• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.9 no.7
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• pp.998-1003
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• 1998

$BaTiO_3$ thin film was electrochemically deposited on Ti electrode in a 0.4 M $Ba(OH)_2$ solution of $85^{\circ}C$ using a current pulse waveform. Both $BaTiO_3$ crystallinity and faradaic efficiency for the film formation were enhanced with the increase of cathodic current density and pulse time. Based on the surface analysis and electrochemical studies, it was suggested that, during cathodic pulsed, the surface pH increase due to the reduction of $H_2O$ accelerates the structural changes of Ti oxides which were formed during anodic cycle. Prior to experiments, Ti oxides were intentionally grown in 0.1 M $H_2SO_4$ solution and the effect of initial oxide film thickness on the $BaTiO_3$ film formation was investigated. The migration of $Ti^{+4}$ ions through the oxide film was retarded with the increase of film thickness and it was observed that the crystallization of $BaTiO_3$ was only limited to the defect area of surface oxides.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.3695-3702
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• 2013

A nickel(II) complex $[Ni(H_2biim)_2(H_2O)_2](ClO_4)_2{\cdot}H_2O$ (1) of biimidazole ligand has been synthesized and characterized (Where $H_2biim$ = 2,2'-biimidazole). The single crystal X-ray diffraction of the complex shows a dimeric structure with six coordinated psudo-octahedral geometry. The cyclic voltammograms of complex exhibited one quasireversible reduction wave ($E_{pc}=-0.61V$) and an irreversible oxidation wave ($E_{pa}=1.28V$) in DMF solution. The interaction of the complex with Calf-Thymus DNA (CT-DNA) has been investigated by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The complex is an avid DNA binder with a binding constant value of $1.03{\times}10^5M^{-1}$. The results suggest that the nickel(II) complex bind to CT-DNA via intercalative mode and can quench the fluorescence intensity of EB bind to CT-DNA with $K_{app}$ value of $3.2{\times}10^5M^{-1}$. The complex also shown efficient oxidative cleavage of supercoiled pBR322 DNA in the presence of hydrogen peroxide as oxidizing agent. The DNA cleavage by complex in presence of quenchers; viz. DMSO, KI, $NaN_3$ and EDTA reveals that hydroxyl radical or singlet oxygen mechanism is involved. The complex showed invitro antimicrobial activity against four bacteria and two fungi. The antimicrobial activity was nearer to that of standard drugs and greater than that of the free ligand.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.100-108
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• 2017

In this investigation corrosion behavior of newly developed high-pressure die cast Al-Ni (N15) and Al-Ni-Ca (NX1503) alloys was studied in 3.5% NaCl solution. The electrochemical corrosion behavior was evaluated using open circuit potential (OCP) measurement, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. Potentiodynamic polarization results validated that NX1503 alloy exhibited lower corrosion current density ($i_{corr}$) value ($5.969{\mu}A/cm^2$) compared to N15 ($7.387{\mu}A/cm^2$). EIS-Bode plots revealed a higher impedance (${\mid}Z{\mid}$) value and maximum phase angle value for NX1503 than N15 alloy. Equivalent circuit curve fitting analysis revealed that surface layer ($R_1$) and charge transfer resistance ($R_{ct}$) values of NX1503 alloy was higher compared to N15 alloy. Immersion corrosion studies were also conducted for alloys using fishing line specimen arrangement to simultaneously measure corrosion rates from weight loss ($P_W$) and hydrogen volume ($P_H$) after 72 hours and NX1503 alloy had lower corrosion rate compared to N15 alloy. The addition of Ca to N15 alloy significantly reduced the Al3Ni intermetallic phase and further grain refinement may be attributed for reduction in the corrosion rate.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.2771-2775
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• 2011

Poly-ethylenedioxypyrrole (PEDOP) coated thiolated multiwall carbon nanotubes palladium nanoparticles (MWCNTs-Pd) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) [PEDOP/MWCNTs-Pd/GCE] for the determination of hydroquinone (HQ) and it’s isomer catechol (CA) were synthesized and compared with bare GCE and thiolated multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-SH/GCE). The modification could be made by simple processes on a GCE with MWCNTs-Pd covered by PEDOP in a 0.05 M tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP)/MeCN solution system. A well-defined peak potential evaluation of the oxidation of hydroquinone to quinone at 0.05 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), and electrochemical reduction back to hydroquinone were found by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.4. Peak current values increased linearly with increasing hydroquinone contents. The peak separation between the anodic and cathodic peaks at the PEDOP/MWCNTs-Pd/GCE was ${\Delta}Ep$ = 40 mV for HQ and ${\Delta}Ep$ = 70 mV for CA, resulting in a higher electron transfer rate. Moreover, good reproducibility, excellent storage stability, a wide linear range (0.1 ${\mu}M$ - 5 mM for HQ and 0.01 ${\mu}M$ - 6 mM for CA), and low detection limits ($2.9{\times}10^{-8}$ M for HQ and $2.6{\times}10^{-8}$ M for CA; S/N = 3) were determined using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and amperometric responses; this makes it a promising candidate as a sensor for determination of HQ and CA.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.939-944
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• 2012

The electrochemical behavior of magnesium ions was examined by cyclic voltammetry in a molten $MgCl_2-CaCl_2$-NaCl salt. The reduction potential of magnesium ions was measured and those values were estimated with the variation of the concentration of $MgCl_2$ and the temperature of molten salts. The diffusion coefficient of the $Mg^{2+}$ ions has been determined at 660, 680, 700, 720 and $740^{\circ}C$. The values were $8.79{\times}10^{-6}$, $9.56{\times}10^{-6}$, $1.17{\times}10^{-5}$, $1.4{\times}10^{-5}$ and $1.77{\times}10^{-5}\;cm^2\;s^{-1}$. The activation energy for the diffusion processes of $Mg^{2+}$ ions was found to be $70.28\;kJ\;mol^{-1}$ by using the Arrhenius equation.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.303-308
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• 2018

Silicon/Carbon (Si/C) composite as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries was synthesized to find the effect of binders and an electrolyte additive. Si/C composites were prepared by two step method, including magnesiothermic reduction of SBA-15 (Santa Barbara Amorphous material No. 15) and carbonization of phenol resin. The electrochemical performances of Si/C composites were investigated by charge/discharge, cyclic voltammetry and impedance tests. The anode electrode of Si/C composite with PAA binder appeared better capacity (1,899 mAh/g) and the capacity retention ratio (92%) than that of other composition coin cells during 40 cycles. Then, Vinylene carbonate (VC) was tested as an electrolyte additive. The influence of this additive on the behavior of Si/C anodes was very positive (3,049 mAh/g), since the VC additive is formed passivation films on Si/C surfaces and suppresses irreversible changes.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.110-115
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• 2011

The effect of $TiO_2$ nanotube (TNT) and nanoparticle (TNP) composite photoelectrode and the role of TNT to enhance the photo conversion efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) have investigated in this study. Results demonstrated that the increase of the TNT content (1-15 %) into the electron collecting TNP film increases the open-circuit potential ($V_{oc}$) and short circuit current density ($J_{sc}$). Based on the impedance analysis, the increased $V_{oc}$ was attributed to the suppressed recombination between electrode and electrolyte or dye. Photochemical analysis revealed that the increased Jsc with the increased TNT content was due to the scattering effect and the reduced electron diffusion path of TNT. The highest $J_{sc}$ (12.6 mA/$cm^2$), Voc (711 mV) and conversion efficiency (5.9%) were obtained in the composite photoelectrode with 15% TNT. However, $J_{sc}$ and $V_{oc}$ was decreased for the case of 20% TNT, which results from the significant reduction of adsorbed dye amount and the poor attachment of the film on the fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO). Therefore, application of this composite photoelectrode is expected to be a promising approach to improve the energy conversion efficiency of DSSC.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2014

Li-air cell is an exotic type of energy storage and conversion device considered to be half battery and half fuel cell. Its successful commercialization highly depends on the timely development of key components. Among these key components, the catalyst (i.e., the core portion of the air electrode) is of critical importance and of the upmost priority. Indeed, it is expected that these catalysts will have a direct and dramatic impact on the Li-air cell's performance by reducing overpotentials, as well as by enhancing the overall capacity and cycle life of Li-air cells. Unfortunately, the technological advancement related to catalysts is sluggish at present. Based on the insights gained from this review, this sluggishness is due to challenges in both the commercialization of the catalyst, and the fundamental studies pertaining to its development. Challenges in the commercialization of the catalyst can be summarized as 1) the identification of superior materials for Li-air cell catalysts, 2) the development of fundamental, material-based assessments for potential catalyst materials, 3) the achievement of a reduction in both cost and time concerning the design of the Li-air cell catalysts. As for the challenges concerning the fundamental studies of Li-air cell catalysts, they are 1) the development of experimental techniques for determining both the nano and micro structure of catalysts, 2) the attainment of both repeatable and verifiable experimental characteristics of catalyst degradation, 3) the development of the predictive capability pertaining to the performance of the catalyst using fundamental material properties. Therefore, under the current circumstances, it is going to be an extremely daunting task to develop appropriate catalysts for the commercialization of Li-air batteries; at least within the foreseeable future. Regardless, nano materials are expected to play a crucial role in this field.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2008

A Pt-layer was deposited on the anode side of a Nafion membrane via a sputtering method in order to reduce methanol crossover in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The methanol permeation and the proton conductivity through the modified membranes were investigated. The performances of the direct methanol fuel cell were also tested using single cells with a Nafion membrane and the modified membranes. The Pt-layers on the membrane blocked both methanol crossover and proton transport through the membranes. Methanol permeability and proton conductivity decreased with an increase of the platinum layer thickness. At methanol concentration of 2 M, the DMFC employing the modified membrane with a platinum layer of 66 nm-thickness showed similar performance to that of a DMFC with a bare Nafion membrane in spite of the lower proton conductivity of the former. The maximum power density of the cell using the modified membrane with a platinum layer of 66 nm-thickness increased slightly while that of the cell with the bare membrane decreased abruptly when a methanol solution of 6M was supplied.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.485-493
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• 2010

A modified graphite felt electrode with neutral red (NR-electrode) was shown to catalyze the chemical oxidation of nitrite to nitrate under aerobic conditions. The electrochemically oxidized NR-electrode (EO-NR-electrode) and reduced NR-electrode (ER-NR-electrode) catalyzed the oxidation of $1,094{\pm}39$ mg/l and $382{\pm}45$ mg/l of nitrite, respectively, for 24 h. The electrically uncharged NR-electrode (EU-NR-electrode) catalyzed the oxidation of $345{\pm}47$ mg/l of nitrite for 24 h. The aerobic bacterial community immobilized in the EO-NR-electrode did not oxidize ammonium to nitrite; however, the aerobic bacterial community immobilized in the ER-NR-electrode bioelectrochemically oxidized $1,412{\pm}39$ mg/l of ammonium for 48 h. Meanwhile, the aerobic bacterial community immobilized on the EU-NR-electrode biochemically oxidized $449{\pm}22$ mg/l of ammonium for 48 h. In the continuous culture system, the aerobic bacterial community immobilized on the ER-NR-electrode bioelectrochemically oxidized a minimal $1,337{\pm}38$ mg/l to a maximal $1,480{\pm}38$ mg/l of ammonium to nitrate, and the community immobilized on the EU-NR-electrode biochemically oxidized a minimal $327{\pm}23$ mg/l to a maximal $412{\pm}26$ mg/l of ammonium to nitrate every two days. The bacterial communities cultivated in the ER-NR-electrode and EU-NR-electrode in the continuous culture system were analyzed by TGGE on the $20^{th}$ and $50^{th}$ days of incubation. Some ammonium-oxidizing bacteria were enriched on the ER-NR-electrode, but not on the EU-NR-electrode.