• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2016

Although the time dependences of the electrocatalytic activities of Pt and Pd nanoparticles during electrochemical operations have been widely studied, the time dependences under nonpolarized conditions have never been investigated in depth. This study reports the changes in the electrocatalytic activities of Pt and Pd nanoparticles with aging in air and in solution. Pt (or Pd) nanoparticle-modified electrodes are obtained by adsorbing citrate-stabilized Pt (or Pd) nanoparticles on amine-modified indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrodes, or by electrodeposition of Pt (or Pd) nanoparticles on ITO electrodes. The electrocatalytic activities of freshly prepared Pt and Pd nanoparticles in the oxygen reduction reaction slowly decrease with aging. The electrocatalytic activities decrease more slowly in solution than in air. An increase in surface contamination may cause electrocatalytic deactivation during aging. The electrocatalytic activities of long-aged Pt (or Pd) nanoparticles are significantly enhanced and recovered by NaBH₄ treatment.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.403-407
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• 2007

The anodic degradation of benzoquinone(BQ), a model compound for wastewater treatment was carried out using a home-made flow-through electrochemical cell with carbon fibers. To optimize the controlled current electrolysis condition of an aqueous BQ solution, the experimental variables affecting the degradation of BQ, such as the applying current, pH, reaction time, and flow rate of the BQ solution were examined. The degradation products of the oxidation reaction were identified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer. Low molecular weight aliphatic acids, and CO2 were the major products in this experiment. The removal efficiency of BQ from the solution increased with the applying current and time. 99.23% of 1.0 × 10-2 M BQ was degraded to aliphatic acids and CO2 when the applying current is 175 mA in a 12 hr electrolysis.

• Carbon letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.335-339
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• 2007

Carbon/silicon composites were synthesized by mixing silicon powders with petroleum pitch and subsequent heat-treatment. The resultant composites were composed of carbon and nano-size crystalline silicon identified by XRD and EDX. FIB images and SEM images were taken respectively to detect the existence of silicon impregnated in carbon and the distribution of silicon on the carbon surface. The obtained carbon/silicon materials were assembled as half cell anodes for lithium ion secondary battery and their electrochemical properties were tested. The pitch/silicon composite (3 : 1 wt. ratio) heat treated at $1000^{\circ}C$ and mixed with 55.5 wt.% of graphite showed relatively good electrochemical properties such as the initial efficiency of 78%, the initial discharge capacity of 605 mAh/g, and the discharge capacity of 500 mAh/g after 20 cycles.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.421-425
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• 2013

The effect of pretreatment on indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrodes has been rarely studied, although that on metal and carbon electrodes has been enormously done. The electrochemical and surface properties of ITO electrodes are investigated after 6 different pretreatments. The electrochemical behaviors for oxygen reduction, $Ru(NH_3){_6}^{3+}$ reduction, $Fe(CN){_6}^{3-}$ reduction, and p-hydroquinone oxidation are compared, and the surface roughness, hydrophilicity, and surface chemical composition are also compared. Oxygen reduction, $Fe(CN){_6}^{3-}$ reduction, and p-hydroquinone oxidation are highly affected by the type of the pretreatment, whereas $Ru(NH_3){_6}^{3+}$ reduction is almost independent of it. Interestingly, oxygen reduction is significantly suppressed by the treatment in an HCl solution. The changes in surface roughness and composition are not high after each pretreatment, but the change in contact angle is substantial in some pretreatments.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.172-177
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• 2016

In this paper, various electrochemical experiments were conducted in seawater solution to evaluate corrosion damage behavior of arc thermal sprayed Inconel 625 coating on SS400 steel in marine environment. As a result, corrosion damages of thermal sprayed Inconel 625 coating preferentially occurred at the defect area, and they were observed as a form of pitting corrosion in the galvanostatic experiments. In Tafel analysis, corrosion current density of Inconel 625 coating was relatively high due to influence of interconnected pores and Cr oxides in the thermal spray coating layer. On the other hand, the result of the potential measurement, thermal sprayed Inconel 625 coating should need the post-treatment which can compensate the defects like pores and cracks because Inconel 625 coating presented a higher potential of about 290 mV than that of the SS400 steel.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.297-301
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• 2021

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) convert chemical energy to electrical energy via electrochemically active microorganisms. The interactions between microbes and the surface of a carbon electrode play a vital role in capturing the respiratory electrons from bacteria. Therefore, improvements in the electrochemical and physicochemical properties of carbon materials are essential for increasing performance. In this study, a microwave and sulfuric acid treatment was used to modify the surface structure of graphite granules. The prepared expandable graphite granules (EGG) exhibited a 1.5 times higher power density than the unmodified graphite granules (1400 vs. 900 mW/m³). Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed improved physical and chemical characteristics of the EGG surface. These results suggest that physical and chemical surface modification using sulfuric acid and microwave heating improves the performance of electrode-based bioprocesses, such as MFCs.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.286-293
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• 2014

The electrochemical properties of cells assembled with the $LiNiO_2$ (LNO) recycled from cathode materials of waste lithium secondary batteries ($Li[Ni,Co,Mn]O_2$), were evaluated in this study. The leaching, neutralization and solvent extraction process were applied to produce high-purity $NiSO_4$ solution from waste lithium secondary batteries. High-purity NiO powder was then fabricated by the heat-treatment and mixing of the $NiSO_4$ solution and $H_2C_2O_4$. Finally, $LiNiO_2$ as a cathode material for lithium ion secondary batteries was synthesized by heat treatment and mixing of the NiO and $Li_2CO_3$ powders. We assembled the cells using the $LiNiO_2$ powders and evaluated the electrochemical properties. Subsequently, we evaluated the recycling possibility of the cathode materials for waste lithium secondary battery using the processes applied in this work.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.159-167
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• 1994

The contraction of rabbit basilar artery was examined as a function of changes in the $Na^+$ electrochemical gradient in order to determine the contribution of $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange to the modulation of contractility. Ouabain $(10^{-5}\;M)$ or $K^+-free$ Tyrode solution caused an increase in tonic tension even in the presence of a $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker $(10^{-6}\;M\;verapamil)$ and an ${\alpha}-receptor$ blocker $(10^{-5}\;M\;phentolamine)$. After treatment with ouabain $(10^{-5}\;M)$, contractions were augmented by reduction of external $Na^+$ concentration. The longer the treatment with ouabain $(10^{-5}\;M)$ was, the larger the amplitude of $Na^+-free$ contracture was. $Na^+-free$ contracture wag induced by either substitution of equimolar Tris for $Na^+$ or substitution of equimolar $Li^+\;for\;Na^+$. The competition between $Na^+\;and\;Ca^{2+}$ for the $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange carrier would exist, because it was observed that contractility was dependent on the $Na^+$ electrochemical gradient or the extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration (2 mM, 4 mM). Ryanodine $(10^{-7}\;M)$, the blocker of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, did not suppress the development of $Na^+-free$ contracture. The contractile response to norepinephrine $(10^{-6}\;M)$ was augmented by reducing the extracellular $Na^+$ concentration. The relaxation rate from caffeine-induced contraction was dependent on the extracellular $Na^+$ concentration (0 mM, 140 mM). From the above results, it could be suggested that $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange can move $Ca^{2+}$ either into or out of rabbit basilar arterial smooth muscle. $Ca^{2+}$ entry or extrusion is dependent upon the $Na^+$ electrochemical gradient. $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange plays a significant role in the regulation of contractility in rabbit basilar arterial smooth muscle.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2009

Carbon nanotube supported molybdenum carbide catalysts were prepared as a function of various preparation conditions and characterized, and their catalytic activities were compared through electrochemical oxidation of methanol. To overcome the low activity of a transition metal catalyst, carbon nanotube was used as a support, and the amount and the kind of precursors, acid treatment method, and carburization temperature were varied for the catalyst preparation. ICP-AES, XRD and TEM were used for the catalyst characterization. Based on the various preparation methods of carbon nanotube supported molybdenum carbide catalysts ($Mo_2C/CNT$), the size and the amount of supported catalysts could be controlled, and their effects on the electrochemical oxidation could be explained.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.571-578
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• 2020

In this work, a detailed study on the electrochemical degradation of an azo dye, Orange G is performed using a platinum electrode. Indeed, the influence of the dye concentration (50-150 mg/L), the pH of the medium and the density of the electric current is studied on the rate of discoloration, the rate of mineralization, the efficiency of the electric current and the energy consumption. The UV-visible spectra of OG plotted against the degradation time show the decrease of the intensity of the characteristic dye peaks. In an environment rich in chlorides, all peaks disappear after 15 min of degradation. However, the peaks at wavelengths of 200 and 290 nm appeared after one hour of treatment. In K₂SO₄, the eliminated percentages are respectively 46, 54 and 61% for wavelengths of 245, 330 and 480 nm. This suggests that the degradation mechanisms in K₂SO₄ and KCl environments are not the same. In the middle rich in chlorides, the eliminated percentage of OG did not seem to be affected by the concentrations increase. These results confirm the hypothesis that electrochemical oxidation process is very favorable for concentrated pollutants discharge.