• Membrane Journal
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.268-275
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• 2006

Novel SILEMs were prepared by multi-stage phase separation process combined by the low temperature phase separation (LTPS) and the high temperature phase separation (HTPS) using room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) which have a high ionic conductivity. PVDF and imidazolium series ionic liquids were used as membrane material and electrolyte, respectively. To study the ion conducting properties, the SILEMs were tested using LCR meter at temperature controlled from 30 to $130^{\circ}C$. Under humid conditions, with increasing temperature from 30 to $100^{\circ}C$, the ion conductivity of the cast $Nafion^{(R)}$ membrane increased linearly, but then started to decrease after $100^{\circ}C$. However, in the case of the SILEMs, with increasing operating temperature, the ion conductivity increased. Also, the ion conductivity behaviors of the SILEMs were almost same, regardless of humidity. The ion conductivity of the SILEMs was $2.7{\times}10^{-3}S/cm$ and increased almost linearly up to $2.2{\times}10^{-2}S/cm$ with increasing temperature to $130^{\circ}C$. The effects of an inorganic filler on the physical properties of the SILEMs were studied using the $SiO_2$. The addition of $SiO_2$ could improve the mechanical strength of the SILEMs, though the ionic conductivity was decreased slightly.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2005

Proton conducting solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) membranes have been used in many energy technological applications such as water electolysis, fuel cells, redox-flow battery, and other electrochemical devices. The availability of stable membranes with good electrochemical characteristics as proton conductivity at high temperatures above 80 $^{\circ}C$ and low cost are very important for its applications. However, the presently available perfluorinated ionomers are not applicable because of high manufacturing cost and high temperature use to the decrease in the proton conductivity and mechanical strength. In order to make up for the weak points, the block copolymer (BPSf) of polysulfone and poly (phenylene sulfide sulfone) were synthesized and sulfonated. The electrolyte membranes were prepared with phosphotungstic acid (HPA)/sulfonated BPSf via solution blending. This study would be desirable to investigate the interaction between the HPA and sulfonated polysulfone. The results showed that the characteristics of SPSf/HPA blend membrane was a better than Nafion at high temperature, 100 $^{\circ}C$. These membranes proved to have a high proton conductivity, $6.29{\times}10-2$ S/cm, a water content, 23.9%, and a ion exchange capacity, 1.97 meq./g dry membrane. Moreover, some of the membranes kept their high thermal and mechanical stability.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.389-398
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• 2017

The most important characteristic of the polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) for fuel cells, the proton conducting ability is mainly influenced by the distribution and morphology of the water channels inside the PEMs. Non-perfluorinated hydrocarbon PEMs are known to have weaker water channels than perfluorinated PEM, Nafion, and thus relatively low proton conducting ability. In this study, we used a mesoscale simulation technique to observe the water channel formation and phase separation behavior of hydrocarbon PEM, sulfonated polyimides, under the humidification condition. It was observed that the water molecules were distributed evenly through the entire hydrophilic region, and clear water clusters were formed only in the sulfonated polyimide having high sulfonation degree. In addition, it was observed that sulfonated polyimides have a difficulty in forming water channel under the low hydrated condition. These results clearly support the theories of the formation of water channels in non-perfluorinated hydrocarbon PEMs, and also well explain the tendency of proton conducting abilities of sulfonated polyimides. Thus, it is confirmed that mesoscale simulation techniques can be very effective in analyzing phase separation behavior and water channel formation in PEMs for fuel cells and elucidating the ion conducting abilities.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.315-324
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• 2005

Pain is an unpleasant sensation experienced when tissues are damaged. Thus, pain sensation in some way protects body from imminent threat or injury. Peripheral sensory nerves innervated to peripheral tissues initially respond to multiple forms of noxious or strong stimuli, such as heat, mechanical and chemical stimuli. In response to these stimuli, electrical signals for conducting the nociceptive neural signals through axons are generated. These action potentials are then conveyed to specific areas in the spinal cord and in the brain. Sensory afferent fibers are heterogeneous in many aspects. For example, sensory nerves are classified as $A{\alpha}$, $-{\beta}$, $-{\delta}$ and C-fibers according to their diameter and degree of myelination. It is widely accepted that small sensory fibers tend to respond to vigorous or noxious stimuli and related to nociception. Thus these fibers are specifically called nociceptors. Most of nociceptors respond to noxious mechanical stimuli and heat. In addition, these sensory fibers also respond to chemical stimuli [Davis et al. (1993)] such as capsaicin. Thus, nociceptors are considered polymodal. Recent advance in research on ion channels in sensory neurons reveals molecular mechanisms underlying how various types of stimuli can be transduced to neural signals transmitted to the brain for pain perception. In particular, electrophysiological studies on ion channels characterize biophysical properties of ion channels in sensory neurons. Furthermore, molecular biology leads to identification of genetic structures as well as molecular properties of ion channels in sensory neurons. These ion channels are expressed in axon terminals as well as in cell soma. When these channels are activated, inward currents or outward currents are generated, which will lead to depolarization or hyperpolarization of the membrane causing increased or decreased excitability of sensory neurons. In order to depolarize the membrane of nerve terminals, either inward currents should be generated or outward currents should be inhibited. So far, many cationic channels that are responsible for the excitation of sensory neurons are introduced recently. Activation of these channels in sensory neurons is evidently critical to the generation of nociceptive signals. The main channels responsible for inward membrane currents in nociceptors are voltage-activated sodium and calcium channels, while outward current is carried mainly by potassium ions. In addition, activation of non-selective cation channels is also responsible for the excitation of sensory neurons. Thus, excitability of neurons can be controlled by regulating expression or by modulating activity of these channels.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.445-449
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• 2012

The activation process of the membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) is important for the mass production of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. The conventional activation process for the MEA requires excessive time and hydrogen gas and it might become the barrier for the commercialization of the fuel cell. The conventional activation process is based on hydrolysis of ion conducting membrane. In the study, we suggest the cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique as an on-line activation process and the CV activation process consists of two steps : 1) the humidification of the polymer electrolyte membrane and the electrode with 100% RH humidified nitrogen ($N_{2}$) gas, and 2) the removal step of the oxide layer on the surface of the Pt catalyst with CV cycling. The cycling reduces the activation time of the MEA by 2.5 h and use of hydrogen gas by 1/4.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.234-240
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• 2008

This work demonstrates the preparation of proton conducting crosslinked polymer electrolyte membranes by blending polystrene-b-poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PS-b-PHEA) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) at 1 : 1 wt ratio. The PHEA block of the diblock copolymer was crosslinked with PVA using sulfosuccinic acid (SA) via the esterification reaction between -OH of membrane and -COOH of SA, as confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. Ion exchange capacity (IEC) continuously increased from 0.14 to 0.91 meq/g with increasing concentrations of SA, due to the increasing portion of charged groups in the membrane. In contrast, the water uptake increased up to 20.0 wt% of SA concentration above which it decreased monotonically. The membrane also exhibited a maximum proton conductivity of 0.024 S/cm at 20.0 wt% of SA concentration. The maximum behavior of water uptake and proton conductivity is considered to be due to competitive effect between the increase of ionic sites and the crosslinking reaction according to the SA concentration.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.199-204
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• 2010

A dual-phase ceramic membrane consisting of gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) as an oxygen ion conducting phase and $MnCo_2O_4$ as an electron conducting phase was fabricated by sintering a GDC and $MnCo_2O_4$ powder mixture. The $MnCo_2O_4$ was found to maintain its spinel structure at temperatures lower than $1200^{\circ}C$. (Mn,Co)(Mn,Co)$O_4$ spinel, manganese and cobalt oxides formed in the sample sintered at $1300^{\circ}C$ in an air atmosphere. XRD analysis revealed that no reaction phases occurred between GDC and $MnCo_2O_4$ at $1200^{\circ}C$. The electrical conductivity did not exhibit a linear relationship with the $MnCo_2O_4$ content in the composite membranes, in accordance with percolation theory. It increased when more than 15 vol% of $MnCo_2O_4$ was added. The oxygen permeation fluxes of the composite membranes increased with increasing $MnCo_2O_4$ content and this can be explained by the increase in electrical conductivity. However, the oxygen permeation flux of the composite membranes appeared to be governed not only by electrical conductivity, but also by the microstructure, such as the grain size of the GDC matrix.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.289-297
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• 2012

Since Nafion is very expensive and shows the decreased fuel cell performance over $80^{\circ}C$ operating temperature, much work has been carried out in the search for cheaper membrane with high fuel cell performance. Radiation is known to be very useful for the preparation of the polymer electrolyte membranes since it can be effectively used for the introduction of ion conducting functional groups into the commercial film with high mechanical and chemical properties. Here, we summarize the our recent progress in the development of fuel cell membranes by utilizing radiation.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.403-416
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• 2016

The possibility of using carica papaya leaf powder for removal of copper from wastewater as a low cost adsorbent was explored. Different parameters that affect the adsorption process like initial concentration of metal ion, time of contact, adsorbent quantity and pH were evaluated and the outcome of the study was tested using adsorption isotherm models. A maximum of 90%-94.1% copper removal was possible from wastewater having low concentration of the metal using papaya leaf powder under optimum conditions by conducting experimental studies. The biosorption of copper ion was influenced by pH and outcome of experimental results indicate the optimum pH as 7.0 for maximum copper removal. Copper distribution between the solid and liquid phases in batch studies was described by isotherms like Langmuir adsorption and Freundlich models. The adsorption process was better represented by the Freundlich isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity of copper was measured to be 24.51 mg/g through the Langmuir model. Pseudo-second order rate equation was better suited for the adsorption process. A dynamic mode study was also conducted to analyse the ability of papaya leaf powder to remove copper (II) ions from aqueous solution and the breakthrough curve was described by an S profile. Present study revealed that papaya leaf powder can be used for the removal of copper from the wastewater and low cost water treatment techniques can be developed using this adsorbent.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.311-317
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• 2007

Proton conducting crosslinked membranes have been prepared by polymer blending, which consist of poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene) (PVA-co-PE) and poly(styrene sulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) (PSSA-co-PMA) at 50 : 50 wt ratio. Two kinds of PSSA-co-PMA copolymer with 3 : 1 and 1 : 1 the molar ratio of PSSA to PMA wereused as a proton conducting source. The ethylene content of PVA-co-PE was also changed as 0, 27 and 44 mol%. The membranes were thermally crosslinked via the esterification reaction between -OH of PVA and -COOH of PMA, as demonstrated by FT-IR spectroscopy (PVA-co-PE)/(PSSA-co-PMA) membranes with 3 : 1 the molar ratio of PSSA to PMA showed higher ion exchange capacity (IEC), lower water uptake and higher proton conductivity than those with 1 : 1 molar ratio. As the PE concentration increased, the IEC values, water uptake and proton conductivities decreased continuously. These properties were elucidated in terms of competitive effect between the concentration of sulfonic acid, hydrophilicity and the crosslinked structure of membranes.