• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.372-382
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• 2022

In this study, anion exchange membranes were prepared by synthesizing the main chain into a poly(arylene ether) (PAE) structure, and the structures capable of improving the physical and chemical stability of the membrane by introducing a heterocyclic quaternary ammonium functional groups were studied. The chemical structure and thermal properties of the prepared polymer were confirmed by ¹H-NMR, FT-IR, TGA, and DSC, and surface analysis was performed through AFM measurement. Additionally, dimensional stability and chemical properties was studied by measuring water uptake and swelling ratio, IEC and ionic conductivity. At 90℃, the quaternized poly(arylene ether) (QPAE)/1-methylpiperidine (MP) membrane exhibited the highest ionic conductivity of 27.2 mS cm^-1, while the QPAE/1-methylimidazole (MI) membrane and QPAE/1-methylmorpholine (MM) membrane exhibited values of 14.5 mS cm^-1 and 11.5 mS cm^-1, respectively. In addition, the prepared anion exchange membrane exhibited high chemical stability in alkaline solution.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.189-192
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• 2014

Yttria-stablized zirconia (YSZ) is the most commonly used electrolyte material, but the reduction in working temperature leads to insufficient ionic conductivity. Ceria based electrolytes (GDC) are more attractive in terms of conductivity at low temperature, but these materials are well known to be reducible at very low oxygen partial pressure. The reduction of electrolyte resistivity is necessary to overcome cell performance losses. So, thin YSZ/GDC bilayer technology seems suitable for decreasing the electrolyte resistance at lower operating temperatures. Bilayer electrolytes composed of a galdolinium-doped $CeO_2$ ($Ce_{0.9}Gd_{0.1}O_{1.95}$, GDC) layer and yttria-stabilized $ZrO_2$ (YSZ) layer with various thicknesses were deposited by RF sputtering and E-beam evaporation. The bilayer electrolytes were deposited between porous Ni-GDC anode and LSM cathode for anode-supported single cells. Thin film structure and surface morphology were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), using $CuK{\alpha}$-radiation in the range of 2ce morphol$^{\circ}C$. The XRD patterns exhibit a well-formed cubic fluorite structure, and sharp lines of XRD peaks can be observed, which indicate a single solid solution. The morphology and size of the prepared particles were investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The performance of the cells was evaluated over $500{\sim}800^{\circ}C$, using humidified hydrogen as fuel, and air as oxidant.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2023

Ionic liquids are considered as a promising, alternative solvent for the electrochemical synthesis of metals because of their high thermal and chemical stability, relatively high ionic conductivity, and wide electrochemical window. In particular, their wide electrochemical window enables the electrodeposition of metals without any side reaction of electrolytes such as hydrogen evolution. The electrodeposition of silver is conducted in 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C4mim]Cl) ionic liquid system with a silver source of AgCl. This study is the first attempt to electrodeposit silver nanoparticles without using co-solvents other than [C4mim]Cl. Pulse electrolysis is employed for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles by varying applied potentials from -3.0 V to -4.5 V (vs. Pt-quasi reference electrode) and pulse duration from 0.1 s to 0.7 s. Accordingly, the silver nanoparticles whose size ranges from 15 nm to ~100 nm are obtained. The successful preparation of silver nanoparticles is demonstrated regardless of the kinds of substrate including aluminum, stainless steel, and carbon paper in the pulse electrolysis. Finally, the antimicrobial property of electrodeposited silver nanoparticles is confirmed by an antimicrobial test using Staphylococcus aureus.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2022

In this study, we synthesized a poly(pheneylene oxide) (PPO)-based organic/inorganic composite membrane having silicotungstic acid (STA) for the development of an anion exchange membrane with excellent ionic conductivity and physicochemical stability. The organic/inorganic composite membranes were prepared by introducing different STA contents (0 wt%, 10 wt%, 30 wt%, and 50 wt%) into the quaternizaed(Q)-PPO matrix. The prepared anion exchange membranes were subjected to structural analysis by proton neclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared, and thermal behavior of membranes was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis. Among the prepared composite membranes, the ion conductivity of Q-PPO/STA-50 (40.5 mS cm^-1) showed 1.46 times compared to that of the pristine membrane (27.6 mS cm^-1). Therefore, these results demonstrated that organic/inorganic composite membranes are promising candidates for application of anion exchange membranes.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.798-803
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• 2019

The self-discharge behavior of zinc-air batteries is a critical issue induced by corrosion and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of zinc anode. The corrosion reaction and HER can be controlled by a gelling agent and concentration of potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution. Various concentrations of KOH solution and polyacrylic acid have been used for gel electrolyte. The electrolyte solution is prepared with different concentrations of KOH (6 M, 7 M, 8 M, 9 M). Among studied materials, the cell assembled with 6 M KOH gel electrolyte exhibits the highest specific discharge capacity and poor capacity retention. Whereas, 9 M KOH gel electrolyte shows high capacity retention. However, a large amount of hydrogen gas is evolved with 9 M KOH solution. In general, the increase in concentration is related to ionic conductivity. At concentrations above 7 M, the viscosity increases and the conductivity decreases. As a result, compared to other studied materials, 7 M KOH gel electrolyte is suitable for Zn-air batteries because of its higher capacity retention (92.00 %) and specific discharge capacity (351.80 mAh/g) after 6 hr storage.

• Journal of Institute of Convergence Technology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.43-48
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• 2015

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are now broadly understood as a new kind of ionic liquid (IL) because they exhibit many characteristics and properties similar with ILs. The DESs made of quaternary ammonium salt blended with one of hydrogen bonding donor (HBD) compounds behave as ILs even at very low temperature. In this study, properties such as density, viscosity, surface tension, conductivity, and electrochemical behavior of DESs were reported and their applications were reviewed. Study on DESs has been drawn attention on application in metal finishing, but these solvents can be used in a variety of synthesis, and their potentials have been demonstrated in various areas. DESs are expected to offer applicability by extending the types of salts and hydrogen bond donor mixtures.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2010

In this study, we manufactured the membrane using the polyethersulfone (PES) of fiber by using the electrospinning method. The polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cells was manufactured by impregnating Nafion solution to the porous PES membrane. We confirmed that electrospun PES membrane has higher thermal stability than Nafion 212 membrane by thermogravimetric analysis. Impregnated Nafion in the pores of the electrospun PES membrane was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The AC impedance data shows the hydrogen ionic conductivity of $10^{-2}$ S/cm below $100^{\circ}C$. Nafion impregnated PES membrane shows the maximum performance at $90^{\circ}C$ showing current density of 389 mA/$cm^2$ at 0.6 V, while Nafion 212 membrane shows maximum at $75^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.660-669
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• 2016

A fluorinated-sulfonated, hydrophobic-hydrophilic copolymer was planed subsequently synthesized using typical nucleophilic substitution polycondensation reaction. A novel AB and ABA (or BAB) block copolymers were synthesized using sBCPSBP (sulfonated 4,4'-bis[4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]-1,1'-biphenyl), DHN (1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene), DFBP (decafluorobiphenyl) and HFIP (4,4'-hexafluoroisopropylidenediphenol). All block copolymers were easily cast and made into clear films. The structure and synthesized copolymers and corresponding membranes were analyzed using GPC (gel permeation chromatography), $^1H$-NMR ($^1H$ nuclear magnetic resonance) and FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared). TGA (Thermogravimetric analysis) and DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) analysis showed that the prepared membranes were thermally stable, so that elevated temperature fuel cell operation would be possible. Hydrophobic/hydrophilic phase separation and clear ionic aggregate block morpology was confirmed in both triblock and diblock copolymer in AFM (atomic force microscopy), which may be highly related to their proton transport ability. A sulfonated BAB triblock copolymer membrane with an ion-exchange capacity (IEC) of 0.6 meq/g has a maximum ion conductivity of 40.3 mS/cm at $90^{\circ}C$ and 100% relative humidity.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.581-586
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• 2007

Cast DNA/polyethyleneimine (PEI) blend membranes containing different amounts of DNA were prepared using acid-base interaction and characterized with the aim of understanding the polymer electrolyte membrane properties. Two different molecular weights of PEI were used to provide the mechanical strength, while DNA, a polyelectrolyte, was used for the proton transport channel. Proton conductivity was observed for the DNA/PEI membrane and reached approximately $3.0{\times}10^{-3}S/cm$ for a DNA loading of 16 wt% at $80^{\circ}C$. The proton transport phenomena of the DNA/PEI complexes were investigated in terms of the complexation energy using the density functional theory method. In the case of DNA/PEI, a cisoid-type complex was more favorable for both the formation of the complex and the dissociation of hydrogen from the phosphate. Since the main requirement for proton transport in the polymer matrix is to dissociate the hydrogen from its ionic sites, this suggests the significant role played by the basicity of the matrix.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.497-505
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• 2021

Water management is essential to improve the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. This study targets to understand the characteristics of water concentration in proton exchange membrane fuel cells at a dynamic load variable environment. The fuel cell model was developed to simulate nonlinear water transport in membrane by the MATLAB/Simulink^® (MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA) platform, and it calculates water content in membrane, ionic conductivity, and predicts fuel cell performance through one-dimensional analysis.