• Journal of the Korean Physical Society
• /
• v.73 no.12
• /
• pp.1863-1866
• /
• 2018

The sodium-iron phosphate maricite-$NaFe_{0.9}Mn_{0.1}PO_4$ was synthesized using the ball mill method. The crystal structure and magnetic properties of the prepared materials were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and $M{\ddot{o}}ssbauer$ spectroscopy. Structural refinement of maricite-$NaFe_{0.9}Mn_{0.1}PO_4$ was analyzed using the FullProf program. From the XRD patterns, the crystal structure of maricite-$NaFe_{0.9}Mn_{0.1}PO_4$ was found to be orthorhombic with the space group Pmnb. The lattice parameters of maricite-$NaFe_{0.9}Mn_{0.1}PO_4$ are as follows: $a_0=6.866{\AA}$, $b_0=8.988{\AA}$, $c_0=5.047{\AA}$, and $V=311.544{\AA}^3$. Maricite-$NaFePO_4$ has an edge-sharing structure that consists of $FeO_6$ octahedral. Under an applied field of 100 Oe, the temperature dependences of zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled (FC) curves were measured from 4.2 to 295 K. $M{\ddot{o}}ssbauer$ spectra were also recorded at various temperatures ranging from 4.2 to 295 K. We thus confirmed that the $N{\acute{e}}el$ temperature of $NaFe_{0.9}Mn_{0.1}PO_4$ ($T_N=14K$) was lower than that of maricite-$NaFePO_4$ ($T_N=15K$).

• Journal of Korea Society of Waste Management
• /
• v.35 no.7
• /
• pp.653-659
• /
• 2018

In the industrial wastewater that occupies a large proportion of river pollution, the wastewater generated in textile, leather, and plating industries is hardly decomposable. Though dyeing wastewater has generally been treated using chemical and biological methods, its characteristics cause treatment efficiencies such as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and suspended solids (SS) to be reduced only in the activated sludge method. Currently, advanced oxidation technology for the treatment of dyeing wastewater is being developed worldwide. Electro-coagulation is highly adapted to industrial wastewater treatment because it has a high removal efficiency and a short processing time regardless of the biodegradable nature of the contaminant. In this study, the effects of the current density and the electrolyte condition on the COD removal efficiency in dyeing wastewater treatment by using electro-coagulation were tested with an aluminum anode and a stainless steel cathode. The results are as follows: (1) When the current density was adjusted to $20A/m^2$, $40A/m^2$, and $60A/m^2$ under the condition without electrolyte, the COD removal efficiency at 60 min was 62.3%, 72.3%, and 81.0%, respectively. (2) The removal efficiency with NaCl addition was 7.9% higher on average than that with non-addition at all current densities. (3) The removal efficiency with $Na_2SO_4$ addition was 4.7% higher on average than that with non-addition at all current densities.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.78-89
• /
• 2022

ANODE-free Li-metal batteries (AFLMBs) operating with Li of cathode material have attracted enormous attention due to their exceptional energy density originating from anode-free structure in the confined cell volume. However, uncontrolled dendritic growth of lithium on a copper current collector can limit its practical application as it causes fatal issues for stable cycling such as dead Li formation, unstable solid electrolyte interphase, electrolyte exhaustion, and internal short-circuit. To overcome this limitation, here, we report a novel dual-salt electrolyte comprising of 0.2 M LiPF₆ + 3.8 M lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide in a carbonate/ester co-solvent with 5 wt% fluoroethylene carbonate, 2 wt% vinylene carbonate, and 0.2 wt% LiNO₃ additives. Because the dual-salt electrolyte facilitates uniform/dense Li deposition on the current collector and can form robust/ionic conductive LiF-based SEI layer on the deposited Li, a Li/Li symmetrical cell exhibits improved cycling performance and low polarization for over 200 h operation. Furthermore, the anode-free LiFePO₄/Cu cells in the carbonate electrolyte shows significantly enhanced cycling stability compared to the counterparts consisting of different salt ratios. This study shows an importance of electrolyte design guiding uniform Li deposition and forming stable SEI layer for AFLMBs.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.12 no.5
• /
• pp.17-22
• /
• 2021

Eco-friendly magnesium-air battery is a kind of metal-air battery known as a primary battery with a very high theoretical discharge capacity. This battery is also called a metal-fuel cell from the viewpoint of using oxygen in the atmosphere as a cathode active material and magnesium alloy as a fuel. Since battery performance is determined by the properties of the magnesium alloy used as a anode, more research and development of the magnesium alloy electrode as a anode material are required in order to commercialize it as a high-performance battery. In this study, the commercialized magnesium alloys(AZ31, AZ61) were selected and then electrochemical measurements and discharge test were conducted. Electrochemical properties of magnesium alloys were investigated by OCP changes, Tafel parameters and CV measurement, and the feasibilities of AZ61 alloy with excellent discharge capacity(1410mAhg^-1) as electrode materials were evaluated through CC discharge experiments.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.199-207
• /
• 2022

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) have emerged as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to their high energy density and economic viability. In addition, all-solid-state LSBs, which use solid-state electrolytes, have been proposed to overcome the polysulfide shuttle effect while improving safety. However, the high interfacial resistance and poor ionic conductivity exhibited by the electrode and solid-state electrolytes, respectively, are significant challenges in the development of these LSBs. Herein, we apply a poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based composite solid-state electrolyte with oxide Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZO) solid-state electrolyte in an all-solid-state LSB to overcome these challenges. We use an electrochemical method to evaluate the degradation of the all-solid-state LSB in accordance with the carbon content and loading weight within the cathode. The all-solid-state LSB, with sulfur-carbon content in a ratio of 3:3, exhibited a high initial discharge capacity (1386 mAh g^-1), poor C-rate performance, and capacity retention of less than 50%. The all-solid-state LSB with a high loading weight exhibited a poor overall electrochemical performance. The factors influencing the electrochemical performance degradation were revealed through systematic analysis.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.184-193
• /
• 2023

This study investigates the effects of a carbon fiber layer formed on the surface of an etched aluminum current collector on the electrochemical properties of the activated carbon electrodes for an electric double layer capacitor. A particle size analyzer, field-emission SEM, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm analyzer are employed to analyze the structure of the carbon fiber layer. The electric and electrochemical properties of the activated carbon electrodes using a carbon fiber layer are evaluated using an electrode resistance meter and a charge-discharge tester, respectively. To uniformly coat the surface with carbon fiber, we applied a planetary mill process, adjusted the particle size, and prepared the carbon paste by dispersing in a binder. Subsequently, the carbon paste was coated on the surface of the etched aluminum current collector to form the carbon under layer, after which an activated carbon slurry was coated to form the electrodes. Based on the results, the interface resistance of the EDLC cell made of the current collector with the carbon fiber layer was reduced compared to the cell using the pristine current collector. The interfacial resistance decreased from 0.0143 Ω·cm² to a maximum of 0.0077 Ω·cm². And degradation reactions of the activated carbon electrodes are suppressed in the 3.3 V floating test. We infer that it is because the improved electric network of the carbon fiber layer coated on the current collector surface enhanced the electron collection and interfacial diffusion while protecting the surface of the cathode etched aluminum; thereby suppressing the formation of Al-F compounds.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.361-368
• /
• 2023

In lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, encapsulation of sulfur in activated carbon (AC) materials is a promising strategy for preventing the dissolution of lithium polysulfide into electrolytes and enhancing cycle life, because instead of solid-liquid-solid reactions, quasi-solid-state (QSS) reactions occur in the AC micropores. While a high weight fraction of sulfur in S/AC composites is essential for achieving a high energy density of Li-S cells, the deterioration mechanisms under such conditions are still unclear. In this study, we report the deterioration mechanisms during charge-discharge cycling when the discharge products overflow from the AC. Analysis using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry confirms that the sulfur in the S/AC composites migrates outside the AC as cycling progresses, and it is barely present in the AC after 20 cycles, which corresponds to the capacity decay of the cell. Impedance analysis clearly shows that the electrical resistance of the S/AC composite and the charge-transfer resistance of QSS reactions significantly increase as a result of sulfur migration. On the other hand, the charge-discharge cycling performance under limited-capacity conditions, where the discharge products are encapsulated inside the AC, is extremely stable. These results reveal the degradation mechanism of a Li-S cell with micro-porous carbon and provide crucial insights into the design of a S/AC composite cathode and its operating conditions needed to achieve stable cycling performance.

• New & Renewable Energy
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.20-26
• /
• 2023

Emitted CO₂ is an attractive material for microbial electrochemical CO₂ reduction. Microbial electrochemical CO₂ reduction (i.e., microbial electrosynthesis, MES) using biocatalysts has advantages compared to conventional CO₂ reduction using electrocatalysts. However, MES has several challenges, including electrode performance, biocatalysts, and reactor optimization. In this study, an MES system was investigated for optimizing reactor types, counter electrode materials, and CO₂-converting microorganisms to achieve effective CO₂ upcycling. In autotrophic cultivation (supplementation of CO₂ and H₂), CO₂ consumption of Rhodobacter sphaeroides was observed to be four times higher than that with heterotrophic cultivation (supplementation of succinic acid). The bacterial growth in an MES reactor with a single-chambered shape was two times higher than that with a double chamber (H-type MES reactor). Moreover, a single-chambered MES reactor equipped with titanium mesh as the counter electrode (anode) showed markedly increased current density in the graphite felt as a working electrode (cathode) compared to that with a graphite felt counter electrode (anode). These results demonstrate that the optimized conditions of a single chamber and titanium mesh for the counter electrode have a positive effect on microbial electrochemical CO₂ reduction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.38-43
• /
• 2024

Recently, with the expanding market for electronic devices and electric vehicles, secondary battery usage has been on the rise. Lithium-ion batteries are particularly popular due to their fast charging times and lightweight nature compared to other types of batteries. A secondary battery consists of four components: anode, cathode, electrolyte, and separator. Generally, the positive and negative electrode materials of secondary batteries are composed of an active material, a binder, and a conductive material. Acetylene Black (AB) is utilized to enhance conductivity between active material particles or metal dust collectors, preventing the binder from acting as an insulator. However, when recycling waste batteries that have been subject to high usage, there is a risk of fire and explosion accidents, as accurately identifying the characteristics of Acetylene Black dust proves to be challenging. In this study, the lower explosion limit for Acetylene Black dust with an average particle size of 0.042 ㎛ was determined to be 153.64 mg/L using a Hartmann-type dust explosion device. Notably, the dust did not explode at values below 168 mg, rendering the lower explosion limit calculation unfeasible. Analysis of explosion delay times with varying electrode gaps revealed the shortest delay time at 3 mm, with a noticeable increase in delay times for gaps of 4 mm or greater. The findings offer fundamental data for fire and explosion prevention measures in Acetylene Black waste recycling processes via a predictive model for lower explosion limits and ignition delay time.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.60-67
• /
• 2019

A valuable metal recovery from waste resources such as spent rechargeable secondary batteries is of critical issues because of a sharp increase in the amount of waste resources. In this context, it is necessary to research not only recycling waste lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but also reusing valuable metals (e.g., Li, Co, Ni, Mn etc.) recovered from waste LIBs. In particular, the lithium hydroxide ($LiOH{\cdot}xH_2O$), which is of precursors that can be prepared by the recovery of Li in waste LIBs, can be reused as a catalyst, a carbon dioxide absorbent, and again as a precursor for cathode materials of LIB. However, most studies of recycling the waste LIBs have been focused on the preparation of lithium carbonate with a recovery of Li. Herein, we show the preparation of high purity lithium hydroxide powder along with the precipitation process, and the systematic study to find an optimum condition is also carried out. The lithium carbonate, which is recovered from waste LIBs, was used as starting materials for synthesis of lithium hydroxide. The optimum precipitation conditions for the preparation of LiOH were found as follows: based on stirring, reaction temperature $90^{\circ}C$, reaction time 3 hr, precursor ratio 1:1. To synthesize uniform and high purity lithium hydroxide, 2-step precipitation process was additionally performed, and consequently, high purity $LiOH{\cdot}xH_2O$ powder was obtained.