitors.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.113-137
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• 2016

Extensive experimental studies on remarkable mechanical properties Polypropylene Fibre Reinforced Self-compacting Concrete (PFRSCC) have been executed, including different fibre volume fractions of Polypropylene fibers (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1%) and different water to cement ratios (0.21, 0.34, 0.38, and 0.41). The experimental program was carried out by using two hundred and sixteen specimens to obtain the impact resistance and mechanical properties of PFRSCC materials, considering compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength. Statistical and analytical studies have been mainly focused on experimental data to correlate of mechanical properties of PFRSCC materials. Statistical results revealed that compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strengths as well as impact resistance follow the normal distribution. Moreover, to correlate mechanical properties based on acquired test results, linear and nonlinear equations were developed among mechanical properties and impact resistance of PFRSCC materials.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2023.11a
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• pp.23-24
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• 2023

This study attempted to derive an appropriate application range by reviewing the integration performance of joints according to the application range of SRA concrete. As a result, it was confirmed that the integration performance was improved even if SRA concrete was placed only by 75mm, which is 0.5 times the thickness of the member.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.25-38
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• 2020

Photoelectrochemical water splitting has been considered as the most promising technology for generating hydrogen energy. Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) compounds have currently attracted tremendous attention due to their outstanding ability towards the catalytic water-splitting hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we report the synthesis method of various transition metal dichalcogenide including MoS₂, MoSe₂, WS₂, and WSe₂ nanosheets as excellent catalysts for solar-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen evolution. Photocathodes were fabricated by growing the nanosheets directly onto Si nanowire (NW) arrays, with a thickness of 20 nm. The metal ion layers were formed by soaking the metal chloride ethanol solution and subsequent sulfurization or selenization produced the transition metal chalcogenide. They all exhibit excellent PEC performance in 0.5 M H₂SO₄; the photocurrent reaches to 20 mA cm^-2 (at 0 V vs. RHE) and the onset potential is 0.2 V under AM1.5 condition. The quantum efficiency of hydrogen generation is avg. 90%. The stability of MoS₂ and MoSe₂ is 90% for 3h, which is higher than that (80%) of WS₂ and WSe₂. Detailed structure analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for before/after HER reveals that the Si-WS₂ and Si-WSe₂ experience more oxidation of Si NWs than Si-MoS₂ and Si-MoSe₂. This can be explained by the less protection of Si NW surface by their flake shape morphology. The high catalytic activity of TMDs should be the main cause of this enhanced PEC performance, promising efficient water-splitting Si-based PEC cells.