• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.57-65
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• 2020

It is crucial to investigate the thermal degradation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) to understand the possible malfunction at high temperature. Herein, we investigated the effects of surface film formation on the thermal degradation of lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO₂, LCO) cathode that is one of representative cathode materials. Cycling test at 60℃ exhibited poorer cycleability compared with the cycling at 25℃. Cathodes after the initial 5 cycles at 60℃ (60-LCO) exhibited higher impedance compared to the cathode after initial 5 cycles at 25℃ (25-LCO), resulting in the lower rate capability upon subsequent cycling at 25℃, although the capacity values were similar at the lowest C-rate of 0.1C. In order to understand degradation of the LCO cathode at the high temperature, we analyzed the cathodes surface using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Among various peaks, intensity of lithium hydroxide (LiOH) increased substantially after the operation at 60℃, and the C-C signal that represents the conductive agent was distinctly lower on 60-LCO compared to 25-LCO. These results pointed to an excessive formation of cathode-electrolyte interphase including LiOH at 60℃, leading to the increase in the resistance and the resultant degradation in the electrochemical performances.

• Spatial Information Research
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• v.14 no.1 s.36
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• pp.163-176
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• 2006

The concept of 'spatial association' explains spatial distribution pattern of geographical phenomenon based on similarity with neighborhoods, as in the Tobler's Law of Geography: 'Everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things.' In this study, we develop a time-series exploratory analysis tool for discovering temporal patterns of spatial association by combining spatial statistics and geo-visualization, and thus present a possibility to support spatial decision-making process. As for the spatial proximity weight matrix indispensable to measuring global and local spatial association, we employ a variety of flexible weighting schemes using geometric characteristics of areal unit. In addition, we renovate the existing visualization methods for more effective understanding of the procedures and results of time-series analysis on spatial association: for instance, temporal parallel coordinate plot with box plot, animated map for spatial association, and 3D Moran scatterplot. The feasibility of our system is verified by time-series analysis experiments on the spatial association of land price fluctuation rate for all administrative units in Korea, $1995{\sim}2004$.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.432-436
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• 2006

The new dinuclear CGC (constrained geometry complexes) with indenyl and methyl sub-stituted indenyl and polymethylene bridge have been synthesized, and the copolymerization of ethylene and styrene has been studied in the presence of methylalumionoxane. The activity of 12-methylene and 9-methylene bridged dinuclear CGC were 4 times higher than that of 6-methylene bridged dinucleay CGC. This result might be understood by the implication that the steric effect rather than the electronic effect nay play a major role to direct the polymerization behavior of the dinuclear CGC. The dinuclear CGCs are very efficient to incorporate styrene in backbone. The styrene contents in the formed co-polymers ranged from 6 to 45 mol% according to the polymerization conditions. The melting temperature of copolymers disappeared at high content of styrene (about 11 mol%) There is no styrene-styrene diblock sequence in copolymers. This result Indicates that the dinuclear CGC are very effective to generate random copolymer of ethylene and styrene.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2006

Linear and branched copolymers consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and $Poly({\varepsilon}-caprolactone)$ (PCL) were prepared to compare the characterization of star-shaped copolymers with various molecular architecture. Linear and branched PEG-PCL (1-arm, 2-arm, 4-arm, and 8-arm) copolymers were synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of ${\varepsilon}-caprolactone$ in the presence of HCl $Et_2O$ as a monomer activator at room temperature. The synthesized copolymers were characterized with $^1H-NMR$, GPC, DSC, and XRD. As a result of the DSC and XRD, each copolymers showed different thermal properties and crystallinity according to the number of ms. The micellar characterization of linear and branched copolymers in an aqueous phase was carried out by using NMR, dynamic light scattering, AM, and fluorescence techniques. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) and diameters of micelles depended on the number of arms. Most micelles exhibited a spherical shape in AFM. In this study, we characterized star-shaped PEG-PCL copolymers and investigated their molecular architecture effect on the various properties. Furthermore, we confirmed that the micelles termed with linear and branched PEG-PCL copolymers have possibility as a potential hydrophobic drug delivery vehicle.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.496-502
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• 2001

Thermally stable polyquinonediimines(PQDI) containing di-azobenzene in the side chain were synthesized by means of condensation polymerization under $TiCl_4$. The synthesized monomers and polymers were identified by FT-IR, $^1H-NMR$, and elemental analysis. Especially, the polymerization of PQDI was confirmed by the double-bonding peak of >C=N appearing near 1625cm$^{-1}$ in FT-IR spectrum. PQDI with di-azobenzene group in one side chain was insoluble in methanol, acetone and non-polar solvents having big dielectric constant, but had good solubility in polar solvents having small dielectric constant. Molecular weight distribution of PQDI measured by GPC was 1.38. It was confirmed to be amorphous polymer through X-ray diffraction by the appearance of the halo in case of PQDI containing di-azobenzene in the side chain. The glass transition temperature ($_g$) of synthesized polymer was measured to be 116$^{\circ}C$ by differential scanning calorimetry. The SHG value for ${\chi}^{(2)}$ was 1.2 pm/V (${\lambda}$ = 1.542 ${\mu}$m). The SHG value slightly decreased in an early stage but showed temporal stability after 20 hours.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.106-112
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• 2011

Aromatic copolyamides were prepared and their applicability to proton exchange membrane was studied. The copolymers contain two segments; thermally stable and mechanically strong poly (p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA), and easily processable and good film-forming polysulfone. For the copolymers, different ratios of amine-terminated sulfonated ether sulfone monomer, terephthaloyl chloride, and p-phenylene diamine were sequentially reacted. The obtained copolymers were mixed with trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether (TMPTGE), thermally cured, and converted into proton exchange membranes for fuel cell application. The reactions at each step and the molecular characteristics of precursor copolymers were confirmed by $^1H$ NMR, FTIR, and titration. The performance of the membranes was measured in terms of water uptake and proton conductivity. The water uptake, ion exchange capacity (IEC), and proton conductivity of the membranes increased with the increase of sulfonated ether sulfone segment content. Membrane containing 60 mol% sulfonic acid sulfone segment showed 1.88 meq/g IEC value. Water uptake was limited less than 110 wt% and the highest proton conductivity was up to $7.4{\times}10^{-2}$ S/cm ($25^{\circ}C$, RH=100%).

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.472-477
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• 2011

To study the effects of the acid group of functionalized MWNT (multiwalled carbon nanotube) on the thermal and mechanical properties of polyacrylonitrile(PAN) nanofibers, acid ($H_2SO_4/HNO_3$) treated MWNT (O-MWNT) were further functionalized by diazonium salt reaction with 5-aminoisophthalic acid (IPA). Compared to O-MWNT, IPA-MWNT with isophthalic acid group showed a better dispersion stability in polar solvents and IPA-MWNT/PAN composite film displayed lower heat of reaction (${\Delta}H$) than that of homo PAN when stabilized under air atmosphere. The continuous electrospun fibers were prepared using a conductive water bath. PAN fibers containing 1 wt% of IPA-MWNT showed an increase of tensile strength by 100% and tensile modulus by 240% compared to the PAN fibers without IPA-MWNT.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2011

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a biodegradable synthetic polymer with acceptable mechanical strength and well-controlled degradation rate. Also, it can be easily fabricated into many shapes. Silk fibroin contains powerful bioactive molecules. We fabricated natural/synthetic hybrid films using 0, 10, 20, 40 and 80 wt% of silk fibroin. Schwann cells (SCs) were seeded on PLGA/silk fibroin hybrid films and confirmed the effects of adhesion and proliferation on SCs according to the content of silk fibroin. In this study, we confirmed PLGA/silk fibroin hybrid film containing 40% and 80% of silk fibroin interrupted adhesion and proliferation of SCs. Films containing 10% and 20% of silk, however, provided suitable environment for growth and proliferation of SCs. These results suggest that silk fibroin provides suitables surface to neural cells and its proper content provides proper culture conditions to improve cell adhesion and proliferation.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.52-59
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• 2011

L-PLA or D-PLA was synthesized in bulk at $140^{\circ}C$ by ring opening polymerization(ROP) of L-lactide or D-lactide as a monomer using tin(II) octoate and lauryl alcohol as a catalyst and an initiator with changing the amounts of catalyst(0.25~1.0 wt%) and initiator(0.l~0.5 wt%). And stereocomplex-PLA was prepared by L-PLA/D-PLA having a wide range of molecular weight(30000~90000 g/mol) and L-PLA/D-PLA blends having different mixing ratio ($X_D$). The melting temperature. thermal degradation temperature and thermal stability of stereocomplex-PLA were higher than those of homopolymers(L-PLA, D-PLA). We supposed that these improvements arose from a strong interaction between L-PLA and D-PLA. The improved mechanical properties and changes in morphology of LPLA/D-PLA blends were compared to those of homopolymers(L-PLA, D-PLA).

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.211-217
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• 2013

Potassium tert-butoxide (t-BuOK) with $CO_2$ or benzoyl chloride (BzC) as a polymerization initiator system was used with crown ether or TMAC as catalyst to synthesize very high molecular weight nylon 4 homo- and copolymers by anionic ring opening polymerization. Effect of different amounts of catalyst, crown ether and TMAC on the polymerization was studied in terms of intrinsic viscosity, yield and thermal properties. By adding crown ether or TMAC, polymers with very higher intrinsic viscosity values were obtained in a high yield. It was possible to synthesize nylon 4 homopolymer with such a high intrinsic viscosity value of 6.36 dL/g. Crown ether was found to be more efficient in terms of intrinsic viscosity and polymer yields than TMAC. Thermal analysis confirmed that molecular weight effect on the thermal properties of both nylon 4 and nylon 4 copolymer was marginal.