• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.568-574
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• 1997

The effect of microencapsulation of maetal hydride (MH) with copper on the electrode performance of a Ni/MH battery has been investigated. The MH electrodes were prepared with a combination of cold press and paste methods. The discharge capacity of the electrode increased with an addition of small amounts if CMC into the electrode, but decreased when heat-treated in an oxygen-free nitrogen flow. The capacity of a Cu-coated $LaNi_5$ electrode was higher than that of LaNi5electrode. The discharge capacity of the electrode prepared with Cu-coated $LaNi_5$ increased with the increase of copper content in the electrode. It is considered that the increase of copper content enhanced the current density on the electrode surface, leading to the increase of the discharge capacity The MH electrode coated by an acidic electroless plating method showed much higher discharge capacity than that using an alkaline electroless plating method. The discharge capacity of the $LaNi_{4.5}Al_{0.5}$ electrode was higher than that of the $LaNi_5$ electrode. Also, the effect of microencapsulation on the deactivation of $LaNi_5$ was studied using an absorption-desorption cycle in CO-containing hydrogen.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.326-338
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• 2020

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that causes disorientation, mood swings, problems with language, and difficulty remembering recent events. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AchEIs) and memantine have been used to slow the course of the disease, but they can neither modify its progression nor prevent disease onset. Previous studies have suggested that Kami-guibi-tang (KGT) could be beneficial for supporting cognitive function in AD patients, but few clinical trials have been published. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effect of KGT in improving cognitive function in AD patients. Methods: The study will be a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, single-center trial conducted using subjects diagnosed with mild AD by neurologists. Study subjects will be randomly assigned to either a treatment or control group. The treatment group will receive KGT granules for 24 weeks, while the control group will receive placebo granules. AchEI administration will be maintained in both groups during the entirety of the study. Subjects will be assessed using the following exams: the Seoul Neuropsychologic Screening Battery (SNSB) for cognitive function; brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for brain metabolite, neurotransmitter, and cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements; the Korean version of Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (KQol-AD) for quality of life; the Caregiver-Administered Neuropsychiatric Inventory (CGA-NPI) for neurobehavioral symptoms; blood tests for amyloid and tau proteins and general blood parameters; and electrocardiography (ECG) before and after taking the medication. Discussion: Our findings will provide insight into the feasibility of large-scale trials to consolidate evidence for the efficacy of KGT for dementia treatment. Registration ID in CRIS: KCT0002904 (Clinical Research Information Service of the Republic of Korea).

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.415-424
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• 2017

Commonly cation exchange membranes have been used for vanadium redox flow batteries. However, a severe vanadium ion cross-over causes low energy efficiency. Thus in this study, we prepared 3 different anion exchange membranes to investigate the effect on the membrane properties such as vanadium ion cross-over and long term stability. The base membranes were prepared by an electrolyte pore filling technique using vinyl benzyl chloride (VBC), divinylbenzene (DVB) within a porous polyethylene (PE) substrate. Then 3 different functional amines were introduced into the base membranes, respectively. These resulting membranes were evaluated by physico-chemical properties such as ion exchange capacity, dimensional stability, vanadium ion cross-over and membrane area resistance. Conclusively, TEA-functionalized membrane showed longest term stability than other membranes although all the membranes are similar to coulombic efficiency.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.781-797
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• 2023

Recently, there has been a rapid response from mineral-demanding countries for securing critical minerals in a high tech industries. Graphite, while overwhelmingly dominated by China in production, is changing in global supply due to the exponential growth in EV battery sector, with active exploration in East Africa. Rare earth elements are essential raw materials widely used in advanced industries. Globally, there are ongoing developments in the production of REEs from three main deposit types: carbonatite, laterite, and ion-adsorption clay types. While China's production has decreased somewhat, it still maintains overwhelming dominance in this sector. Recent changes over the past few years include the rapid emergence of Myanmar and increased production in Vietnam. Nickel has been used in various chemical and metal industries for a long time, but recently, its significance in the market has been increasing, particularly in the battery sector. Worldwide, nickel deposits can be broadly classified into two types: laterite-type, which are derived from ultramafic rocks, and ultramafic hosted sulfide-type. It is predicted that the development of sulfide-type, primarily in Australia, will continue to grow, while the development of laterite-type is expected to be promoted in Indonesia. This is largely driven by the growing demand for nickel in response to the demand for lithium-ion batteries. The global lithium ores are produced in three main types: brine lake (78%), rock/mineral (19%), and clay types (3%). Rock/mineral type has a slightly higher grade compared to brine lake type, but they are less abundant. Chile, Argentina, and the United States primarily produce lithium from brine lake deposits, while Australia and China extract lithium from both brine lake and rock/mineral sources. Canada, on the other hand, exclusively produces lithium from rock/mineral type. Vanadium has traditionally been used in steel alloys, accounting for approximately 90% of its usage. However, there is a growing trend in the use for vanadium redox flow batteries, particularly for large-scale energy storage applications. The global sources of vanadium can be broadly categorized into two main types: vanadium contained in iron ore (81%) produced from mines and vanadium recovered from by-products (secondary sources, 18%). The primary source, accounting for 81%, is vanadium-iron ores, with 70% derived from vanadium slag in the steel making process and 30% from ore mined in primary sources. Intermediate vanadium oxides are manufactured from these sources. Vanadium deposits are classified into four types: vanadiferous titanomagnetite (VTM), sandstone-hosted, shale-hosted, and vanadate types. Currently, only the VTM-type ore is being produced.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.294-305
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• 2015

We have quantitatively analyzed 1,294 effective patents on "Quantitative Analysis of Patents Concerning Cathode Active Materials for Lithium-Ion Secondary Batteries Based on Layer Structure" from Korea, USA, Japan, Europe and PCT (WO). The importance of technological and patent values of the aforesaid patents were evaluated by the factors shown in Table 1, and 104 major and 20 core patents were selected in compliance with the evaluation from the patents. The technological flow chart over time regarding the selected major and core patents was prepared, and the applying time and development process of patents, as well as the position of core patents were established on the time scale investigated. Finally, the differentiation plans and patent avoidance strategies for the next technology development, in comparison with the technologies of patents already applied and registered, were suggested.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.598-602
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• 2018

This study examined the characteristics of the waste catalyst used in the petroleum refinery operations. The total pore volume, specific surface area, and average pore size of the spent catalyst used in the petroleum refinery operations were 3.96cc/g, 13.81m2/g, and 1.15A, respectively. The weight loss observed in the range from $25^{\circ}C-700^{\circ}C$ for the spent catalysts using TG and DTA was approximately 23 wt. %. EDS analysis of the waste catalyst sample showed that the five major components were vanadium, nickel, manganese, iron, and copper. The extraction system is attractive for liquid-liquid extraction. In this study, Cynex 272 was used to extract vanadium from waste catalyst. The electrochemical characteristics of the extracted vanadium solution were measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV). As a result, an oxidation / reduction peak appeared, indicating the potential of an electrolytic solution.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.542-549
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• 2016

This paper presents a SoC (System-on-a-Chip) dedicated for a single-chip smart capsule which can be used to continuously monitor human alimentary canal pH and temperature values. The SoC is composed of the pH and temperature sensor interface circuit, a wireless transceiver, the power management circuit and the flow control logic. Fabricated in $0.18{\mu}m$ standard CMOS technology, the SoC occupies a die area of ${\sim}9 mm^2$. The SoC consumes 6.15 mW from a 3 V power supply, guaranteeing the smart capsule battery life is no less than 24 hours when using 50 mAh coin batteries. The experimental results show that measurement accuracy of the smart capsule is ${\pm}0.1$ pH and ${\pm}0.2^{\circ}C$ for pH and temperature sensing, respectively, which meets the requirement of in-body pH and temperature monitoring in clinical practice.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2005

Proton conducting solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) membranes have been used in many energy technological applications such as water electolysis, fuel cells, redox-flow battery, and other electrochemical devices. The availability of stable membranes with good electrochemical characteristics as proton conductivity at high temperatures above 80 $^{\circ}C$ and low cost are very important for its applications. However, the presently available perfluorinated ionomers are not applicable because of high manufacturing cost and high temperature use to the decrease in the proton conductivity and mechanical strength. In order to make up for the weak points, the block copolymer (BPSf) of polysulfone and poly (phenylene sulfide sulfone) were synthesized and sulfonated. The electrolyte membranes were prepared with phosphotungstic acid (HPA)/sulfonated BPSf via solution blending. This study would be desirable to investigate the interaction between the HPA and sulfonated polysulfone. The results showed that the characteristics of SPSf/HPA blend membrane was a better than Nafion at high temperature, 100 $^{\circ}C$. These membranes proved to have a high proton conductivity, $6.29{\times}10-2$ S/cm, a water content, 23.9%, and a ion exchange capacity, 1.97 meq./g dry membrane. Moreover, some of the membranes kept their high thermal and mechanical stability.

• Journal of computational fluids engineering
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.58-62
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• 2013

Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) is the emerging personal transport vehicle operating on the loop automatically. The PRT system utilize the electrical power from super capacity or battery, it is important to manage the power or energy. In this regards, the management of high temperature occurred by the operation of system is significantly important to prevent from serious damage of component. In this study, we studied the adequate shape of underbody which can reduce the heat accumulation by pickup coil and condenser using natural air cooling. We suggested the additional air pathway, air inlet and flow separator to decrease the temperature of the heat source components. It was found that suggested system can decrease the temperature of PRT under body by 16% during the static mode and by 10% during the running mode at 30km/h. It is expected that the findings of this study will feed into final design of newly built Korean PRT vehicle.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.469-473
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• 2009

We present high-voltage liquid-electrolyte microbatteries, inspired from the high-voltage generation mechanism of electric eels using serially connected multiple-cell arrays. In the microbatteries, we purge air into the electrolyte filled in a channel layer to isolate serially connected multiple cell arrays using three surface-tension valves (cell-front, outlet, and cell-end valves). Compared to the previous multi-cell stack or interconnection, present microbatteries provide a reduced multi-cell charging time. We have designed and characterized four different prototypes C1, C10, C20, and C40 having 1, 10, 20, and 40 cells, respectively. In the experimental study, the threshold pressures of cell-front, outlet, and cell-end valves were measured as $460{\pm}47$, $1,000{\pm}53$, and $2,800{\pm}170$ Pa, respectively. The average charging time for C40 was measured as $26.8{\pm}4.9$ seconds where the electrolyte and air flow-rates are 100 and $10{\mu}l/min$, respectively. Microbatteries showed the maximum voltage of 12 V (C40), the maximum power density of $110{\mu}W/cm^2$ (C40), and the maximum power capacity of $2.1{\mu}Ah/cm^2$ (C40). We also proposed a tapered-channel to remove the reaction gas from the cell chamber using a surface tension effect. The present microbatteries are applicable to high-voltage portable power devices.