• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.50-53
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• 2009

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were synthesized on different substrates (bare Si and $SiO_2$/Si substrate) to investigate dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications as counter electrode materials. The synthesis of MWNTs samples used identical conditions of a Fe catalyst created by thermal chemical vapor deposition at $900^{\circ}C$. It was found that the diameter of the MWNTs on the Si substrate sample is approximately $5{\sim}10nm$ larger than that of a $SiO_2$/Si substrate sample. Moreover, MWNTs on a Si substrate sample were well-crystallized in terms of their Raman spectrum. In addition, the MWNTs on Si substrate sample show an enhanced redox reaction, as observed through a smaller interface resistance and faster reaction rates in the EIS spectrum. The results show that DSSCs with a MWNT counter electrode on a bare Si substrate sample demonstrate energy conversion efficiency in excess of 1.4 %.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.220-230
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• 2018

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of solution treatment on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of cast AZ91-4%RE magnesium alloy. In the as-cast state, microstructure of the AZ91-4%RE alloy was characterized by intermetallic ${\beta}(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$, $Al_{11}RE_3$ and $Al_2RE$ phase particles distributed in ${\alpha}-(Mg)$ matrix. After solution treatment, the ${\beta}$ particles with low melting point dissolved into the matrix, but Al-RE phases still remained due to their high thermal stabilities. It was found from the immersion and potentiodynamic polarization tests that corrosion rate of the AZ91-4%RE alloy increased after the solution treatment. On the contrary, EIS tests and EDS compositional analyses on the surface corrosion products indicated that the stability of the corrosion product was improved after the solution treatment. Examinations on the corroded microstructures for the ascast and solution-treated samples revealed that dissolution of the ${\beta}$ particles which play a beneficial role in suppressing corrosion propagation, would be responsible for the deterioration of corrosion resistance after the solution treatment. This result implies that the microstructural features such as amount, size and distribution of secondary phases that determine corrosion mechanism, are more influential on the corrosion rate in comparison with the stability of surface corrosion product.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.82-88
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• 2011

A uniform chromium-free conversion coating treated with an alkaline phosphate- permanganate solution was formed on the AZ 31 magnesium alloy. The effect of acid pickling on the morphology and on the corrosion resistance of the alkaline phosphate-permanganate conversion coating was investigated. The chemical composition and phase structure of conversion coating layer were determined via optical microscopy, SEM, EDS, XPS and XRD. Results show that the conversion coatings are relatively uniform and continuous, with thickness 1.8 to $2.4\;{\mu}m$. The alkaline phosphate-permanganate conversion coating was mainly composed of elements Mg, O, P, Al and Mn. The conversion-coated layers were stable compounds of magnesium oxide and spinel ($MgAl_2O_4$). These compounds were excellent inhibitors to corrosion. The electrochemical corrosion behaviors of coatings in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solutions were evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization technique. EIS results showed a polarization resistance of $0.1\;k{\Omega}$ for the untreated Mg and $16\;k{\Omega}$ for the alkaline phosphate-permanganate conversion treatment sample, giving an improvement of about 160 times. The results of the electrochemical measurements demonstrated that the corrosion resistance of the AZ 31 magnesium alloy was improved by the alkaline phosphate-permanganate conversion treatment.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.159-163
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• 2012

A TCO-less ruthenium (Ru) catalytic layer on glass substrate instead of conventional Ru/TCO/ glass substrate was assessed as counter electrode (CE) material in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by examining the effect of the Ru thickness on the DSSC performance. Ru films with different thicknesses (34, 46, 69, and 90 nm) were deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on glass substrates to replace both existing catalyst and electrode layer. In order to make our comparison, we also prepared an Ru catalytic layer by a similar method on FTO/glass substrate. Finally, we prepared the $0.45cm^2$ DSSC device the properties of the DSSCs were examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV), impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and current-voltage (I-V) method. CV measurements revealed an increase in catalytic activity with increasing film thickness. The charge transfer resistance at the interface between the electrolyte and Rudecreased with increasing Ru thickness. I-V results showed that the energy conversion efficiency increased up to 1.96%. Our results imply that TCO-less Ru/glass might perform as both catalyst and electrode layer when it is used in counter electrodes in DSSCs.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.243-247
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• 2012

A ruthenium (Ru) catalytic layer and a conventional Pt layer were assessed as counter electrodes (CE) for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Ru films with different thicknesses of 34, 46, and 90 nm were deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Pt layers with the same thicknesses were prepared by sputtering. $0.45cm^2$ DSSCs were prepared and their properties were characterized by FE-SEM, cyclic voltammetry (CV), impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and current-voltage (I-V). FE-SEM revealed that the crystallized Ru films and Pt films had been deposited quite conformally. CV showed that the catalytic activity of Pt was much greater than that of Ru. In addition, although the catalytic activity of Pt did not depend on the thickness, that of Ru showed an increase with increasing thickness. Impedance analysis revealed high charge transfer resistance at the Ru interface and a decrease with increasing Ru thickness, whereas Pt showed low resistance with no thickness dependence. Despite the relatively small catalytic activity of Ru, the I-V result revealed the average energy conversion efficiency of Ru and Pt to be 2.98% and 6.57%, respectively. These results suggest that Ru can be used as counter electrodes in DSSCs due to its extremely low temperature process compatibility.

• Electronic Materials Letters
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.755-765
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• 2018

In situ nitrogen doped hard carbon nanotubes (NHCNT) were fabricated by pyrolyzing tubular nitrogen doped conjugated microporous polymer. KOH activated NHCNT (K-NHCNT) were also prepared to improve their porous structure. XRD, SEM, TEM, EDS, XPS, Raman spectra, $N_2$ adsorption-desorption, galvanostatic charging-discharge, cyclic voltammetry and EIS were used to characterize the structure and performance of NHCNT and K-NHCNT. XRD and Raman spectra reveal K-NHCNT own a more disorder carbon. SEM indicate that the diameters of K-NHCNT are smaller than that of NHCNT. TEM and EDS further indicate that K-NHCNT are hollow carbon nanotubes with nitrogen uniformly distributed. $N_2$ adsorption-desorption analysis reveals that K-NHCNT have an ultra high specific surface area of $1787.37m^2g^{-1}$, which is much larger than that of NHCNT ($531.98m^2g^{-1}$). K-NHCNT delivers a high reversible capacity of $918mAh\;g^{-1}$ at $0.6A\;g^{-1}$. Even after 350 times cycling, the capacity of K-NHCNT cycled after 350 cycles at $0.6A\;g^{-1}$ is still as high as $591.6mAh\;g^{-1}$. Such outstanding electrochemical performance of the K-NHCNT are clearly attributed by its superior characters, which have great advantages over those commercial available carbon nanotubes ($200-450mAh\;g^{-1}$) not only for its desired electrochemical performance but also for its easily and scaling-up preparation.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2019

To maximize the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in the electrolysis of water, nano-grade $IrO_2$ powder with a low specific surface was prepared as a catalyst for a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) system, and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) was prepared with a catalyst loading as low as $2mg\;cm^{-2}$ or less. The $IrO_2$ catalyst was composed of heterogeneous particles with particle sizes ranging from 20 to 70 nm, having a specific surface area of $3.8m^2g^{-1}$. The anode catalyst layer of about $5{\mu}m$ thickness was coated on the membrane (Nafion 117) for the MEA by the decal method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) confirmed strong adhesion at the interface between the membrane and the catalyst electrode. Although the loading of the $IrO_2$ catalyst was as low as $1.1-1.7mg\;cm^{-2}$, the SPE cell delivered a voltage of 1.88-1.93 V at a current density of $1A\;cm^{-2}$ and operating temperature of $80^{\circ}C$. That is, it was observed that the over-potential of the cell for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) decreased with increasing $IrO_2$ catalyst loading. The electrochemical stability of the MEA was investigated in the electrolysis of water at a current density of $1A\;cm^{-2}$ for a short time. A voltage of ~2.0 V was maintained without any remarkable deterioration of the MEA characteristics.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.606-610
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• 2019

In this study, we demonstrated that the nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on the flexible carbon fiber bundle electrode with BDD nanocomposites (CF-BDD electrode). As a nano seeding method for the deposition of BDD on flexible carbon fiber, electrostatic self-assembly technique was employed. Surface morphology of BDD coated carbon fiber electrode was observed by scanning electron microscopy. And the electrochemical characteristics were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry. This CF-BDD electrode exhibited a large surface area, a direct electron transfer between the redox species and the electrode surface and a high catalytic activity, resulting in a wider linear range (3.75~50 mM), a faster response time (within 3 s) and a higher sensitivity (388.8 nA/mM) in comparison to a bare CF electrode. As a durable and flexible electrochemical sensing electrode, this brand new CF-BDD scheme has promising advantages on various electrochemical and wearable sensor applications.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.122-127
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• 2019

In this study, we investigate the electrochemical performance of lithium terephthalate (LTA) battery using graphite coated metal current collector to overcome the disadvantages of organic batteries which is high interfacial resistance between current collector and electrode. The LTA anode material is synthesized by acid-based ion exchange reaction without impurities. The contact properties between stick-type LTA-based electrode and graphite coated current collector are estimated by the cross-section SEM and EIS. The graphite coated current collector significantly reduced the interfacial resistance of the LTA battery. The second discharge capacities of bare current collector LTA and graphite coated current collector LTA batteries are 107.6 mAh/g and 148.8 mAh/g at 0.1C, respectively. The graphite coated current collector LTA batteries show higher cycle life, higher discharge capacity, and higher rate-capability than bare LTA batteries.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.410-416
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• 2021

To improve the capacity and stability of natural graphite, the electrochemical performances were investigated by using the prepared natural graphite coated with petroleum pitch for anode materials. The pitch coated natural graphite was prepared using a dry speed mixer by adjusting the rotation speed of the mixer, time, composition of graphite and softening point of the pitch. The physical properties of the anode material were analyzed using SEM, TEM, and PSD. The electrochemical performances were investigated by cycle, C-rate, EIS and CV test. When the pitch coated natural graphite was tested in the condition of 9000 RPM, 10 wt%, 2 h, and softening point of 150 ℃, it showed the highest capacity of 324.5 mAh/g at 0.1 C and a capacity retention rate of 98.9% after 50 cycles. In the test for evaluating rate performance, the capacity retention rate (5 C/0.1 C) was 80.3% and was improved by about 1.7 times over the pristine natural graphite.