• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.282-291
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• 2018

The pristine fluorine-doped $SnO_2$ (abbreviated as FTO) inverse opal (IO) was developed using a 410 nm polystyrene bead template. The nanolayered copper tungsten oxide ($CuWO_4$) was decorated on the FTO IO film using a facile electrochemical deposition, subsequently followed by annealing at $500^{\circ}C$ for 90 min. The morphologies, crystalline structure, optical properties and photoelectrochemical characteristics of the FTO and $CuWO_4$-decorated FTO (briefly denoted as $FTO/CuWO_4$) IO film were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, showing FTO IO in the hexagonally closed-pack arrangement with a pore diameter and wall thickness of about 300 nm and 20 nm, respectively. Above this film, the $CuWO_4$ was electrodeposited by controlling the cycling number in cyclic voltammetry, suggesting that the $CuWO_4$ formed during 4 cycles (abbreviated as $CuWO_4$(4 cycles)) on FTO IO film exhibited partial distribution of $CuWO_4$ nanoparticles. Additional distribution of $CuWO_4$ nanoparticles was observed in the case of $FTO/CuWO_4$(8 cycles) IO film. The $CuWO_4$ layer exhibits triclinic structure with an indirect band gap of approximately 2.5 eV and shows the enhanced visible light absorption. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) behavior was evaluated in the 0.5 M $Na_2SO_4$ solution under solar illumination, suggesting that the $FTO/CuWO_4$(4 cycles) IO films exhibit a photocurrent density ($J_{sc}$) of $0.42mA/cm^2$ at 1.23 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE, denoted as $V_{RHE}$), while the FTO IO and $FTO/CuWO_4$(8 cycles) IO films exhibited a $J_{sc}$ of 0.14 and $0.24mA/cm^2$ at $1.23V_{RHE}$, respectively. This difference can be explained by the increased visible light absorption by the $CuWO_4$ layer and the favorable charge separation/transfer event in the cascading band alignment between FTO and $CuWO_4$ layer, enhancing the overall PEC performance.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.200-207
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• 2019

In this study, flexible supercapacitor based on the all solid state electrolyte with PVA (polyvinyl alcohol)-$H_3PO_4$, ionic liquid as a BMIMBF4 (1-buthyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) and reduced graphene oxide/conductive polymer composite was fabricated and characterized electrochemical properties with function of its flexibility. In order to measure and compare that electrochemical performances (including cyclic voltammetry(CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) and galvanostatic charge/discharge,after 0~100th bending test) of prepared flexible supercapacitor based on reduced graphene oxide/conducting polymer composite and all solid state electrolyte, we have conducted press machine with constant pressure ( 0.01/cm2) for $100^{th}$ bending test. As a result, specific capacitance of the flexible supercapacitor was 43.9 F/g which value decreased to 42.0 and 40.1 F/g after 50 and $100^{th}$ bending test, respectively. This result exhibited that decreased electrochemical property of the flexible supercapacitor effected on physical stress on the electrode after repeated bending test. In addition, we have measured that electrode surface morphology by SEM to prove its decreased electrochemical property of the flexible supercapacitor after prolonged bending test.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.487-492
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• 2021

In this study, the electrochemical properties of pitch coated silicon sheets/graphite anode materials were investigated. Using NaCl as a template, silicon sheets were prepared through the stöber method and the magnesiothermic reduction methode. In order to synthesize the anode composite, the silicon sheets and graphite were combined with SDBS. The pitch coated silicon sheets/graphite was synthesized using THF as a solvent for the anode material composite. The physical properties of the prepared anode composites were analysed by XRD, SEM, EDS and TGA. The electrochemical performances of the prepared anode composites were performed by the current charge/discharge, rate performance, cyclic voltammetry and EIS tests in the electrolyte LiPF₆ dissolved solvents (EC:DMC:EMC=1:1:1 vol%). As the silicon composition of silicon sheets/graphite composite material increased, the discharge capacity also increased, but the cycle stability tended to decrease. The anode material of pitch coated silicon sheets/graphite composite (silicon sheets:graphite=3:7 weight ratio) showed the initial discharge capacity of 1228.8 mAh/g and the capacity retention ratio of 77% after 50 cycles. From these results, it was found that the cycle stability of pitch coated silicon sheets/graphite was improved.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.461-466
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• 2021

In this article, a portable and cost-effective voltammetric biosensor with nanoparticles was developed for the measurements of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 protein (hnRNP A1) biomarker which can potentially be used for lung cancer diagnosis. Gold nanoparticles were first electrodeposited onto screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE) followed by immobilizing a single stranded DNA aptamer specific to hnRNP A1 onto the electrode surface. Ethanolamine was also used when immobilizing DNA aptamer on the surface to prevent signals from non-specific adsorption events. Sequential injection of hnRNP A1 biomarker and anti-hnRNP A1 conjugated with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) onto the aptamer chip surface allows to form the sandwich complex of DNA aptamer/hnRNP A1/ALP-anti-hnRNP A1 on the electrode surface which further reacted with 4-aminophenyl phosphate (APP). The electrocatalytic reaction of the enzyme, ALP, and the substrate, APP, resulting in the oxidative current response changes at -0.05 and -0.17 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) against the hnRNP A1 concentration was measured using cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry, respectively. The Au nanoparticles-integrated voltammetric biosensor was applied to analyze human normal serum solutions possibly suggesting potential applicability for lung cancer diagnosis.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2011

In this work, the effect of surface treatment on mesoporous carbons (MCs) supports was investigated by analyzing surface functional groups. MCs were prepared by a conventional templating method using mesoporous silica (SBA-15) for using catalyst supports in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The MCs were treated with different phosphoric acid ($H_3PO_4$) concentrations i.e., 0, 1, 3, 4, and 5 M at 343 K for 6 h. And then Pt-Ru was deposited onto surface treated MCs (H-MCs) by chemical reduction method. The characteristics of Pt-Ru catalysts deposited onto H-MCs were determined by specific surface area and pore size analyzer, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron, transmission electron microscopy, and inductive coupled plasma-mass spectrometer. The electrochemical properties of Pt-Ru/H-MCs catalysts were also analyzed by cyclic voltammetry experiments. From the results of surface analysis, an oxygen functional group was introduced to the surface of carbon supports. From the results, the H4M-MCs carbon supports surface treated with 4 M $H_3PO_4$ led to uniform dispersion of Pt-Ru onto H4M-MCs, resulting in enhancing the electro-catalytic activity of Pt-Ru catalysts.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2022

As the demand for wearable devices increases, many studies have been studied on the development of flexible electrode materials recently. In particular, the development of high-performance flexible electrode materials is very important for wearable sensors for healthcare because it is necessary to continuously monitor and accurately detect body information such as body temperature, heart rate, blood glucose, and oxygen concentration in real time. In this study, we fabricated the nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on polyaniline/carbon nanotube fiber (PANI/CNT fiber) electrode. PANI layer was synthesized on the flexible CNT fiber electrode through electrochemical polymerization process in order to improve the performance of a flexible CNT fiber based electrode material. Surface morphology of the PANI/CNT fiber electrode was observed by scanning electron microscopy. And its electrochemical characteristics were investigated by chronoamperometry, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Compared to bare CNT fiber electrode, this PANI/CNT fiber electrode exhibited small electron transfer resistance, low peak separation potential and large surface area, resulting in enhanced sensing properties for glucose such as wide linear range (0.024~0.39 and 1.56~50 mM), high sensitivity (52.91 and 2.24 ㎂/mM·cm²), low detection limit (2 μM) and good selectivity. Therefore, it is expected that it will be possible to develop high performance CNT fiber based flexible electrode materials using various nanomaterials.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2022

To increase biomass utilization, rice husk-based activated carbon (RHAC) followed by nitrogen plasma surface treatment was prepared and the electric double-layer capacitor performance was investigated. Through nitrogen plasma surface treatment, up to 2.17% of nitrogen was introduced to the surface of RHAC, and in particular the sample reacted for 5 min with nitrogen plasma showed dominant formation of pyrrolic/pyridine N functional groups. In addition, mesopores were formed on the RHAC material by the removal of silica, and the surface roughness of the carbon material increased by nitrogen plasma surface treatment, resulting in the formation of many micropores. As a result of cyclic voltammetry measurement, at a scan rate of 5 mV/s, the specific capacitance of the RHAC treated with nitrogen plasma increased up to 200 F/g, showing an 80.2% improvement compared to that of using untreated RHAC (111 F/g). This is attributed to the synergetic effect of the introduction of pyrrolic/pyridine-based nitrogen functional groups and the increase of the micropore volume on the surface of the carbon material. This study has a positive effect on the environment in terms of recycling waste resources and using plasma surface treatment.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2023

In this study, the electrochemical properties of dopamine coated silicon/silicon carbide/carbon(Si/SiC/C) composite materials were investigated to improve cycle stability and rate performance of silicon-based anode active material for lithium-ion batteries. After synthesizing CTAB/SiO₂ using the Stöber method, the Si/SiC composites were prepared through the magnesium thermal reduction method with NaCl as heat absorbent. Then, carbon coated Si/SiC anode materials were synthesized through polymerization of dopamine. The physical properties of the prepared Si/SiC/C anode materials were analyzed by SEM, TEM, XRD and BET. Also the electrochemical performance were investigated by cycle stability, rate performance, cyclic voltammetry and EIS test of lithium-ion batteries in 1 M LiPF₆ (EC: DEC = 1:1 vol%) electrolyte. The prepared 1-Si/SiC showed a discharge capacity of 633 mAh/g and 1-Si/SiC/C had a discharge capacity of 877 mAh/g at 0.1 C after 100 cycles. Therefore, it was confirmed that cycle stability was improved through dopamine coating. In addition, the anode materials were obtain a high capacity of 576 mAh/g at 5 C and a capacity recovery of 99.9% at 0.1 C/0.1 C.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.196-201
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• 2023

In this study, a CNT fiber flexible electrode grafted with CuO nanoparticles (CuO NPs) and polyaniline (PANI) was developed and applied to a nonenzymatic electrochemical sensor for H₂O₂ detection. CuO NPs/PANI/CNT fiber electrode was fabricated through the synthesis and deposition of PANI and CuO NPs on the CNT fiber surface using an electrochemical method. Surface morphology and elemental composition of the CuO NPs/PANI/CNT fiber electrode were characterized by scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. And its electrochemical characteristics were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronoamperometry (CA). Compared with a bare CNT fiber as a control group, the CuO NPs/PANI/CNT fiber electrode showed a 4.78-fold increase in effective surface area and a 8.33-fold decrease in electron transfer resistance, which leads to excellent electrochemical properties such as a good electrical conductivity and an efficient electron transfer. These improved characteristics were due to the synergistic effect through the grafting of CNT fiber, PANI and CuO NPs. As a result, this electrode enhanced the H₂O₂ sensing performance.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.407-411
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• 2023

The urease is covalently immobilized on the surface of the magnetic particles to catalyze the conversion of urea to bicarbonate anion. The conversion was confirmed qualitatively using high-pressure liquid chromatography and UV/Vis spectrometry, and analyzed quantitatively with cyclic voltammetry. The amount of conversion with respect to time was measured and analyzed by the reaction rate equation to calculate a reaction rate constant of 0.0474 min-1. In the 1 to 3 cycles, a conversion percentage of over 90% was found, and it was possible to reuse the urease 8 times up to the percentage of 50%. It was also observed that the stability evaluated for storage for 30 days was maintained. As a result of this study, it can be seen that the urease covalently immobilized on the scaffold can be used for urea removal for the purpose of producing ultrapure water.