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

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.496-501
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• 2022

In this study, an anode material for lithium secondary batteries was manufactured using petroleum-based residual oil, which is a petroleum refining by-product. Among petroleum-based residual oils, pyrolysis fuel oil (PFO), fluidized catalyst cracking-decant oil (FCC-DO), and vacuum residue (VR) were used as carbon precursors. The physicochemical characteristics of petroleum-based residual oil were confirmed through Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) and elemental analysis (EA), and the structural characteristics of anode materials manufactured from residual oil were evaluated using X-ray crystallography (XRD) and Raman spectroscopic techniques. VR was found to contain a wide range of molecular weight distributions and large amounts of impurities compared to PFO and FCC-DO, and PFO and FCC-DO exhibited almost similar physicochemical characteristics. From the XRD analysis results, carbonized PFO and FCC-DO showed similar d₀₀₂ values. However, it was confirmed that FCC-DO had a more developed layered structure than PFO in Lc (Length of a and c axes in the crystal system) and La values. In addition, FCC-DO showed the best cycle characteristics in electrochemical characteristics evaluation. According to the physicochemical and electrochemical results of the petroleum-based residual oil, FCC-DO is a better carbon precursor for a lithium secondary battery than PFO and VR.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.446-451
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• 2022

In this study, to improve capacity and cycle stability, the pitch coated nano silicon sheets/CNT composites were prepared through electrostatic bonding of nano silicon sheets and CNT. Silica sheets were synthesized by hydrolyzing TEOS on the crystal planes of NaCl, and then nano silicon sheets were prepared by using magnesiothermic reduction method. To fabricate the nano silicon sheets/CNT composites, the negatively charged CNT after the acid treatment was used to assemble the positively charged nano silicon sheets modified with APTES. THF as a solvent was used in the coating process of PFO pitch. The physical properties of the prepared anode composites were analysed by FE-SEM, XRD and EDS. The electrochemical performances of the synthesized anode composites were performed by current charge/discharge, rate performances, differential capacity and EIS tests in the electrolyte LiPF₆ dissolve solvent (EC:DMC:EMC = 1:1:1 vol%). It was found that the anode material with high capacity and stability could be synthesized when high composition of silicon and conductivity of CNT were used. The pitch coated nano silicon sheets/CNT anode composites showed initial discharge capacity of 2344.9 mAh/g and the capacity retention ratio of 81% after 50 cycles. The electrochemical property of pitch coated anode material was more improved than that of the nano silicon sheets/CNT composites.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2024

In this study, the electrochemical properties of SiOx@C composite materials were prepared to alleviate volume expansion and cycle stability of silicon and to increase the capacity of anode material for LIBs. SiO₂ particles of 100, 200, and 500 nm were synthesized by the Stӧber method, and reduced to SiOx (0≤x≤2) through the magnesiothermic reduction method. Then, SiOx@C anode materials were synthesized by carbonization of PVC on SiOx. The physical properties of prepared SiOx and SiOx@C anode materials were analyzed by XRD, SEM, TGA, Raman spectroscopy, XPS and BET. The electrochemical properties were investigated by cycling performance, rate performance, CV and EIS test. As a result, the SiOx@C-7030 manufactured by coating carbon at SiOx : C = 70 : 30 on a 100 nm SiOx with the smallest particle size showed the best electrochemical properties with a discharge capacity of 1055 mAh/g and a capacity retention rate of 81.9% at 100 cycles. It was confirmed that cycle stability was impoved by reducing particle size and carbon coating.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.99-104
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• 2024

In this study, a carbon coated hollow silicon (HSi/C) composite material was prepared for anode material of high-capacity lithiun-ion battery. Hollow silica (HSiO₂) was synthesized by the Stöber method with CTAB (N-Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide). The HSi/C anode composite was manufactured by carbon coating after magnesiothermic reduction of HSiO₂. The physical and electrochemical characteristics of the prepared anode materials were investigated based on CTAB amount. In the FE-SEM analysis, it was found that the HSiO₂ particle size increased as CTAB amount decreased, but shell thickness decreased. The HSi/C composites exhibited high initial discharge capacities of 1866.7, 2164.5 and 2188.6 mAh/g with various CTAB ratios (0.5, 1.0, 1.5), respectively. After 100 cycles of charge-discharge, 0.5-HSi/C demonstrated a high reversible capacity of 1171.3 mAh/g and a capacity retention of 70.9%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was employed to analyze the impedance characteristics, and it revealed that 0.5-HSi/C showed more stable resistance characteristics than HSi/C composites with other CTAB amount over 20 cycles.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.597-603
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• 2015

Synthetic cannabinoids JWH-018 and JWH-250 in 'herbal incense' also called 'spice' were first introduced in many countries. Numerous synthetic cannabinoids with similar chemical structures emerged simultaneously and suddenly. Currently there are not sufficient data on their adverse effects including neurotoxicity. There are only anecdotal reports that suggest their toxicity. In the present study, we evaluated the neurotoxicity of two synthetic cannabinoids (JWH-081 and JWH-210) through observation of various behavioral changes and analysis of histopathological changes using experimental mice with various doses (0.1, 1, 5 mg/kg). In functional observation battery (FOB) test, animals treated with 5 mg/kg of JWH-081 or JWH-210 showed traction and tremor. Their locomotor activities and rotarod retention time were significantly (p<0.05) decreased. However, no significant change was observed in learning or memory function. In histopathological analysis, neural cells of the animals treated with the high dose (5 mg/kg) of JWH-081 or JWH-210 showed distorted nuclei and nucleus membranes in the core shell of nucleus accumbens, suggesting neurotoxicity. Our results suggest that JWH-081 and JWH-210 may be neurotoxic substances through changing neuronal cell damages, especially in the core shell part of nucleus accumbens. To confirm our findings, further studies are needed in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.207-215
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• 2012

Soft carbons are prepared by heat-treatment of cokes with different amounts of phosphoric acid (2, 4.5, and 10 wt% vs. cokes) at $900^{\circ}C$ to be used as anode materials for lithium ion batteries. From electrochemical measurements combined with structural analyses, we confirm that abundant nano-pores are existed in the microstructure of soft carbons prepared with the phosphoric acid, which are responsible for further lithium ion storage. Significant increase in reversible capacity of soft carbon is attained in proportion to added amount of the phosphoric acid. We also demonstrate the effect of structural modification with phosphoric acid on electrochemical performance of soft carbon to elucidate the origin of additional capacity.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

Capacity of layered lithium nickel-cobalt-manganese oxide ($LiNi_{1-x-y}Co_xMn_yO_2$) cathode material can increase by raising the charge cut-off voltage above 4.3 V vs. $Li/Li^+$, but it is limited due to anodic instability of conventional electrolyte. We have been screening and evaluating various sulfone-based compounds of dimethyl sulfone (DMS), diethyl sulfone (DES), ethyl methyl sulfone (EMS) as electrolyte additives for high-voltage applications. Here we report improved cycling performance of $LiNi_{0.5}Co_{0.2}Mn_{0.3}O_2$ cathode by the use of dimethyl sulfone (DMS) additive under an aggressive charge condition of 4.6 V, compared to that in conventional electrolyte, and cathode-electrolyte interfacial reaction behavior. The cathode with DMS delivered discharge capacities of $198-173mAhg^{-1}$ over 50 cycles and capacity retention of 84%. Surface analysis results indicate that DMS induces to form a surface protective film at the cathode and inhibit metal-dissolution, which is correlated to improved high-voltage cycling performance.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2016

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) using the electrolytes containing various vanadium ions in sulfuric acid as supporting solution are one of the energy storage devices in alternatively charging and discharging operation modes. The positive electrolyte contains $V^{5+}/V^{4+}$ and the negative electrolyte $V^{2+}/V^{3+}$ depending on the operation mode. To prevent the mixing of two solutions, proton exchange membranes are mainly used in VRFBs. Nafion 117 could be the most promising candidate due to the strong oxidative property of $V^{5+}$ ion, but causes high crossover of electroactive species to result in a decrease in coulombic efficiency. In this study, the composite membranes using Nafion ionomer and porous polyethylene substrate were prepared to keep good chemical stability and to decrease the cost of membranes, and were compared to the properties and performance of the commercially available electrolyte membrane, Nafion 117. As a result, the water uptake and ionic conductivity of the composite membranes increased as the thickness of the composite membranes increased, but those of Nafion 117 slightly decreased. The permeability of vanadium ions for the composite membranes significantly decreased compared to that for Nafion 117. In a single cell test for the composite membranes, the voltage efficiency decreased and the coulombic efficiency increased, finally resulting in the similar energy efficiency. In conclusion, the less cost of the composite membranes by decreasing 6.4 wt.% of the amount of perfluorinated sulfonic acid polymer due to the introduction of porous substrate and lower vanadium ion permeability to decrease self-discharge were achieved than Nafion 117.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.8-12
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• 2009

Electronic structures and chemical bonding of Li-intercalated $LiTiS_2$ and $LiTiO_2$ were investigated by using discrete variational $X{\alpha}$ method as a first-principles molecular-orbital method. ${\alpha}-NaFeO_2$ structure is the equilibrium structure for $LiCoO_2$, which is widely used as a commercial cathode material for lithium secondary battery. The study especially focused on the charge state of Li ions and the magnitude of covalency around Li ions. The average voltage of lithium intercalation was calculated using pseudopotential method and the average intercalation voltage of $LiTiO_2$ was higher than that of $LiTiS_2$. It can be explained by the differences in Mulliken charge of lithium and the bond overlap population between the intercalated Li ions and anions in $LiTiO_2$ as well as $LiTiS_2$. The Mulliken charge, which means the ionicity of Li atom, was approximately 0.12 in $LiTiS_2$ and the bond overlap population (BOP) indicating the covalency between Ti and S was about 0.339. One the other hands, the Mulliken charge of lithium was about 0.79, which means that Li is fully ionized. The BOP, the covalency between Ti and O, was 0.181 in $LiTiO_2$. Because of high ionicity of Li and the weak covalency between Ti and the nearest anion, $LiTiO_2$ has a higher intercalation voltage than that of $LiTiS_2$.