• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.377-386
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• 2021

The Li-rich oxides are promising cathode materials due to their high energy density. However, characteristics such as low rate capability, unstable cyclic performance, and rapid capacity fading during cycling prevent their commercialization. These characteristics are mainly attributed to the phase instability of the host structure and undesirable side reactions at the cathode/electrolyte interface. To suppress the phase transition during cycling and interfacial side reactions with the reactive electrolyte, K (potassium) doping and Nb oxide coating were simultaneously introduced to a Li-rich oxide (Li_1.2Ni_0.13Co_0.13Mn_0.54O₂). The capacity and rate capability of the Li-rich oxide were significantly enhanced by K doping. Considering the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, the interslab thickness of LiO₂ increased and cation mixing decreased due to K doping, which facilitated Li migration during cycling and resulted in enhanced capacity and rate capability. The K-doped Li-rich oxide also exhibited considerably improved cyclic performance, probably because the large K⁺ ions disturb the migration of the transition metals causing the phase transition and act as a pillar stabilizing the host structure during cycling. The Nb oxide coating also considerably enhanced the capacity and rate capability of the samples, indicating that the undesirable interfacial layer formed from the side reaction was a major resistance factor that reduced the capacity of the cathode. This result confirms that the introduction of K doping and Nb oxide coating is an effective approach to enhance the electrochemical performance of Li-rich oxides.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.242-246
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• 2017

The application of composite cathode materials including $LiFePO_4$ (lithium iron phosphate) of olivine crystal structure, which has high thermal stability, were investigated as alternatives for hybrid battery-capacitors with a $LiMn_2O_4$ (spinel crystal structure) cathode, which exhibits decreased performance at high temperatures due to Mn-dissolution. However, these composite cathode materials have been shown to have a reduction in capacity by conducting life cycle experiments in which a $LiFePO_4$/activated carbon cell was charged and discharged between 1.0 V and 2.3 V at two temperatures, $25^{\circ}C$ and $60^{\circ}C$, which caused a degradation of the anode due to the lowered voltage in the anode. To avoid the degradation of the anode, composite cathodes of $LiFePO_4/LiMn_2O_4$ (50:50 wt%), $LiFePO_4$/activated carbon (50:50 wt%) and $LiNi_{1/3}Co_{1/3}Mn_{1/3}O_2$ (50:50 wt%) were prepared and the life cycle experiments were conducted on these cells. The composite cathode including $LiNi_{1/3}Co_{1/3}Mn_{1/3}O_2$ of layered crystal structure showed stable voltage behavior. The discharge capacity retention ratio of $LiNi_{1/3}Co_{1/3}Mn_{1/3}O_2$ was about twice as high as that of a $LiFePO_4/LiMn_2O_4$ cell at thermal stability experiment for a duration of 1,000 hours charged at 2.3 V and a temperature of $80^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.79-90
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• 2007

Prototype of $800{\ell}$ vacuum web coater (Vic Mama) consisting of ion source with low energy less than 250 eV for high speed surface modification and 4 magnetron sputter cathodes was designed and constructed. Its performance was evaluated through fabricating the adhesiveless flexible copper clad laminate (FCCL). Pumping speed was monitored in both upper noncoating zone pumped down by 2 turbo pumps with 2000 l/sec pumping speed and lower surface modification and sputter zone vacuumed by turbo pumps with 450 1/sec and 1300 1/sec pumping speed respectively. Ion current density, plasma density, and uniformity of ion beam current were measured using Faraday cup and the distribution of magnetic field and erosion efficiency of sputter target were also investigated. With the irradiation of ion beams on polyimide (Kapton-E, $38{\mu}m$) at different fluences, the change of wetting angle of the deionized water to polyimide surface and those of surface chemical bonding were analyzed by wetting anglometer and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. After investigating the deposition rate of Ni-Cr tie layer and Cu layer was investigated with the variations of roll speed and input power to sputter cathode. FCCL fabricated by sputter and electrodeposition method and characterized in terms of the peel strength, thermal and chemical stability.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.79-87
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• 2012

With the increasing size and universalization of lithium-ion batteries, the development of cathode materials has emerged as a critical issue. The energy density of 18650 cylindrical batteries had more than doubled from 230 Wh/l in 1991 to 500 Wh/l in 2005. The energy capacity of most products ranges from 450 to 500Wh/l or from 150 to 190 Wh/kg. Product developments are focusing on high capacity, safety, saved production cost, and long life. As Co is expensive among the cathode active materials $LiCoO_2$, to increase energy capacity while decreasing the use of Co, composites such as $LiMn_2O_4$, $LiCo_{1/3}N_{i1/3}Mn_{1/3}O_2$, $LiNi_{0.8}Co_{0.15}Al_{0.05}O_2$, and $LiFePO_4$-C (167 mA/g) are being developed. Furthermore, many studies are being conducted to improve the performance of battery materials to meet the requirement of large capacity output density such as 500Wh/kg for electric bicycles, 1,500Wh/kg for electric tools, and 4,000~5,000Wh/kg for EV and PHEV. As new cathodes active materials with high energy capacity such as graphene-sulfur composite cathode materials with 600 Ah/kg and the molecular cluster for secondary battery with 320 Ah/kg are being developed these days, their commercializations are highly anticipated.