• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2011

An amphiphilic graft copolymer consisting of a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) backbone and poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PSSA) side chains (PVC-g-PSSA) was synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). This polymer electrolyte membrane was ion-exchanged to Ag ions by immersing in 10 wt% $AgNO_3$ aqueous solution and templated the growth of Ag nanoparticles by a reducing agent. The formation of Ag nanoparticles was confirmed using UV-visible spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that utilization of $NaBH_4$ was the most effective in the formation of Ag nanoparticles with 10~15 nm in size. The formation of Ag nanoparticles was also strongly affected by the concentration of reducing agent and reduction time.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2012

We prepared the highly ordered nano-wires of polypyrrole, polyaniline conductive polymers and polypyrrole/ polyaniline conductive copolymers by templating the anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) porous membrane, in which pore diameter was 20 nm, 100 nm and 200 nm. Those conductive polymers were grown from pore inner surface of AAO membrane forming hollow tubes and then wire structures were formed after 3 hour polymerization. By removing AAO membrane templates using sodium hydroxide solution, the conductive polymer nano-wires were successfully obtained, of which diameter and length were close to the ones of nano-pores in AAO membrane template. Crystallinity and thermal stability of the conductive polymer nano-wires were higher than irregular ones that prepared by solution polymerization. Furthermore, the electrical resistance of conductive polymer nano-wires were reduced by about 4~60% compared with that of the irregular polymers prepared by solution polymerization.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.425-431
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• 2019

As rechargeable metal-air batteries will be ideal energy storage devices in the future, an active cathode electrocatalyst is required with bi-functionality on both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during discharge and charge, respectively. Here, a class of perovskite cathode catalyst with a micro-tubular structure has been developed by controlling bi-functionality from different Ru and Ni dopant ratios. A micro-tubular structure is achieved by the activated carbon fiber (ACF) templating method, which provides uniform size and shape. At the perovskite formula of $LaCrO_3$, the dual dopant system is successfully synthesized with a perfect incorporation into the single perovskite structure. The chemical oxidation states for each Ni and Ru also confirm the partial substitution to B-site of Cr without any changes in the major perovskite structure. From the electrochemical measurements, the micro-tubular feature reveals much more efficient catalytic activity on ORR and OER, comparing to the grain catalyst with same perovskite composition. By changing the Ru and Ni ratio, the $LaCr_{0.8}Ru_{0.1}Ni_{0.1}O_3$ micro-tubular catalyst exhibits great bi-functionality, especially on ORR, with low metal loading, which is comparable to the commercial catalyst of Pt and Ir. This advanced catalytic property on the micro-tubular structure and Ru/Ni synergy effect at the perovskite material may provide a new direction for the next-generation cathode catalyst in metal-air battery system.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.193-200
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• 2011

An amphiphilic graft copolymer comprising a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) backbone and poly (styrene sulfonic acid) (PSSA) side chains (PVC-g-PSSA) was synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Mesoporous titanium dioxide $(TiO_2)$ films with crystalline anatase phase were synthesized via a sol-gel process by templating PVC-g-PSSA graft copolymer. Titanium isopropoxide (TTIP), a $TiO_2$ precursor was selectively incorporated into the hydrophilic PSSA domains of the graft copolymer and grew to form mesoporous $TiO_2$ films, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The performances of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) were systematically investigated by varying spin coating times and the amounts of P25 nanoparticies. The energy conversion efficiency reached up to 2.7% at 100 mW/$cm^2$ upon using quasi-solid-state polymer electrolyte.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2011

In this work, mesoporous carbons (CMK-3) were prepared by a conventional templating method using mesoporous silica (SBA-15) for using catalyst supports in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The CMK-3 were chemically activated to obtain high surface area and small pore diameter with different potassium hydroxide (KOH) amounts, i.e., 0, 1, 3, and 4 g as an activating agent. And then Pt-Ru was deposited onto activated CMK-3 (K-CMK-3) by a chemical reduction method. The characteristics of Pt-Ru catalysts deposited onto K-CMK-3 were determined by surface area and pore size analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and inductive coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The electrochemical properties of Pt-Ru/K-CMK-3 catalysts were also analyzed by cyclic voltammetry (CV). From the results, the K3g-CMK-3 carbon supports activated with 3 g KOH showed the highest specific surface areas. In addition, the K3g-CMK-3 led to uniform dispersion of Pt-Ru onto K-CMK-3, resulted in the enhancement of elelctro-catalystic activity of Pt-Ru catalysts.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 2006

Mesoporous silicate materials have been used as adsorbents for the removal of heavy metals from water by introducing functional groups such as thiol and amine. In this research, it was investigated whether surfactants used as templating agents in synthetic processes can act as adsorption sites for heavy metals. Three mesoporous silicates-SBA-15, MCM-41, and HMS were synthesized using, respectively, block copolymer, hexadecyltrimethylammoniumbromide (HDTMA), and dodecyamine as surfactants. X-ray diffraction and $N_2$ gas adsorption analysis confirmed that the mesoporous silicates were well prepared and FT-IR spectra resulted in the existence of the surfactants in as-synthesized mesoporous silicates and the removal of surfactants after calcination. The interactions between $Pb^{2+}$ ions and the mesoporous silicate materials with/without surfactants were observed. In adsorption kinetic experiments, it revealed that the calcined mesoporous silicates and the surfactant-loaded SBA-15 almost had no adsorption capacity for $Pb^{2+}$ ions. In contrast, the surfactant-loaded MCM-41 and HMS showed, respectively, the adsorption capacities of 26.60 and 115.16 mg/g which were acquired through the fits of adsorption kinetic data to the pseudo second order kinetic model. The adsorption capacities were comparable to those of other mesoporous adsorbents for heavy metals.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2011

In this work, the effect of surface treatment on mesoporous carbons (MCs) supports was investigated by analyzing surface functional groups. MCs were prepared by a conventional templating method using mesoporous silica (SBA-15) for using catalyst supports in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The MCs were treated with different phosphoric acid ($H_3PO_4$) concentrations i.e., 0, 1, 3, 4, and 5 M at 343 K for 6 h. And then Pt-Ru was deposited onto surface treated MCs (H-MCs) by chemical reduction method. The characteristics of Pt-Ru catalysts deposited onto H-MCs were determined by specific surface area and pore size analyzer, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron, transmission electron microscopy, and inductive coupled plasma-mass spectrometer. The electrochemical properties of Pt-Ru/H-MCs catalysts were also analyzed by cyclic voltammetry experiments. From the results of surface analysis, an oxygen functional group was introduced to the surface of carbon supports. From the results, the H4M-MCs carbon supports surface treated with 4 M $H_3PO_4$ led to uniform dispersion of Pt-Ru onto H4M-MCs, resulting in enhancing the electro-catalytic activity of Pt-Ru catalysts.

• Clean Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2009

Mesoporous aluminas (A-C, A-A, and A-N) were prepared by a templating method using cationic(C), anionic(A), and non-ionic(N) surfactant as a structure-directing agent, respectively. Nickel catalysts supported on mesoporous alumina (Ni/A-C, Ni/A-A, and Ni/A-N) were then prepared by an impregnation method, and were applied to hydrogen production by steam reforming of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Regardless of surfactant type, nickel species were finely dispersed on the surface of mesoporous alumina in the calcined catalysts. It was revealed that interaction between nickel species and support in the reduced catalysts was strongly dependent on the identity of surfactant. LNG conversion and $H_2$ composition in dry gas increased in the order of Ni/A-C < Ni/A-A < Ni/A-N. It was found that catalytic performance increased with increasing nickel surface area in the reduced catalyst. Among the catalyst tested, Ni/A-N catalyst with the highest nickel surface area showed the best catalytic performance.