• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.190-198
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• 2016

Application of fuel cell to produce renewable energy for commercial purpose is limited by the high cost of Pt based electrode materials. Development of inexpensive, high energetic electrode is the need of the hour to produce pollution free energy using bio-fuel through a fuel cell. Ni-Cu and Ni-CeO₂-Cu electrode materials, electro synthesized by pulse current have been developed. The surface morphology of the electrode materials is controlled by different deposition parameters in order to produce a high current from the electro-oxidation of the fuel, the ethanol. The developed materials are electrochemically characterized by Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Chronoamperometry (CA) and Potentiodynamic polarization tests. The results confirm that the high current is due to their enhanced catalytic properties viz. high exchange current density (i₀), low polarization resistance (R_p) and low impedance. It is worthwhile to mention here that the addition of CeO₂ to Ni-Cu has outperformed Pt as far as the high electro catalytic properties are concerned; the exchange current density is about eight times higher than the same on Pt surface. The morphology of the electrode surface examined by SEM and FESEM exhibits that the grains are narrow and sub spherical with 3D surface, containing vacancies in between the elongated grains. The fact has enhanced more surface area for electro oxidation of the fuel, giving rise to an increase in current. Presence of Ni, CeO₂, and Cu is confirmed by the XRD and EDXS. Fuel cell fabricated with Ni-CeO₂-Cu material electrode is expected to produce clean electrical energy at cheaper rates than conventional one, using bio fuel the derived from biomass.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.1073-1077
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• 2003

The Sn $O_2$-based gas sensors can detect inflammable and toxic gases of low concentration by the modulation of surface resistance, but they lack in selectivity on the whole. To give selectivity to the Sn $O_2$-based gas sensors, studies on the sensing mechanism, selective gas sensing materials and signal processing techniques are demanded. Ethanol (C$_2$ $H_{5}$OH) and acetonitrile ($CH_3$CN) were confirmed to undergo catalytic oxidation on Sn $O_2$ by gas chromatography. PdCl$_2$-doped Sn $O_2$ showed excellent sensitivity to ethanol and acetonitrile, while La$_2$ $O_3$-doped Sn $O_2$ showed excellent sensitivity to ethanol, but poor sensitivity to acetonitrile. Using these two sensors and pattern recognition, the selectivity to acetonitrile is greatly enhanced. The minimum detection level of acetonitrile was 15 ppm in air and 20 to 100 ppm when exposed to interfering gases together with acetonitrile.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.44-53
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• 2007

The primary objective of this study is to increase the extent of water flux and fouling resistance of nano-filtration or reverse osmosis membranes. This study was performed to investigate the effect of surface characteristics of silane coated membranes on modified fouling index. Commercial polyamide composite RO membrane (RE1812-LP) and NF membrane (ESNA4040-LF) were treated with silane coupling agents in ethanol at five different concentrations. The silane coupling reagent, aminopropylmethoxydiethoxysilane, contains one aminoalkyl and three alkoxy groups. The hydrophilic effect of aminoalkyl group of APMDES on the permeability and fouling resistance of the modified membrane was examined. The surfaces of the modified membranes were characterized by FE-SEM, contact angle analyzer, and zeta potentiometer in order to confirm successful sol-gel methods. The modified NF membranes showed significantly enhanced water flux and fouling resistance without a decrease in salt rejection in divalent ionic feed solution.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.149-149
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• 2017

Aluminum alloys have poor corrosion resistance compared to the pure aluminum due to the additive elements. Thus, anodizing technology artificially generating thick oxide films are widely applied nowadays in order to improve corrosion resistance. Anodizing is one of the surface modification techniques, which is commercially applicable to a large surface at a low price. However, most studies up to now have focused on its commercialization with hardly any research on the assessment and improvement of the physical characteristics of the anodized films. Therefore, this study aims to select the optimum temperature of sulfuric electrolyte to perform excellent corrosion resistance in the harsh marine environment through electrochemical experiment in the seawater upon generating porous films by variating the temperatures of sulfuric electrolyte. To fabricate uniform porous film of 5083 aluminum alloy, we conducted electro-polishing under the 25 V at $5^{\circ}C$ condition for three minutes using mixed solution of ethanol (95 %) and perchloric (70 %) acid with volume ratio of 4:1. Afterward, the first step surface modification was performed using sulfuric acid as an electrolyte where the electrolyte concentration was maintained at 10 vol.% by using a jacketed beaker. For anode, 5083 aluminum alloy with thickness of 5 mm and size of $2cm{\times}2cm$ was used, while platinum electrode was used for cathode. The distance between the two was maintained at 3 cm. Anodic polarization test was performed at scan rate of 2 mV/s up to +3.0 V vs open circuit potential in natural seawater. Surface morphology was compared using 3D analysis microscope to observe the damage behavior. As a result, the case of surface modification showed a significantly lower corrosion current density than that without modification, indicating excellent corrosion resistance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2016.11a
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• pp.153-153
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• 2016

Aluminum alloys have poor corrosion resistance compared to the pure aluminum due to the additive elements. Thus, anodizing technology artificially generating thick oxide films are widely applied nowadays in order to improve corrosion resistance. Anodizing is one of the surface modification techniques, which is commercially applicable to a large surface at a low price. However, most studies up to now have focused on its commercialization with hardly any research on the assessment and improvement of the physical characteristics of the anodized films. Therefore, this study aims to select the optimum temperature of sulfuric electrolyte to perform excellent corrosion resistance in the harsh marine environment through electrochemical experiment in the sea water upon generating porous films by variating the temperatures of sulfuric electrolyte. To fabricate uniform porous film of 5083 aluminum alloy, we conducted electro-polishing under the 25 V at $5^{\circ}C$ condition for three minutes using mixed solution of ethanol (95 %) and perchloric (70 %) acid with volume ratio of 4:1. Afterward, the first step surface modification was performed using sulfuric acid as an electrolyte where the electrolyte concentration was maintained at 10 vol.% by using a jacketed beaker. For anode, 5083 aluminum alloy with thickness of 5 mm and size of $2cm{\times}2cm$ was used, while platinum electrode was used for cathode. The distance between the two was maintained at 3 cm. Afterward, the irregular oxide film that was created in the first step surface modification was removed. For the second step surface modification process (identical to the step 1), etching was performed using mixture of chromic acid (1.8 wt.%) and phosphoric acid (6 wt.%) at $60^{\circ}C$ temperature for 30 minutes. Anodic polarization test was performed at scan rate of 2 mV/s up to +3.0 V vs open circuit potential in natural seawater. Surface morphology was compared using 3D analysis microscope to observe the damage behavior. As a result, the case of surface modification presented a significantly lower corrosion current density than that without modification, indicating excellent corrosion resistance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.30-31
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• 2006

The LSCF cathode for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell was investigated to develop high performance unit cell at intermediate temperature by modified oxalate method with different electrolyte. The LSCF precursors using oxalic acid, ethanol and $NH_4OH$ solution were prepared at $80^{\circ}C$, and pH was controlled as 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. The synthesis precursor powders were calcined at $800^{\circ}C$, $1000^{\circ}C$ and $1200^{\circ}C$ for 4hrs. Unit cells were prepared with the calcined LSCF cathode, buffer layer between cathode and each electrolyte that is the LSGM, YSZ, ScSZ and CeSZ. The synthesis LSCF powders by modified oxalate method were measured by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. The interfacial polarization resistance of cell was characterized by Solatron 1260 analyzer. The crystal of LSCF powders show single phase at pH 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9, and the average particle size was about $3{\mu}m$. The electric conductivity of synthesis LSCF cathode which was calcined at $1200^{\circ}C$ shows the highest value at pH 7. The cell consist of GDC had the lowest interfacial resistance (about 950 S/cm@650) of the cathode electrode. The polarization resistance of synthesis LSCF cathode by modified oxalate method has the value from 4.02 to 7.46ohm at $650^{\circ}C$. GDC among the electrolytes, shows the lowest polarization resistance.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.117-123
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• 2021

Gefitinib, a first generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR TKI), provides obvious clinical benefit in patients with EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, patients ultimately develop gefitinib resistance which mainly caused by EGFR T790M secondary mutation. In the current study, we investigated whether the root extract of Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) overcomes gefitinib resistance. Gefitinib-resistant H1975 human NSCLC cells (EGFR L858R/T790M double mutant) were treated with gefitinib and/or ethanol extract of SB (ESB) to evaluate the effect of ESB on the gefitinib sensitivity. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion assay. The colony-forming ability was evaluated by anchorage-dependent colony formation assay. Combined treatment with gefitinib and ESB markedly decreased the cell viability and colony formation than single treatment with gefitinib or ESB in H1975 cells. In addition, cells treated with both gefitinib and ESB exhibited a significant increase of sub-G1 DNA content which indicates apoptotic cells compared with those treated with gefitinib or ESB alone. As a molecular mechanism, combined treatment with gefitinib and ESB strongly downregulated the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK than single treatment with gefitinib or ESB. Taken together, our results demonstrate that ESB sensitizes H1975 cells to gefitinib treatment. We cautiously propose that ESB can be used in combination with gefitinib for the advanced NSCLC patients with acquired resistance to EGFR TKIs.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.121-129
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• 2000

The thermal performance of a flat evaporator for capillary pumped loop (CPL) applications was investigated. Two to four layers of coarse wire screen wicks were placed onto the heated surface to provide irregular passages for vapor flow. The evaporator and condenser were separated by a distance of 1.2 m and connected by individual liquid and vapor lines. The wall material was copper and the working fluid was ethanol. The experimental facility utilized a combination of capillary and gravitational forces for liquid return, and distribution over the evaporator surface. The tubing used for vapor and liquid lines was 9.35 mm or less in diameter and heat was removed from the condenser by convection of air. A heat flux of up to $4.9{\times}10^4$ $W/m^2$ was applied to a flat evaporator having dimensions of 100 mm by 200 mm, 20 mm thick. The thermal resistance of the system as well as the temperature characteristics of the system was investigated as the evaporator heat flux and the condenser cooling capacity varied. The performance of the evaporator and effect of condenser cooling capacity were analyzed and discussed.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.366-370
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• 2006

We investigated the negative differential resistance (NDR) property of self-assembled 4,4-di(ethynylphenyl)-2'-nitro-l-(thioacetyl)benzene ('nitro-benzene'), which has been well known as a conducting molecule [1], Self-assembly monolayers (SAMs) were prepared on Au (111), which had been thermally deposited onto pre-treated $(H_2SO_4: H_2O_2=3:1)$ Si, The Au substrate was exposed to a 1mM solution of 1-dodecanethiol in ethanol for 24 hours to form a monolayer. After thorough rinsing of the sample, it was exposed to a $0.1{\mu}M$ solution of nitro-benzene in dimethylformamide (DMF) for 30 min and kept in the dark during immersion to avoid photo-oxidation. Following the assembly, the samples were removed from the solutions, rinsed thoroughly with methanol, acetone, and $CH_2Cl_2$, and finally blown dry with $N_2$. Under these conditions, we measured the electrical properties of SAMs using ultra high vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy (UHV-STM) and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) [2]. As a result, we confirmed the properties of NDR in between the positive and negative region.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.738-744
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• 2003

The gene ADH encoding NAD-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase from Bacillus stearothennophilus was cloned and overexpressed as a GST fusion protein at a high level in Escherichia coli. The expressed fusion protein was purified simply by glutathione affinity chromatography. GST fusion protein was then cleaved by thrombin, while soluble enzyme was further purified by glutathione affinity chromatography. The recombinant enzyme had the same elctrophoretic mobility as the native enzyme from Bacillus stearothennophilus. The recombinant enzyme catalyzed the oxidation of a number of alcohols and exhibited high activities towards secondary alcohols. The $K_m\;and\;V_{max}$ values of the recombinant enzyme for ethanol were 5.11 mM and 61.35 U/mg, respectively. Pyridine and imidazole notably inhibited the enzymatic activity. The activity of the recombinant enzyme optimally proceeded at pH 9.0 and $70^{\circ}C$. The midpoint of the temperature-stability curve for the recombinant enzyme was approximately $68^{\circ}C$, and the enzyme was not completely inactivated even at $85^{\circ}C$. The recombinant enzyme showed a high resistance towards denaturing agents (0.05% SDS, 0.1 M urea). Therefore, due to its stability and relatively broad substrate specificity, the recombinant enzyme could be utilized in bio-industrial processes and biosensors.