Kuo-Chuan Ho

Professor of Polymer Science and Engineering
Professor of Chemical Engineering

■Educational Background

B.S. Ch.E. National Cheng Kung University 1978
M.S. Ch.E. National Cheng Kung University 1980
Ph.D. Ch.E. University of Rochester 1986
Senior Research Engineer, PPG Industries, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, USA (1986-1990)
Research Project Engineer, PPG Industries, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, USA (1990-1993)

■Research Interests

Electrochromic Materials and Devices

　　Electrochromism is a reversible and visible change in optical absorption in accompaniment with an electron-transfer. Electrochromic devices, which could find commercial opportunities in sunglasses, skylight, sun visor, rear-view mirror etc., offer promise for varying transparency continuously in response to human input. These devices are user-controlled in nature since the input is in the form of a dc voltage/current. Currently, we are working on the preparation and characterization of Prussian blue electrochromic thin film and its analogs, with the aim towards better understanding the interaction between the inserted/extracted ions and the electrochromic materials. This has involved the applications of solid state physics, material science, polymer chemistry, and electrochemistry/ electrochemical engineering principles for improving long- term stabilities of electrochromic materials and devices. Other materials relating to the electrochromic technology, such as conducting polymers, transparent electronic and ionic conductors, are also studied in our laboratory.

Electrochemical Reaction Engineering

　　Electrochemical reaction engineering applies the principles of transport phenomena, electrochemical equilibria, electrode kinetics, and material science to chemical processes that involve charge transfer reactions. During the recent past, the importance of electrochemical phenomena is increasingly recognized in many industrial processes. We have interests in developing novel electrochemical reactors through better understanding and designing of electrode materials. For example, TiO2-coated optically transparent electrodes, originally developed for use in semiconductor industry, are now modified in our laboratory as photocatalysts and electrode materials to be used for water purification within a photoelectrochemical reactor. Other electrode materials, such as polyaniline and phthalocyanine, are also investigated for monitoring air pollution both in electrochemical and semiconductor-type gas sensors.

■Selected Journal Papers

1. K. C. Ho and Y. H. Tsou, "Chemiresistor-Type NO Gas Sensor based on Nickel Phthalocyanine Thin Films, "Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 77, 253-259 (2001)

2. L. C. Chen and K. C. Ho, "Nonlinear Diffusion Behavior for the Prussian Blue Electrode: I. Variable Diffusivity Revealed by Potentiostatic Intermittent Titration Technique—Chronoabsorptometry," J. Electrochem. Soc., 148, E282-E289 (2001) (SCI,EI)

3. K. C. Ho and W. T. Hung, "An Amperometric NO₂ Sensor based on Pt/Nafion Electrode, " Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 79, 11-16 (2001) (SCI,EI)

4. L. C. Chen and K. C. Ho, "Nonlinear Diffusion Behavior for the Prussian Blue Electrode: II. Interpretation of Variable Diffusivity during the Insertion/Extraction Processes, " J. Electrochem. Soc., 149, E40-E44 (2002) (SCI,EI)

5. C. L. Lin, C. C. Lee, and K. C. Ho, "Spectroelectrochemical Studies of Manganese Phthalocyanine Thin Films for Applications in Electrochromic Devices, " J. Electroanal. Chem., 524-525, 81-89 (2002) (SCI,EI)

6. C. L. Lin and K. C. Ho, "A Study on the Deposition Efficiency, Porosity, and Redox Behaviors of Prussian Blue Thin Films by an EQCM, "J. Electroanal. Chem., 524-525, 286-293 (2002) (SCI,EI)

7. L. C. Chen, Y. H. Huang, K. S. Tseng, and K. C. Ho, "Novel Electrochromic Batteries: I. A PB-WO₃ Cell with a Theoretical Voltage of 1.35V, " J. New Materials for Electrochem. Systems, 5, 203-212 (2002) (SCI,EI)

8. L. C. Chen, K. S. Tseng, Y. H. Huang, and K. C. Ho, "Novel Electrochromic Batteries: II. An InHCF-WO₃ Cell with a High Visual Contrast, " J. New Materials for Electrochem. Systems, 5, 213-221 (2002) (SCI,EI)

9. L. C. Chen, K. S. Tseng, and K. C. Ho, "Enhanced Electrodeposition of Indium Hexacyanoferrate Thin Films through Improved Plating Solution Stability, " J. Solid State Electrochem., 7, 1-5 (2002) (SCI,EI)

10. L. C. Chen, Y. H. Huang, and K. C. Ho, "A Complementary Electrochromic System based on Prussian Blue and Indium Hexacyanoferrate, " J. Solid State Electrochem., 7, 6-10 (2002) (SCI,EI)

11. K. C. Ho, H. C. Ko, and L. C. Chen "Optical Attenuation for Complementary Electrochromic Devices: Application to the Tungsten Oxide-Polyaniline System, " J. Ch. I. Ch. E., 33, 657-667 (2002) (SCI,EI)

12. W. T. Hung and K. C. Ho, "An Electrochemical Sensor for Nitrogen Dioxide based on Pt/Nafion Electrode," J. New Materials for Electrochem. Systems, 5, 305-313 (2002) (SCI,EI)

13. K. C. Ho and J. Y. Liao, “NO₂ Gas Sensing based on Vacuum Deposited TTF-TCNQ Thin Films,” Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 93, 370-378 (2003) (SCI,EI)

14. T. S. Tung, L. C. Chen, and K. C. Ho, “An Indium Hexacyanoferrate-Tungsten Oxide Electrochromic Battery with a Hybrid Proton/Potassium Conducting Polymer Electrolyte,” Solid State Ionics, 165, 257-267 (2003) (SCI,EI)

15. Y. H. Huang, L. C. Chen, and K. C. Ho, “Switching Behavior of the Prussian Blue-Indium Hexacyanoferrate Electrochromic Device using the Potassium Ion-Doped Poly-AMPS Polymer Electrolyte,” Solid State Ionics, 165, 269-277 (2003) (SCI,EI)

16. K. C. Ho, Y. W. Fang, Y. C. Hsu, and L. C. Chen, “The Influence of Operating Voltage and Cell Gap on the Performance of a Solution-Phase Electrochromic Device Containing HV and TMPD,” Solid State Ionics, 165, 279-287 (2003) (SCI,EI)

17. P. Varshney, M. Deepa, S. A. Agnihotry, and K. C. Ho, “Photo-polymerized films of Lithium Ion Conducting Solid Polymer Electrolyte for Electrochromic Windows (ECWs),” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 79, 449-458 (2003) (SCI,EI).

18. K. C. Ho, W. T. Hung, and J. C. Yang, “On the Electrooxidation and Amperometric Detection of NO Gas at the Pt/Nafion Electrode,” Sensors, 3, 290-303 (2003) (SCI)

19. K. C. Ho, C. Y. Chen, H. C. Hsu, L. C. Chen, S. C. Shieh, and X. Z. Lin, “Amperometric Detection of Morphine at a Prussian Blue-Modified Indium Tin Oxide Electrode,” Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 0956-5663 , (in press). (SCI,EI)

20. H. C. Hsu, L. C. Chen, and K. C. Ho, “Colorimetric Detection of Morphine in a Molecualarly Imprinted Polymer Using an Aqueous Mixture of Fe³⁺ and [Fe(CN)₆]^3-” Analytica Chimica Acta, 0003-2670 (in press). (SCI,EI)