• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.9-15
• /
• 2005

In order to know the electrochemical decomposition characteristics of ammonia to nitrogen, this work has studied several experimental variables on the electrolytic ammonia decomposition. The effects of pH and chloride ion at $IrO_2$, $RuO_2$, and Pt anodes on the electrolytic decomposition of ammonia were compared, and the existence of membrane equipped in the cell and the changes of the current density, the initial ammonia concentration and so on were investigated on the decomposition. The performances of the electrode were totally in order of $RuO_2{\approx}IrO_2>Pt$ in the both of acid and alkali conditions, and the ammonia decomposition was the highest at a current density of $80mA/cm^2$, over which it decreased, because the adsorption of ammonia on the electrode surface was hindered due to the evolution of oxygen. The ammonia decomposition increased with the concentration of chloride ion in the solution. However, the increase became much dull over 10 g/l of chloride ion. The $RuO_2$ electrode among the tested electrodes generated the most OH radicals which could oxidized the ammonium ion at pH 7.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.161-171
• /
• 2015

High-yield zinc germanium oxide ($Zn_2GeO_4$) and zinc tin oxide ($Zn_2SnO_4$) nanowires were synthesized using a hydrothermal method. We investigated the electrochemical properties of these $Zn_2GeO_4$ and $Zn_2SnO_4$ nanowires as anode materials of lithium ion battery and sodium ion battery. The $Zn_2GeO_4$ and $Zn_2SnO_4$ nanowires showed excellent cycling performance of the lithium ion battery, with a maximum capacity of 1021 mAh/g and 692 mAh/g after 50 cycles, respectively, with a high Coulomb efficiency of 98 %. For the first time, we examined the cycling performance of $Zn_2GeO_4$ and $Zn_2SnO_4$ nanowires for sodium ion batteries. The maximum capacity is 168 mAh/g and 200 mAh/g after 50 cycles, respectively, with a high Coulomb efficiency of 97%. These nanowires are expected as promising electrode materials for the development of high-performance lithium ion batteries as well as sodium ion batteries.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.223-231
• /
• 2021

In order to address many issues associated with large volume changes of silicon, which has very low electrical conductivity but offers about 10 times higher theoretical capacity than graphite (Gr), a silicon nanoparticles/hollow carbon (SiNP/HC) composite having bimodal-mesopores was prepared using silica nanoparticles as a template. A control SiNP/C composite without a hollow structure was also prepared for comparison. The physico-chemical and electrochemical properties of SiNP/HC were analyzed by X-ray diffractometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements for surface area and pore size distribution, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, galvanostatic cycling, and cyclic voltammetry tests to compare them with those of the SiNP/C composite. The SiNP/HC composite showed significantly better cycle life and efficiency than the SiNP/C, with minimal increase in electrode thickness after long cycles. A hybrid composite, SiNP/HC@Gr, prepared by physical mixing of the SiNP/HC and Gr at a 50:50 weight ratio, exhibited even better cycle life and efficiency than the SiNP/HC at low capacity. Thus, silicon/carbon composites designed to have hollow spaces capable of accommodating volume expansion were found to be highly effective for long cycle life of silicon-based composites. However, further study is required to improve the low initial coulombic efficiency of SiNP/HC and SiNP/HC@Gr, which is possibly because of their high surface area causing excessive electrolyte decomposition for the formation of solid-electrolyte-interface layers.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.57 no.4
• /
• pp.559-564
• /
• 2019

Hierarchical $ZnCo_2O_4$ hollow nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning and subsequent heat-treatment process. The spinning solution containing polystyrene (PS) nanobeads was electrospun to nanofibers. During heat-treatment process, PS nanobeads in the composite were decomposed and therefore generated numerous pores uniformly in the structure, which facilitated the heat transfer and gas penetration into the structure. The resulting hierarchical $ZnCo_2O_4$ hollow nanofibers were applied as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The discharge capacity of the nanofibers was $815mA\;h\;g^{-1}$ ($646mA\;h\;cm^{-3}$) after the 300th cycle at a high current density of $1.0A\;g^{-1}$. However, $ZnCo_2O_4$ nanopowders showed the discharge capacity of $487mA\;h\;g^{-1}$ ($450mA\;h\;cm^{-3}$) after 300th cycle. The excellent lithium ion storage property of the hierarchical $ZnCo_2O_4$ hollow nanofibers was attributed to the synergetic effects of the hollow nanofiber structure and the $ZnCo_2O_4$ nanocrystals composing the shell. The hierarchical hollow nanofiber structure introduced in this study can be extended to various metal oxides for various applications, including energy storage.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.56 no.6
• /
• pp.819-825
• /
• 2018

Porous nanofibers comprising hollow ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ nanospheres were prepared by applying both template method and Kirkendall diffusion effect to electrospinning process. During heat-treatment processes, the solid Fe nano-metals formed by initial heat-treatment in the carbon matrix were converted into the hollow structured ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ nanospheres. In particular, PS nanobeads added in the spinning solution were decomposed and formed numerous channels in the composite, which served as a good pathway for Kirkendall diffusion gas. The resulting porous nanofibers comprising hollow ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ nanospheres were applied as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The discharge capacities of the nanofibers for the 30th cycle at a high current density of $1.0A\;g^{-1}$ was $776mA\;h\;g^{-1}$. The good lithium ion storage property was attributed to the synergetic effects of the hollow ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ nanospheres and the interstitial nanovoids between the nanospheres. The synthetic method proposed in this study could be applied to the preparation of porous nanofibers comprising hollow nanospheres with various composition for various applications, including energy storage.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.165-173
• /
• 2019

Lithium anodes (13, 15, 17, and 20 wt% Li) were fabricated by mixing molten lithium and iron powder, which was used as a binder to hold the molten lithium, at about $500^{\circ}C$ (discharge temp.). In this study, the effect of applied pressure and lithium content on the discharge properties of a thermal battery's single cell was investigated. A single cell using a Li anode with a lithium content of less than 15 wt% presented reliable performance without any abrupt voltage drop resulting from molten lithium leakage under an applied pressure of less than $6kgf/cm^2$. Furthermore, it was confirmed that even when the solid electrolyte is thinner, the Li anode of the single cell normally discharges well without a deterioration in performance. The Li anode of the single cell presented a significantly improved open-circuit voltage of 2.06 V, compared to that of a Li-Si anode (1.93 V). The cut-off voltage and specific capacity were 1.83 V and $1,380As\;g^{-1}$ (Li anode), and 1.72 V and $1,364As\;g^{-1}$ (Li-Si anode). Additionally, the Li anode exhibited a stable and flat discharge curve until 1.83 V because of the absence of phase change phenomena of Li metal and a subsequent rapid voltage drop below 1.83 V due to the complete depletion of Li at the end state of discharge. On the other hand, the voltage of the Li-Si anode cell decreased in steps, $1.93V{\rightarrow}1.72V(Li_{13}Si_4{\rightarrow}Li_7Si_3){\rightarrow}1.65V(Li_7Si_3{\rightarrow}Li_{12}Si_7)$, according to the Li-Si phase changes during the discharge reaction. The energy density of the Li anode cell was $807.1Wh\;l^{-1}$, which was about 50% higher than that of the Li-Si cell ($522.2Wh\;l^{-1}$).

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.69-78
• /
• 2019

Lithium metal anode with the highest theoretical capacity to replace graphite anodes are being reviewed. However, the dendrite growth during repeated oxidation/reduction reaction on lithium metal surface, which results in poor cycle performance and safety issue has hindered its successful implementation. In our previous work, we solved this problem by using surface modification technique whereby a surface pattern on lithium metal anode is introduced. Although the micro-patterned Lithium metal electrode is beneficial to control Li metal deposition efficiently, it is difficult to control the mossy-like Li granulation at high current density ($>2.0mA\;cm^{-2}$). In this study, we introduce vinylene carbonate (VC) electrolyte additive on micro patterned lithium metal anode to suppress the lithium dendrite growth. Owing to the synergetic effect of micro-patterned lithium metal anode and VC electrolyte additive, lithium dendrite at a high current density is dense. As a result, we confirmed that the cycle performance was further improved about 6 times as compared with the reference electrode.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.459-465
• /
• 2022

A pitch coating method was proposed for the purpose of improving the electrochemical properties of natural graphite. The synthesis conditions of pitch coating were optimized via measuring electrochemical properties of pitch-coated graphite anodes. As the synthesis temperature increased, the thermal stability was improved in addition to an increase in the softening point and residual carbon weight. However, the synthesis temperature of 430 ℃ resulted in the synthesis of a large amount of NI (NMP Insoluble) due to excessive condensation reaction. As the surface uniformity and coating thickness increased due to high thermal stability, the initial coulombic efficiency and rate capability of the pitch-coated graphite were improved. However, the graphite coated with the pitch containing excessive NI showed lower electrochemical properties than the uncoated graphite. NI had low dispersibility and formed spheres after heat treatment, so it formed the heterogeneous and thicker SEI layer. The optimum conditions for forming a uniform surface and an appropriate coating layer were investigated.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2022

Lithium metal is the most promising anode for next-generation lithium-ion batteries due to its lowest reduction potential (-3.04 V vs. SHE) and high specific capacity (3860 mAh/g). However, the dendritic formation under high charging current density remains one of main technical barriers to be used for commercial rechargeable batteries. To address these issues, tremendous research to suppress lithium dendrite formation have been conducted through new electrolyte formulation, robust protection layer, shape-controlled lithium metal, separator modification, etc. However, Li/Li symmetric cell test is always a starting or essential step to demonstrate better lithium dendrite formation behavior with lower overpotential and longer cycle life without careful analysis. Thus, this review summarizes overpotential behaviors of Li/Li symmetric cells along with theoretical explanations like initial peaking or later arcing. Also, we categorize various overpotential data depending on research approaches and discuss them based on peaking and arcing behaviors. Thus, this review will be very helpful for researchers in lithium metal to analyze their overpotential behaviors.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.27-34
• /
• 2023

In this study, various plant-based biomass are recycled into carbon materials to employ as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Firstly, various biomass of rice husk, chestnut, tea bag, and coffee ground are collected, washed, and ground. The carbonization process is followed under a nitrogen atmosphere at 850℃. The morphological and chemical properties of materials are investigated using FE-SEM, EDS, and FT-IR to compare the characteristic differences between various biomass. It is noticeable that biomass-derived carbon materials vary in shape and degree of carbonization depending on their precursor materials. These materials are applied as anode materials to measure the electrochemical performance. The specific capacities of rice husk-, chetnut-, tea bag-, and coffee ground-derived carbon materials are evaluated as 65.8, 80.2, 90.6, and 104.7 mAh g^-1 at 0.2C. Notably, coffee ground-based carbon exhibited the highest specific capacity owing to the difference in elemental composition and the degree of carbonization. Conclusively, this study suggests the possibility of utilizing as energy storage devices by employing various plant-based biomass into active materials for anodes.