• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.461-466
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• 2011

In this study, the fluorine doped $TiO_2$ was prepared as a photoelectrode in order to improve the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells and estimated the electrochemical characterizations. The energy conversion efficiency of the prepared dye-sensitized solar cells using fluorine doped $TiO_2$ was calculated from a current-voltage curve. The efficiency of prepared dye-sensitized solar cells was improved by about maximum three times by F-doping on $TiO_2$. It was suggested that the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells was improved by hybrid semiconductors of $TiO_2/TiOF_2$ in photoelectrode based on reduced $TiOF_2$ energy level via fluorine doping. It can be confirmed that the electron transport was faster but the electron recombination was slower by doping fluorine on $TiO_2$ in photoelectrode through intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy and intensity-modulated photovoltage spectroscopy analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.113-119
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• 2021

In this study, impurity free V^3.5+ electrolytes were prepared using formic acid as a reducing agent and PtD/C as a catalyst and it was applied to VRFB. The well-oriented 3D dendrite structure of the PtD/C catalyst showed high catalytic activity in formic acid oxidation reaction and vanadium reduction reaction. As a result, the conversion ratio of electrolyte using the PtD/C was 2.73 mol g^-1 h^-1, which was higher than that of 1.67 mol g^-1 h^-1 of Pt/C prepared by the polyol method. In addition, in the VRFB charging and discharging experiment, the V^3.5+ electrolyte produced by the catalytic reaction showed the same performance as the standard V^3.5+ electrolyte prepared by the electrolytic method, thus proving that it can be used as an electrolyte for VRFB.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.96-104
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• 2023

Synergistically increased oxygen evolution reaction (OER) of manganese oxide (MnO₂) catalyst is introduced with surface-modified halloysite nanotube (Fe₃O₄-HNTs) structure. The flake shaped MnO₂ catalyst is attached on the nanotube template (Fe₃O₄-HNTs) by series of wet chemical and hydrothermal method. The strong interaction between MnO₂ and Fe₃O₄-HNTs maximized active surface area and inter-connectivity for festinate charge transfer reaction for OER. The synergistical effect between Fe₃O₄ layer and MnO₂ catalyst enhance the Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ ratio by partial replacement of Mn ions with Fe. The relatively increased Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ ratio on MnO₂@FHNTs induced 𝜎^* orbital (e_g) occupation close to single electron, improving the OER performances. The MnO₂@FHNTs catalyst exhibited the reduced overpotential of 0.42 V (E vs. RHE) at 10 mA/cm² and Tafel slope of (99 mV/dec), compared with that of MnO₂ with unmodified HNTs (0.65 V, 219 mV/dec) and pristine MnO₂ (0.53 V, 205 mV/dec). The present study provides simple and innovative method to fabricate nano fiberized OER catalyst for a broad application of energy conversion and storage systems.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.413-420
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• 2023

Holmium-doped TiO₂ nanotubes (Ho-TNTs) were manufactured through anodization treatment and electrochemical deposition, and optimization experiments were conducted using various Holmium doping concentrations and time as variables. Surface as well as electrochemical characteristics were analyzed to study the prepared photocatalysts. Ho-TNTs were found to exist only in anatase phase through X-ray diffraction analysis. Ho-TNTs with 0.01 wt% 100 seconds shows a photocurrent density of 3.788 mA/cm² and an effective photo-conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.30%, which is more efficient than pure TiO₂ nanotubes (pure-TNTs) (at bias potential 1.5 V vs. Hg/HgO). The photocatalytic activity of the aforementioned Ho-TNTs for hydrogen production was evaluated with the result of -29.20 µmol/h·cm².

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.96-110
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• 2024

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are green energy conversion devices, for which commercial markets have been established, owing to their application in fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). Development of cathode electrocatalysts, replacing commercial Pt/C, plays a crucial role in factors such as cost reduction, high performance, and durability in FCVs. PtNi octahedral catalysts are promising for oxygen reduction reactions owing to their significantly higher mass activity (10-15 times) than that of Pt/C; however, their application in membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) is challenged by their low stability. To overcome this durability issue, various approaches, such as third-metal doping, composition control, halide treatment, formation of a Pt layer, annealing treatment, and size control, have been explored and have shown promising improvements in stability in rotating disk electrode (RDE) testing. In this review, we aimed to compare the features of each strategy in terms of enhancing stability by introducing a stability improvement factor for a direct and reasonable comparison. The limitations of each strategy for enhancing stability of PtNi octahedral are also described. This review can serve as a valuable guide for the development of strategies to enhance the durability of octahedral PtNi.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.665-671
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• 2017

The alkali-Metal Thermal-to-electric Converter (AMTEC) is one of the promising static energy conversion technologies for the direct conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy. The advantages over a conventional energy converter are its high theoretical conversion efficiency of 40% and power density of 500 W/kg. The working principle of an AMTEC battery is the electrochemical reaction of the sodium through an ion conducting electrolyte. Sodium ion pass through the hot side of the beta"-alumina solid electrolyte (BASE) primarily as a result of the pressure difference. This pressure difference across the BASE has a significant effect on the overall performance of the AMTEC system. In order to build the high pressure difference across the BASE, hermeticity is required for each joined components for high temperature range of $900^{\circ}C$. The AMTEC battery was manufactured by utilizing robust joining technology of BASE/insulator/metal flange interfaces of the system for both structural and electrical stability. The electrical potential difference between the anode and cathode sides, where the electrons emitted from sodium ionization and recombined into sodium, was characterized as the open-circuit voltage. The efforts of technological improvement were concentrated on a high-power output and conversion efficiency. This paper discusses about the joining and performance of the AMTEC systems.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.4035-4040
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• 2011

Long $TiO_2$ nanotube (NT) arrays, prepared by electrochemical anodization of Ti foils, have been utilized as dye-adsorbing electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). By anodizing for 1-24 hr and subsequent annealing, highly crystallized and tightly-adhered NT arrays were tailored to 11-150 ${\mu}m$ lengths, ~90 nm innerpore diameter and ~30 nm wall thickness. I-V curves revealed that the photovoltaic conversion efficiency (${\eta}$) was proportional to the NT length up to 36 ${\mu}m$. Beyond this length, the ) was proportional to the NT length up to ${\eta}$ was still steadily increased, though at a much lower rate. For example, an ${\eta}$ of 5.05% at 36 ${\mu}m$ was increased to 6.18% at 150 ${\mu}m$. Transient photoelectron spectroscopic analyses indicated that NT array-based DSCs revealed considerably higher electron diffusion coefficient ($D_e$) and life time (${\tau}_e$) than those with $TiO_2$ nanoparticles (NP). Moreover, the electron diffusion lengths ($L_e$) of the photo-injected electrons were considerably larger than the corresponding NT lengths in all the cases, suggesting that electron transport in NT arrays is highly efficient, regardless of tube length.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.243.1-243.1
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• 2015

To replace the based on silicon solar cells, the third generation solar cells, Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), is low fabrication than silicon solar cells, environmentally friendly and can be applied to various field. For this reason, the DSSCs have been continuously researched. But DSSCs have one drawback that is the low power conversion efficiency (PCE) than silicon solar cells. To solve the problem, we used the backr-eflector the Al foil that can be easily obtained from the surrounding in order to improve the efficiency of the DSSCs. Easily detachable Al foil back-reflector increases the photocurrent by enhancing the harvesting light because the discarded light is reused. It also leads to enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE). In addition, we compared with the efficiency of the DSSCs that is applied and does not be applied with back-reflector according to the thickness of the TiO2 photoelectrode. When the back-reflector is applied to DSSCs, the photocurrent is increased. It leads to affect the efficiency. We used to solar simulator and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to confirm the PCE and resistance. The DSSCs were also measured by External Quantum effect (EQE). At the same time, FE-SEM and XRD were used to confirm the thickness of layer and crystal structural of photoelectrode.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.718-724
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• 2014

In this work, in order to manufacture the photoelectrode of dye-sensitized solar cells, the different anatase $TiO_2$ paste was prepared by simple route using hydrothermal method. In comparison with the traditional preparing process, the hydrothermally synthesized $TiO_2$ gel was used to make paste directly. Thus, the making process was simplified and the solar conversion efficiency was improved. In comparison with 5.34% solar energy efficiency of HP-1 photoelectrode, the 6.23% efficiency of HDP-1 electrode was improved by 16.67%. This is because hydrothermally synthesized $TiO_2$ gel was used to make paste directly, the dispersibility between $TiO_2$ particles was improved and get the smoother network, leading to the charge transport ability of the electron generated in dye molecular was improved. Further, HDP-2 photoelectrode delivered the best results with Voc (open circuit voltage), Jsc (short circuit current density) FF (fill factor) and ${\eta}$(solar conversion efficiency) were 0.695 V, $15.81mA\;cm^{-2}$, 61.48% and 6.80%, respectively. In comparison with 5.34% of HP-1 photoelectrode, it was improved by 27.34%.

• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.42-45
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• 2013

Natural photosynthesis utilizes solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water to energy-rich carbohydrates. Substantial use of sunlight to meet world energy demands requires energy storage in useful fuels via chemical bonds because sunlight is intermittent. Artificial photosynthesis research focuses the fundamental natural process to design solar energy conversion systems. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide ($NAD^+$) and $NADP^+$ are ubiquitous as electron transporters in biological systems. Enzymatic, chemical, and electrochemical methods have been reported for NADH regeneration. As photochemical systems, visible light-driven catalytic activity of NADH regeneration was carried out using platinum nanoparticles, molecular rhodium and cobalt complexes in the presence of triethanolamine as a sacrificial electron donor. Pt nanoparticles showed photochemical NADH regeneration activity without additional visible light collector molecules, demonstrating that both photoactivating and catalytic activities exist together in Pt nanoparticles. The NADH regeneration of the Pt nanoparticle system was not interfered with the reduction of $O_2$. Molecular cobalt complexes containing dimethylglyoxime ligands also transfer their hydrides to $NAD^+$ with photoactivation of eosin Y in the presence of TEOA. In this photocatalytic reaction, the $NAD^+$ reduction process competed with a proton reduction.