• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.37-42
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• 2012

Purpose : This study is to examine the effect of electrode size during transcranial direct current stimulation on hand function. Methods : By randomly assigning 26 right hand dominant subjects to two groups (I: carbon rubber electrode / II: disposable circular self-adhesive electrodes) with 13 subjects in each group depending on the electrode size, a positive electrodeof transcranial direct current stimulation was placed on the primary motor area (C4) and a negative electrode was placed on the left primary motor area (C3) and the stimulation was applied for 20 minutes.Hand function assessment before and after transcranial direct current stimulation were measured with JTT (Jebsen-Taylor hand function test). Results : According to hand function assessment by JTT, there were no interactions on both hands, and statistically significant differences according to time appeared in the main effect test. Conclusion : Regardless of the electrode size, it appears that transcranial direct current stimulation on the primary motor area activated hand function affected.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.38-40
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• 2010

Carbon supported electrocatalysts are commonly used as electrode materials for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs). These kinds of electrocatalysts provide large surface area and sufficient electrical conductivity. The support of typical PEM fuel cell catalysts has been a traditional conductive type of carbon black. However, even though the carbon particles conduct electrons, there is still significant portion of Pt that is isolated from the external circuit and the PEM, resulting in a low Pt utilization. Herein, new types of carbon materials to effectively utilize the Pt catalyst are being evaluated. Carbon nanofiber/activated carbon fiber (CNF/ACF) composite with multifunctional surfaces were prepared through catalytic growth of CNFs on ACFs. Nickel nitrate was used as a precursor of the catalyst to synthesize carbon nanofibers(CNFs). CNFs were synthesized by pyrolysising $CH_4$ using catalysts dispersed in acetone and ACF(activated carbon fiber). The as-prepared samples were characterized with transmission electron microscopy(TEM), scanning electron microscopy(SEM). In TEM image, carbon nanofibers were synthesized on the ACF to form a three-dimensional network. Pt/CNF/ACF was employed as a catalyst for PEMFC. As the ratio of prepared catalyst to commercial catalyst was changed from 0 to 50%, the performance of the mixture of 30 wt% of Pt/CNF/ACF and 70wt% of Pt/C commercial catalyst showed better perfromance than that of 100% commercial catalyst. The unique structure of CNF can supply the significant site for the stabilization of Pt particles. CNF/ACF is expected to be promising support to improve the performance in PEMFC.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.639-645
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• 2020

Among the components of redox flow battery (RFB), the electrode serves as a diffusion layer of an electrolyte and a path for electrons and also is a major component that directly affects the RFB performance. In this paper, chloric/sulfuric mixed acidwas used as a supporting electrolyte in RFB system with Fe2+/Fe3+ and V2+/V3+ as redox couple. The optimum electrode and activation temperature were suggested by comparing the capacity, coulombic efficiency and energy efficiency according to the electrode type and activation temperature. In the RFB single cell evaluation using 5 types of carbon electrodes used in the experiments, all of them showed close to the theoretical capacity to retain the reliability of the evaluation results. GFD4EA showed relatively excellent energy efficiency and charge/discharge capacity. In order to investigate the electrochemical performance according to the activation temperature, GFD4EA electrode was activated by heat treatment at different temperatures of 400, 450, 500, 600 and 700 ℃ under an air atmosphere. Changes in physical properties before and after the activation were observed using electrode mass retention, scanning electron microscope (SEM), XPS analysis, and electrochemical performance was compared by conducting RFB single evaluation using electrodes activated at each temperature given above.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.1523-1526
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• 2012

In this work, we prepared activated multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polyacrylonitrile (A-MWCNTs/C) composites by film casting and activation method. Electrochemical properties of the composites were investigated in terms of serving as MWCNTs-based electrode materials for electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs). As a result, the A-MWCNTs/C composites had much higher BET specific surface area, and pore volume, and lower volume ratio of micropores than those of pristine MWCNTs/PAN ones. Furthermore, some functional groups were added on the surface of the A-MWCNTs/C composites. The specific capacitance of the A-MWCNTs/C composites was more than 4.5 times that of the pristine ones at 0.1 V discharging voltage owing to the changes of the structure and surface characteristics of the MWCNTs by activation process.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2022

Fibrous supercapacitors (FSs), owing to their high power density, good safety characteristic, and high flexibility, have recently been in the spotlight as energy storage devices for wearable electronics. However, despite these advantages, FCs face many challenges related to their active material of carbon fiber (CF). CF has low surface area and poor wettability between electrode and electrolyte, which result in low capacitance and poor long-term stability at high current densities. To overcome these limits, fibrous supercapacitors made using surface-activated CF (FS-SACF) are here suggested; these materials have improved specific surface area and better wettability, obtained by introducing porous structure and oxygen-containing functional groups on the CF surface, respectively, through surface engineering. The FS-SACF shows an improved ion diffusion coefficient and better electrochemical performance, including high specific capacity of 223.6 mF cm^-2 at current density of 10 ㎂ cm^-2, high-rate performance of 171.2 mF cm^-2 at current density of 50.0 ㎂ cm^-2, and remarkable, ultrafast cycling stability (96.2 % after 1,000 cycles at current density of 250.0 ㎂ cm^-2). The excellent electrochemical performance is definitely due to the effects of surface functionalization on CF, leading to improved specific surface area and superior ion diffusion capability.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

The importance of high capacity energy storage devices has recently emerged for stable power supply through renewable energy generation. From this point of view, the Na-air battery (NAB), which is a next-generation secondary battery, is receiving huge attention because it can realize a high capacity through abundant and inexpensive raw materials. In this study, activated carbon-based catalysts for hybrid type Na-air batteries were prepared and their characteristics were compared and analysed. In particular, from the viewpoint of resource recycling, activated carbon (Orange-C) was prepared using discarded orange peel, and performance was compared with Vulcan carbon, which is widely used. In addition, a Pt/C catalyst (homemade-Pt/C, HM-Pt/C) was synthesized using a modified polyol method to check whether the prepared activated carbon can be used as a supported catalyst, and a commercial Pt/C catalyst (Commercial Pt/C) and electrochemical performance were compared. The prepared Orange-C exhibited a typical H3 type BET isotherm, which is evidence that micropore and mesopore exist. In addition, in the case of HM-Pt/C, it was confirmed through TEM analysis that Pt particles were evenly distributed on the activated carbon supported catalyst. In particular, the HM-Pt/C-based NAB showed the smallest voltage gap (0.224V) and good voltage efficiency (92.34%) in the 1st galvanostatic charge-discharge test. In addition, the cycle performance test conducted for 20 cycles showed the most stable performance.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2019

Electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) which are fabricated using carbon based electrodes have been emerging at an alarming rate to fulfill the energy demand in the present day world. Activated charcoal has been accepted as a very suitable candidate for electrodes but its cost is higher than natural graphite. Present study is about fabrication of EDLCs using composite electrodes with activated charcoal and Sri Lankan natural graphite as well as a gel polymer electrolyte which is identified as a suitable substitute for liquid electrolytes. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, Cyclic Voltammetry and Galvanostatic Charge Discharge test were done to evaluate the performance of the fabricated EDLCs. Amount of activated charcoal and natural graphite plays a noticeable role on the capacity. 50 graphite : 40 AC : 10 PVdF showed the optimum single electrode specific capacity value of 15 F/g. Capacity is determined by the cycling rate as well as the potential window within which cycling is being done. Continuous cycling resulted an average single electrode specific capacity variation of 48 F/g - 16 F/g. Capacity fading was higher at the beginning. Later, it dropped noticeably. Initial discharge capacity drop under Galvanostatic Charge Discharge test was slightly fast but reached near stable upon continuous charge discharge process. It can be concluded that initially some agitation is required to reach the maturity. However, the results can be considered as encouraging to initiate studies on EDLCs using Sri Lankan natural graphite.

• Carbon letters
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2014

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) with diameters in the submicron and nanometer range exhibit high specific surface area, hierarchically porous structure, flexibility, and super strength which allow them to be used in the electrode materials of energy storage devices, and as hybrid-type filler in carbon fiber reinforced plastics and bone tissue scaffold. Unlike catalytic synthesis and other methods, electrospinning of various polymeric precursors followed by stabilization and carbonization has become a straightforward and convenient way to fabricate continuous CNFs. This paper is a comprehensive and brief review on the latest advances made in the development of electrospun CNFs with major focus on the promising applications accomplished by appropriately regulating the microstructural, mechanical, and electrical properties of as-spun CNFs. Additionally, the article describes the various strategies to make a variety of carbon CNFs for energy conversion and storage, catalysis, sensor, adsorption/separation, and biomedical applications. It is envisioned that electrospun CNFs will be the key materials of green science and technology through close collaborations with carbon fibers and carbon nanotubes.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.822-827
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• 1999

The specific capacitance characteristics which were of the electric double layer capacitors(ELDC) made of phenol based activated carbon fiber(ACF) electrodes and organic electrolytes has been investigated with respect to different specific surface area of electrodes and different kinds of organic electrolytes. Throughout charge-discharge cell tests, it has been found that larger surface area and larger pore diameter of electrodes contribute to increase the specific capacitance. Binary mixture of organic solvent with propylene cabonate(PC) and tetrahydrofuran(THF) for 1 M-$LiClO_4$ electrolyte has a higher specific capacitance than single solvent of PC or mixed solvent with PC and diethyl cabonate(DEC). Also, even though 1 M-tetraethylamonium perchlorate(TEAPC) of organic electrolyte shows higher specific capacitance, it has longer charge time because of its lower ion mobility.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.296-300
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• 2019

Two dimensional transition metal carbides and/or nitrides, known as MXenes, are a promising electrode material in energy storage due to their excellent electrical conductivity, outstanding electrochemical performance, and abundant functional groups on the surface. Use of $Ti_3C_2$ as electrode material has significantly enhanced electrochemical performance by providing more chemically active interfaces, short ion-diffusion lengths, and improved charge transport kinetics. Here, we reports the efficient method to synthesize $Ti_3C_2$ from MAX phase, and opens new avenues for developing MXene based electrode materials for Lithium-Ion batteries.