• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.131-135
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• 2011

It is, in general, believed that during the activation process, the proton conductivity increases due to wetting effect and the electrochemical resistance reduction, resulting in an increase in the fuel cell performance with time. However, until now, very scant information is available on the understanding of activation processes. In this study, dominant variables that effect on the performance increase of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) during the activation process were investigated. Wetting, pore restructuring and active metal utilization were analyzed systematically. Unexpectedly, the changes for both ohmic and reaction resistance characterized by the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) after initial wetting process were much smaller when considering the degree of cell performance increases. However, the EIS spectra represents that the pore opening of electrode turns into gas transportable structure more easily. The increase in the performance with activation cycles was also investigated in a view of active metals. Though the particle size was grown, the number of effective active sites might be exposed more. The impurity removal and catalytic activity enhancement measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV) could be a strong evident. The results and analysis revealed that, not merely wetting of membrane but also restructuring of electrodeand catalytic activity increase are important factors for the fast and efficient activation of the polymer electrolyte fuel cells.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.103-106
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• 2005

In order to investigate the catalytic mechanism for the growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), a comprehensive study was conducted using carbon materials synthesized at 680 ${^{\circ}C}$ with a gas mixture of CO-H$_2$ after reduction at 800 ${^{\circ}C}$ by H$_2$ gas from iron oxide, and metal Pt. The resulting material was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) after a variety of reaction times. The carbon materials synthesized by metal Pt were little affected by reaction time and the sintered particles did not form CNTs. Xray analysis revealed that metal Fe was completely converted to iron carbide (Fe$_3$C) without Fe peaks in the early stage. After 5 min, iron carbide (Fe$_3$C) and carbon (C) phases were observed at the beginning of CNTs growth. It was found that the intensity of the carbon(C) peak gradually increased with the continuous growth of CNTs as reaction time increases. It was also found that the catalyst of growth of CNTs was metal carbide.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.7433-7438
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• 2015

Deactivation characteristics of $V_2O_5/TiO_2$ catalysts were studied for selective catalytic reduction(SCR) of NOx with ammonia in the presence of $SO_2$. Performance of catalyst was investigated for $deNO_x$ activity while changing temperature, $SO_2$ concentration. The activity of catalyst was decreased with the increase of $SO_2$ concentration and reaction time. Also, degree of activity drop was largely decreased with the increase of reaction temperature in the range of $250{\sim}300^{\circ}C$. Physicochemical properties of deactivated catalysts were characterized by BET, XRD, SEM, TPD analysis. According to the analysis results, deactivation phenomena occur due to the relatively high formation of ammonium sulfate salts, which created by unreacted ammonia and water in the presence of $SO_2$. It was revealed that ammonium sulfate cause the pore plogging of support and deposition of active matter.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.604-607
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• 2012

Solid base catalysts for biodiesel production were synthesized by impregnating basic metal species on two support materials with large specific surface area : zeolite and pyrolysis char. KL zeolite and Undaria pinnatifida char were impregnated with KOH aqueous solution and calcium nitrate solution, respectively, to enhance the basic strength. The catalysts synthesized were characterized using Hammett indicators and $CO_2$-TPD analysis. Biodiesel was produced using soybean oil and methanol over the catalysts synthesized. The content of fatty acid methyl esters was measured to evaluate the catalytic activity. Generally, the catalytic activity increased with increasing quantity of basic metal impregnated but impregnation of excessive amount of metal could cause reduction in the activity.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.200-207
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• 2020

In this study, the effect of calcination temperature on the production of RuTi catalyst in NH₃-SCO (selective catalytic oxidation) was investigated. The RuTi catalyst was prepared using the wet impregnation method, and calcined at 400~600 ℃ for 4 h in air condition. The catalysts were named RuTi x00 where x00 means the calcination temperature. According to XRD (X-Ray diffraction), TEM (transmission electron microscope), H₂-TPR (H₂-temperature programmed reduction) analyses, RuTi x00 catalysts displayed that the dispersion of active metal decreased via increasing the calcination temperature. The catalysts with low dispersion showed a decrease in the surface adsorption oxygen species (O_β) and NH₃ adsorption amount via XPS, and NH₃-TPD analyses. Therefore, the RuTi 400 catalyst was well dispersed in the active metal on TiO₂ surface, and also, the NH₃ removal efficiency was excellent.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.425-431
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• 2019

As rechargeable metal-air batteries will be ideal energy storage devices in the future, an active cathode electrocatalyst is required with bi-functionality on both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during discharge and charge, respectively. Here, a class of perovskite cathode catalyst with a micro-tubular structure has been developed by controlling bi-functionality from different Ru and Ni dopant ratios. A micro-tubular structure is achieved by the activated carbon fiber (ACF) templating method, which provides uniform size and shape. At the perovskite formula of $LaCrO_3$, the dual dopant system is successfully synthesized with a perfect incorporation into the single perovskite structure. The chemical oxidation states for each Ni and Ru also confirm the partial substitution to B-site of Cr without any changes in the major perovskite structure. From the electrochemical measurements, the micro-tubular feature reveals much more efficient catalytic activity on ORR and OER, comparing to the grain catalyst with same perovskite composition. By changing the Ru and Ni ratio, the $LaCr_{0.8}Ru_{0.1}Ni_{0.1}O_3$ micro-tubular catalyst exhibits great bi-functionality, especially on ORR, with low metal loading, which is comparable to the commercial catalyst of Pt and Ir. This advanced catalytic property on the micro-tubular structure and Ru/Ni synergy effect at the perovskite material may provide a new direction for the next-generation cathode catalyst in metal-air battery system.

• Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.2172-2184
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• 2018

The production of isophthalic acid (IPA) from the oxidation of m-xylene (MX) by air is catalyzed by $H_3PW_{12}O_{40}$ (HPW) loaded on carbon and cobalt. We used $H_2O_2$ solution to oxidize the carbon to improve the catalytic activity of HPW@C catalyst. Experiments reveal that the best carbon sample is obtained by calcining the carbon at $700^{\circ}C$ for 4 h after being impregnated in the 3.75% $H_2O_2$ solution at $40^{\circ}C$ for 7 h. The surface characterization displays that the $H_2O_2$ modification leads to an increase in the acidic groups and a reduction in the basic groups on the carbon surface. The catalytic capability of the HPW@C catalyst depends on its surface chemical characteristics and physical property. The acidic groups play a more important part than the physical property. The MX conversion after 180 min reaction acquired by the HPW@C catalysts prepared from the activated carbon modified in the best condition is 3.81% over that obtained by the HPW@C catalysts prepared from the original carbon. The IPA produced by the former is 46.2% over that produced by the latter.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.223-231
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• 2022

An ex-situ gravitational fixed bed pyrolysis reactor was used over Al₂O₃ supported Ni₂P based catalyst with various Ni/P molar ratios (0.5-2.0) and constant nickel loading of 5.37 mmol/g Al₂O₃ to determine the hydrodeoxygenation of rubberwood sawdust (RWS) at atmospheric pressure. The 3D catalysts formed were characterized structurally as well as acidic properties were determined by hydrogen-temperature programmed reduction (TPR). The Ni₂P phase formed completely on Al₂O₃ for 1.5 Ni/P ratio, although lesser crystallite sizes of Ni₂P were seen at Ni/P ratios less than 1.5. Additionally, it was shown that when nickel loading level increased, acidity increased and specific surface area dropped, probably because nickel phosphate is not easily converted to Ni₂P. When Ni/P ratio was 1.5, Ni₂P phase fully formed on Al₂O₃. The catalytic activity was explained in terms of impacts of reaction temperature and Ni/P molar ratio. At relatively high temperature of 450℃, the high-value deoxygenated produce was predominantly composed of n-alkanes. Based on the findings, it was suggested that hydrogenolysis, hydrodeoxygenation, dehydration, decarbonylation, and hydrogenation are all part of mechanism underlying hydrotreatment of RWS. In conclusion, the synthesized Ni₂P/ Al₂O₃ catalyst was capable of deoxygenating RWS with ease at atmospheric pressure, primarily resulting in long chained (C₉-C₂₄) hydrocarbons and acetic acid.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.134-139
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• 2024

In the steam reforming of methane reactions, the effect of adding noble metals Ru and Pd to a Ni-based catalyst as promoters was analyzed in terms of catalytic activity and hydrogen production. The synthesized catalysts were coated on the surface of a honeycomb-structured metal monolith to perform steam methane reforming reactions. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, TPR, and SEM, and after the reforming reaction, the gas composition was analyzed by GC to measure methane conversion, hydrogen yield, and CO selectivity. The addition of 0.5 wt% Ru improved the reduction properties of the Ni catalyst and exhibited enhanced catalytic activity with a methane conversion of 99.91%. In addition, reaction characteristics were analyzed according to various process conditions. Methane conversion of over 90% and hydrogen yield of more than 3.3 were achieved at a reaction temperature of 800 ℃, a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of less than 10000 h^-1, and a ratio of H₂O to CH₄ (S/C) higher than 3.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.180-185
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• 2011

This study is aimed to increase the activity of cathodic catalysts for PEMFCs(Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells). we investigated the temperature effect of 20wt% Pt/C catalysts at five different temperatures. The catalysts were synthesized by using chemical reduction method. Before adding the formaldehyde as reducing agent, process was undergone for 2 hours at the room temperature (RT), $40^{\circ}C$, $60^{\circ}C$, $80^{\circ}C$ and $100^{\circ}C$, respectively. The performances of synthesize catalysts are compared. The electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was studied on 20wt% Pt/C catalysts by using a glassy carbon electrode through cyclic voltammetric curves (CV) in a 1M H2SO4 solution. The ORR specific activities of 20wt% Pt/C catalysts increased to give a relative ORR catalytic activity ordering of $80^{\circ}C$ > $100^{\circ}C$ > $60^{\circ}C$ > $40^{\circ}C$ > RT. Electrochemical active surface area (EAS) was calculated with cyclic voltammetry analysis. Prepared Pt/C (at $80^{\circ}C$, $100^{\circ}C$) catalysts has higher ESA than other catalysts. Physical characterization was made by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The TEM images of the carbon supported platinum electrocatalysts ($80^{\circ}C$, $100^{\circ}C$) showed homogenous particle distribution with particle size of about 2~3.5 nm. We found that a higher reaction temperature resulted in more uniform particle distribution than lower reaction temperature and then the XRD results showed that the crystalline structure of the synthesized catalysts are seen FCC structure.