• 한국재료학회지
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• 제25권12호
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• pp.672-677
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• 2015

Co-embedded graphitic porous carbon nanofibers(Co-GPCNFs) are synthesized by using an electrospinning method. Their morphological, structural, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties are investigated. To obtain the optimum condition of Co-GPCNFs for dye-sensitized solar cells(DSSCs), the amount of cobalt precursor in an electrospinning solutuion are controlled to be 0 wt%(conventional CNFs), 1 wt%(sample A), and 3 wt%(sample B). Among them, sample B exhibited a high degree of graphitization and porous structure compared to conventional CNFs and sample A, which result in the performance improvement of DSSCs. Therefore, sample B showed a high current density(JSC, $12.88mA/cm^2$) and excellent power conversion efficiency(PCE, 5.33 %) than those of conventional CNFs($12.00mA/cm^2$, 3.78 %). This result can be explained by combined effects of the increased contact area between the electrode and elecytolyte caused by improved porosity and the increased conductivity caused by the formation of a high degree of graphitization. Thus, the Co-GPCNFs may be used as a promising alternative of Pt-free counter electrode in DSSCs.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제25권12호
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• pp.659-665
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• 2015

The self-propagating high temperature synthesis approach was applied to synthesize amorphous boron nano-powders in argon atmospheres. For this purpose, we investigated the characteristics of a thermally induced combustion wave in the $B_2O_3+{\alpha}Mg$ system(${\alpha}=1.0-8.0$) in an argon atmospheres. In this study, the exothermic nature of the $B_2O_3-Mg$ reaction was investigated using thermodynamic calculations. Experimental study was conducted based on the calculation data and the SHS products consisting of crystalline boron and other compounds were obtained starting with a different initial molar ratio of Mg. It was found that the $B_2O_3$ and Mg reaction system produced a high combustion temperature with a rapid combustion reaction. In order to regulate the combustion reaction, NaCl, $Na_2B_4O_7$ and $H_3BO_3$ additives were investigated as diluents. In an experimental study, it was found that all diluents effectively stabilized the reaction regime. The final product of the $B_2O_3+{\alpha}Mg$ system with 0.5 mole $Na_2B_4O_7$ was identified to be amorphous boron nano-powders(< 100 nm).

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.95-99
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• 2015

$NiAl_2O_4$ nanoparticle was synthesized by a reverse micelle processing for inorganic pigment. $Ni(NO_3)_2{\cdot}6H_2O$ and $Al(NO_3)_3{\cdot}9H_2O$ were used for the precursor in order to synthesize $NiAl_2O_4$ nanoparticles. The aqueous solution, which consisted of a mixing molar ratio of Ni/Al, was 1:2 and heat treated at $800{\sim}1100^{\circ}C$ for 2h. The average size and distribution of synthesized $NiAl_2O_4$ powders are in the range of 10-20 nm and narrow, respectively. The average size of the synthesized $NiAl_2O_4$ powders increased with an increasing water-to-surfactant molar ratio and heating temperature. The crystallinity of synthesized $NiAl_2O_4$ powder increased with an increasing heating temperature. The synthesized $NiAl_2O_4$ powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis(XRD), a field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM), and a color spectrophotometer. The properties of synthesized powders were affected as a function such as a molar ratio and heating temperature. Results indicate that synthesis using a reverse miclle processing is a favorable process to obtain $NiAl_2O_4$ spinels at low temperatures. The procedure performed suggests that this new synthesis route for producing these oxides has the advantage of being fast and simple. Colorimetric coordinates indicate that the pigments obtained exhibit blue colors.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제25권12호
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• pp.683-689
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• 2015

In this study, the properties of Ag-coated $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were observed, while varying the molar ratio of water and $Ag^+$ for the surfactant and $TiO_2$. According to the XRD results, each nanoparticle showed a distinctive diffraction pattern. The intensity of the respective peaks and the sizes of the nanoparticles increased in the order of AT1($R_1=5$)(33.3 nm), AT2($R_1=10$)(38.1 nm), AT3($R_1=20$)(45.7 nm), AT4($R_1=40$)(48.6 nm) as well as AT5($R_2=0.2$, $R_3=0.5$)(41.4 nm), AT6($R_2=0.3$, $R_3=1$)(45.1 nm), AT7($R_2=0.5$, $R_3=1.5$)(49.3 nm), AT8($R_2=0.7$, $R_3=2$)(57.2 nm), which values were consistent with the results of the UV-Vis. spectrum. The surface resistance of the conductive pastes fabricated using the prepared Ag-coated $TiO_2$ nanoparticles exhibited a range 7.0~9.0($274{\sim}328{\mu}{\Omega}/cm^2$) times that of pure silver paste(ATP)($52{\mu}{\Omega}/cm^2$).

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제21권8호
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• pp.419-424
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• 2011

Pt nanoparticle catalysts incorporated on $RuO_2$ nanowire support were successfully synthesized and their electrochemical properties, such as methanol electro-oxidation and electrochemically active surface (EAS) area, were demonstrated for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). After fabricating $RuO_2$ nanowire support via an electrospinning method, two different types of incorporated Pt nanoparticle electrocatalysts were prepared using a precipitation method via the reaction with $NaBH_4$ as a reducing agent. One electrocatalyst was 20 wt% Pt/$RuO_2$, and the other was 40 wt% Pt/$RuO_2$. The structural and electrochemical properties of the Pt nanoparticle electrocatalysts incorporated on electrospun $RuO_2$ nanowire support were investigated using a bright field transmission electron microscopy (bright field TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and cyclic voltammetry. The bright field TEM, XRD, and XPS results indicate that Pt nanoparticle electrocatalysts with sizes of approximately 2-4 nm were well incorporated on the electrospun $RuO_2$ nanowire support with a diameter of approximately 50 nm. The cyclic voltammetry results showed that the Pt nanoparticle catalysts incorporated on the electrospun $RuO_2$ nanowire support give superior catalytic activity in the methanol electro-oxidation and a higher electrochemically active surface (EAS) area when compared with the electrospun Pt nanowire electrocatalysts without the $RuO_2$ nanowire support. Therefore, the Pt nanoparticle catalysts incorporated on the electrospun $RuO_2$ nanowire support could be a promising electrode for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs).

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제21권9호
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• pp.486-490
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• 2011

Nano-indium-coated ZnO:In thick films were prepared by a hydrothermal method. ZnO:In gas sensors were fabricated by a screen printing method on alumina substrates. The gas sensing properties of the gas sensors were investigated for hydrocarbon gas. The effects of the indium concentration of the ZnO:In gas sensors on the structural and morphological properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. XRD patterns revealed that the ZnO:In with wurtzite structure was grown with (1 0 0), (0 0 2), and (1 0 1) peaks. The quantity of In coating on the ZnO surface increased with increasing In concentration. The sensitivity of the ZnO:In sensors was measured for 5 ppm $CH_4$ gas and $CH_3CH_2CH_3$ gas at room temperature by comparing the resistance in air with that in target gases. The highest sensitivity to $CH_4$ gas and $CH_3CH_2CH_3$ gas of the ZnO:In sensors was observed at the In 6 wt%. The response and recovery times of the 6 wt% indiumcoated ZnO:In gas sensors were 19 s and 12 s, respectively.

• 한국재료학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국재료학회 2010년도 춘계학술발표대회
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• pp.34.2-34.2
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• 2010

Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) 화합물 반도체를 기반으로 한 태양전지는 박막태양전지 기술 중 세계최고효율을 기록하고 있다. CIGS를 합성하는 방법은 동시증발법, 스퍼터링/셀렌화 등의 진공방식과 나노분말법, 전착법, 용액법 등의 비진공방식이 있으나, 현재까지 진공방식이 양산기술로서 완성도가 높은 것으로 알려져 있다. 특히 스퍼터링에 의한 전구체 박막 증착과 셀렌 분위기에서의 열처리 공정을 결합시킨 2단계 공정은 동시증발법에 비해 대면적 모듈 제조에 유리한 것으로 알려져 있다. 셀렌화 공정은 통상 반응성이 매우 높은 H2Se 기체를 이용하고 있으나, 부식성 및 안전성 문제를 해결하기 위해 추가적인 설비가 요구되므로 제조비용을 높이는 단점을 갖는다. 한편, Se 증기를 이용하면 안전성은 담보되나 낮은 반응성으로 인해 고온에서 장시간 열처리를 해야하는 문제를 안고 있다. 본 연구에서는 새로운 Se 증기를 사용하되 반응효율을 높일 수 있는 새로운 셀렌화 열처리방법을 제시하고자 한다. 기존의 Se 증기가 별도의 증발원을 이용하여 공급된 것과는 달리, 금속전구체 직상부에 Se이 코팅된 별도의 커버글라스를 위치시켜 Se의 손실을 최대한 억제하였다. Se 커버글라스가 밀착된 금속프리커서를 $200{\sim}600^{\circ}C$ 온도범위에서 열저항가열로 내부에서 열처리하였으며, 추가로 Se을 공급하지는 않았다. 이와 같은 방법 제조된 CIGS 박막의 물성을 X선회절법, 주사전자현미경 등으로 관찰하였으며, 예비실험결과 비교적 낮은 온도에서 chalcopyrite 상이 형성됨을 확인하였다. 근접셀렌화에 의해 제조된 CIGS 박막이 적용된 태양전지를 제조하여 셀렌화 공정변수에 따른 소자특성변화를 제시하고자 한다.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제20권12호
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• pp.686-690
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• 2010

$TiO_2$ nanowires were self-catalytically synthesized on bare Si(100) substrates using metallorganic chemical vapor deposition. The nanowire formation was critically affected by growth temperature. The $TiO_2$ nanowires were grown at a high density on Si(100) at $510^{\circ}C$, which is near the complete decomposition temperature ($527^{\circ}C$) of the Ti precursor $(Ti(O-iPr)_2(dpm)_2)$. At $470^{\circ}C$, only very thin (< $0.1{\mu}m$) $TiO_2$ film was formed because the Ti precursor was not completely decomposed. When growth temperature was increased to $550^{\circ}C$ and $670^{\circ}C$, the nanowire formation was also significantly suppressed. A vaporsolid (V-S) growth mechanism excluding a liquid phase appeared to control the nanowire formation. The $TiO_2$ nanowire growth seemed to be activated by carbon, which was supplied by decomposition of the Ti precursor. The $TiO_2$ nanowire density was increased with increased growth pressure in the range of 1.2 to 10 torr. In addition, the nanowire formation was enhanced by using Au and Pt catalysts, which seem to act as catalysts for oxidation. The nanowires consisted of well-aligned ~20-30 nm size rutile and anatase nanocrystallines. This MOCVD synthesis technique is unique and efficient to self-catalytically grow $TiO_2$ nanowires, which hold significant promise for various photocatalysis and solar cell applications.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.235-240
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• 2010

We investigated the carbon monoxide (CO) gas-sensing properties of nanostructured Al-doped zinc oxide thin films deposited on self-assembled Au nanodots (ZnO/Au thin films). The Al-doped ZnO thin film was deposited onto the structure by rf sputtering, resulting in a gas-sensing element comprising a ZnO-based active layer with an embedded Pt/Ti electrode covered by the self-assembled Au nanodots. Prior to the growth of the active ZnO layer, the Au nanodots were formed via annealing a thin Au layer with a thickness of 2 nm at a moderate temperature of $500^{\circ}C$. It was found that the ZnO/Au nanostructured thin film gas sensors showed a high maximum sensitivity to CO gas at $250^{\circ}C$ and a low CO detection limit of 5 ppm in dry air. Furthermore, the ZnO/Au thin film CO gas sensors exhibited fast response and recovery behaviors. The observed excellent CO gas-sensing properties of the nanostructured ZnO/Au thin films can be ascribed to the Au nanodots, acting as both a nucleation layer for the formation of the ZnO nanostructure and a catalyst in the CO surface reaction. These results suggest that the ZnO thin films deposited on self-assembled Au nanodots are promising for practical high-performance CO gas sensors.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.211-214
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• 2013

The effects of a Ni coating on the sensing properties of nano ZnO:Ni based gas sensors were studied for $CH_4$ and $CH_3CH_2CH_3$ gases. Nano ZnO sensing materials were prepared by the hydrothermal reaction method. The Ni coatings on the nano ZnO surface were deposited by the hydrolysis of zinc chloride with $NH_4OH$. The weight % of Ni coating on the ZnO surface ranged from 0 to 10 %. The nano ZnO:Ni gas sensors were fabricated by a screen printing method on alumina substrates. The structural and morphological properties of the nano ZnO : Ni sensing materials were investigated by XRD, EDS, and SEM. The XRD patterns showed that nano ZnO : Ni powders with a wurtzite structure were grown with (1 0 0), (0 0 2), and (1 0 1) dominant peaks. The particle size of nano ZnO powders was about 250 nm. The sensitivity of nano ZnO:Ni based sensors for 5 ppm $CH_4$ gas and $CH_3CH_2CH_3$ gas was measured at room temperature by comparing the resistance in air with that in target gases. The highest sensitivity of the ZnO:Ni sensor to $CH_4$ gas and $CH_3CH_2CH_3$ gas was observed at Ni 4 wt%. The response and recovery times of 4 wt% Ni coated ZnO:Ni gas sensors were 14 s and 15 s, respectively.