• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.316-326
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• 2016

Development and discovery of efficient, cost-effective, and robust electrocatalysts are imperative for practical and widespread implementation of water electrolysis and fuel cell techniques in the anticipated hydrogen economy. The electrochemical reactions involved in water electrolysis, i.e., hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions, are complex inner-sphere reactions with slow multi-electron transfer kinetics. To develop active electrocatalysts for water electrolysis, the physicochemical properties of the electrode surfaces in electrolyte solutions should be investigated and understood in detail. When electrocatalysis is conducted using nanoparticles with large surface areas and active surface states, analytical techniques with sub-nanometer resolution are required, along with material development. Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is an electrochemical technique for studying the surface reactions and properties of various types of electrodes using a very small tip electrode. Recently, the morphological and chemical characteristics of single nanoparticles and bio-enzymes for catalytic reactions were studied with nanometer resolution by combining SECM with atomic force microscopy (AFM). Herein, SECM techniques are briefly reviewed, including the AFM-SECM technique, to facilitate further development and discovery of highly active, cost-effective, and robust electrode materials for efficient electrolysis and photolysis.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.113-118
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• 2015

To improve the methanol electro-oxidation in direct methanol fuel cells(DMFCs), Pt electrocatalysts embedded on porous carbon nanofibers(CNFs) were synthesized by electrospinning followed by a reduction method. To fabricate the porous CNFs, we prepared three types of porous CNFs using three different amount of a styrene-co-acrylonitrile(SAN) polymer: 0.2 wt%, 0.5 wt%, and 1 wt%, respectively. A SAN polymer, which provides vacant spaces in porous CNFs, was decomposed and burn out during the carbonization. The structure and morphology of the samples were examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and their surface area were measured using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller(BET). The crystallinities and chemical compositions of the samples were examined using X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties on the methanol electro-oxidation were characterized using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Pt electrocatalysts embedded on porous CNFs containing 0.5 wt% SAN polymer exhibited the improved methanol oxidation and electrocatalytic stability compared to Pt/conventional CNFs and commercial Pt/C(40 wt% Pt on Vulcan carbon, E-TEK).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.393-400
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• 2021

As the recent climate problems are getting worse year after year, the demands for clean energy materials have highly increased in modern society. However, the candidate material classes for clean energy expand rapidly and the outcomes are too complex to be interpreted at laboratory scale (e.g., multicomponent materials). In order to overcome these issues, the first-principles calculations are becoming attractive in the field of material science. The calculations can be performed rapidly using virtual environments without physical limitations in a vast candidate pool, and theory can address the origin of activity through the calculations of electronic structure of materials, even if the structure of material is too complex. Therefore, in terms of the latest trends, we report academic progress related to the first-principles calculations for design of efficient electrocatalysts. The basic background for theory and specific research examples are reported together with the perspective on the design of novel materials using first-principles calculations.

• 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.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.105-119
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• 2023

The electrochemical chlorine evolution reaction (CER) is an important electrochemical reaction and has been widely used in chlor-alkali electrolysis, on-site generation of ClO^-, and Cl₂-mediated electrosynthesis. Although precious metal-based mixed metal oxides (MMOs) have been used as CER catalysts for more than half a century, they intrinsically suffer from a selectivity problem between the CER and parasitic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Hence, the design of selective CER electrocatalysts is critically important. In this review, we provide an overview of the fundamental issues related to the electrocatalysis of the CER and design strategies for selective CER electrocatalysts. We present experimental and theoretical methods for assessing the active sites of MMO catalysts and the origin of the scaling relationship between the CER and the OER. We discuss kinetic analysis methods to understand the kinetics and mechanisms of CER. Next, we summarize the design strategies for new CER electrocatalysts that can enhance the reactivity of MMO-based catalysts and overcome their scaling relationship, which include the doping of MMO catalysts with foreign metals and the development of non-precious metal-based catalysts and atomically dispersed metal catalysts.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.29-46
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• 2023

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to value-added products is a remarkable approach for mitigating CO₂ emissions caused by the excessive consumption of fossil fuels. However, achieving the electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ still faces some bottlenecks, including the large overpotential, undesirable selectivity, and slow electron transfer kinetics. Various electrocatalysts including metals, metals oxides, alloys, and single-atom catalysts have been widely researched to suppress HER performance, reduce overpotential and enhance the selectivity of CO₂RR over the last few decades. Among them, single-atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted a great deal of interest because of their advantages over traditional electrocatalysts such as maximized atomic utilization, tunable coordination environments and unique electronic structures. Herein, we discuss the mechanisms involved in the electroreduction of CO₂ to carbon monoxide (CO) and the fundamental concepts related to electrocatalysis. Then, we present an overview of recent advances in the design of high-performance noble and non-noble singleatom catalysts for the CO₂ reduction reaction.

• 한국전기화학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.11-16
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• 2001

• 한국전기화학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.07a
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• pp.51-56
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• 2003

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.13-26
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• 2016

Nanoparticles (NPs), which have been investigated intensively as electrocatalysts, are usually synthesized by chemical methods that allow precise size and shape control. However, it is difficult to control the components and compositions of alloy NPs. On the other hand, the conventional physical method, sputtering with solid substrates, allows for facile composition control but size control is difficult. Recently, “liquid medium sputtering” has been suggested as an alternative method that is capable of combining the advantages of the chemical and conventional physical methods. In this review, we will discuss NP synthesis via the liquid medium sputtering technique using ionic liquid and low-volatile polymer media. In addition, potential applications of the technique, including the generation of oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysts, will be discussed.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.191-194
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• 2009

PtRu based and PtSn based ternary catalysts were prepared by a conventional impregnation method using NaBH4 as reducing agent. The alloy formation, crystalline size and chemical composition of the in-house catalysts were determined by XRD, TEM and EDX, respectively. The chemical compositions of in-house catalysts were quite similar to the nominal value and good alloy formations were also observed. Further, crystalline sizes of ternary catalysts were comparatively smaller than binary catalysts and were approximately 3.5 ~ 5.5 nm. The electrochemical measurements were carried out in the solution 1 M $H_2SO_4$ with 1 M $C_2H_5OH$ at room temperature. LSV results obtained that ternary catalysts were higher current densities and specific activities. Especially, in case of tungsten addition system, Pt5Sn4W/C have the highest specific activities values and was approximately 21.2 and 3.1 times higher than that of PtRu/C and PtSn/C electrocatalyst.