• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.58-64
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• 2014

The surface of an ordered mesoporous silica (OMS) was functionalized using 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltrimethoxysilane at $20^{\circ}C$ and $60^{\circ}C$. It was shown that only elevated temperature allows lyophobic properties on the walls of OMS, eventually preventing pore flooding with nonaqueous electrolytes. The functionalized OMSs (OMS-F) were characterized with various techniques: wettability test, $N_2$ sorption measurement, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). Cathodes of $10mg/cm^2$ loading were prepared with a commercial Pt/C catalyst and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF, 2.5 wt.%) binder using a typical doctor blade method on a commercial gas diffusion layer (GDL) in the presence or in the absence of OMS-F additives. Subsequent discharge-charge curves were taken in a 1M LiTFSI-TEGDME electrolyte at 60oC in pure oxygen atmosphere. It was found that the discharge capacity was significantly affected by OMS-F: 5 wt.% of additive extended discharge capacity by a factor 1.5. On the other hand, a similar OMS material but synthesized at $20^{\circ}C$ did not show lyophobic properties and deteriorated cathode capacity.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.136-142
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• 2016

As precursors of cathode materials for lithium ion batteries, $Ni_{1/3}Co_{1/3}Mn_{1/3}(OH)_2$ powders are prepared in a continuously stirred tank reactor via a co-precipitation reaction between aqueous metal sulfates and NaOH in the presence of $NH_4OH$ in air or nitrogen ambient. Calcination of the precursors with $Li_2CO_3$ for 8 h at $1,000^{\circ}C$ in air produces dense spherical cathode materials. The precursors and final powders are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, particle size analysis, tap density measurement, and thermal gravimetric analysis. The precursor powders obtained in air or nitrogen ambient show XRD patterns identified as $Ni_{1/3}Co_{1/3}Mn_{1/3}(OH)_2$. Regardless of the atmosphere, the final powders exhibit the XRD patterns of $LiNi_{1/3}Co_{1/3}Mn_{1/3}O_2$ (NCM). The precursor powders obtained in air have larger particle size and lower tap density than those obtained in nitrogen ambient. NCM powders show similar tendencies in terms of particle size and tap density. Electrochemical characterization is performed after fabricating a coin cell using NCM as the cathode and Li metal as the anode. The NCM powders from the precursors obtained in air and those from the precursors obtained in nitrogen have similar initial charge/discharge capacities and cycle life. In conclusion, the powders co-precipitated in air can be utilized as precursor materials, replacing those synthesized in the presence of nitrogen injection, which is the usual industrial practice.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.7-13
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• 2011

The climate change due to the increased consumption with fossil fuel and rise of the oil price have been serious global issues. Automobile industry consumes 30% of the oil every year and causes air pollution and global warming by the exhaust emissions and carbon dioxide ($CO_2$). The demand of two-wheeled vehicle increases every year due to the parking and traffic problem caused by the increased automobiles in the urban area. Approximately 50,000,000 two-wheeled vehicles were produced in 2008. The development and sales of the hybrid two-wheeled vehicle industry become active due to its increased market demands. In this paper, the change of the motor and battery efficiency, driving distance, hill climbing ability with the change of the motor capacity was analyzed. Simulation of the peculiarities in urban driving schedule(World-wide Motorcycle Test Cycle(WMTC), Manhattan driving schedule), constant speed(10 km/h, 35 km/h) of small electronic two-wheeled vehicle was also carried out. Through the simulation result, appropriate capacities of the motor and battery for urban driving was acquired.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.508-516
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• 1999

Polycrystalline powder of LixNi0.85Co0.15O2 was synthesized by pyrolyzing a powder precursor obtained by the PVA-precursor method. Coin cells of lithium-ion rechargeable battery were assembled, whose the cathodes were fabricated from the crystalline powders of LixNi0.85Co0.15O2 synthesized by the method. The effect of synthetic variation on the property of the cell was tested by carrying out 100 consecutive cycles of charge-dis-charge on the cells. The property of the cell was largely influenced by the pyrolysis conditions applied for the synthesis of the LixNi0.85Co0.15O2. Depending on whether the pyrolysis was carried out in standing air or in the flow of dry air, the discharge capacity and cycle-reversibility of the cell varied in large extent. When the powder precursor was pyrolyzed in standing air, a minor phase of lithium carbonate was remained in the LixNi0.85Co0.15O2. The carbon containing powder precursor had to be pyrolyzed in the flow of dry air to eliminate the minor phase. In the flow of dry air, the lithium carbonate in the precursor was eliminated over 500-700。C without any prominent heat event. By controlling the flow of air over the precursor during its pyrolysis, particle size could also be altered. The effect of flowing dry air, during first step pyrolysis or during second step heat treatment, on the property of the cell was discussed.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.220-228
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• 2018

This study introduced a carbon-free electrode for $Li-O_2$ cells with the aim of suppressing the side reactions activated by carbon material. Micro-particles of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), a conducting polymer, were used as the base material for the air electrode of $Li-O_2$cells. The PEDOT micro-particles were treated with $H_2SO_4$ to improve their electronic conductivity, and LiBr and CsBr were used as the redox mediators to facilitate the dissociation of there action products in the electrode and reduce the over-potential of the $Li-O_2$ cells. The capacity of the electrode employing PEDOT micro-particles was significantly enhanced via $H_2SO_4$ treatment, which is attributed to the increased electronic conductivity. The considerable capacity enhancement and relatively low over-potential of the electrode employing $H_2SO_4$-treated PEDOT micro-particles indicate that the treated PEDOT micro-particles can act as reaction sites and provide storage space for the reaction products. The cyclic performance of the electrode employing $H_2SO_4$-treated PEDOT micro-particles was superior to that of a carbon electrode. The results of the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic analysis showed that the accumulation of residual reaction products during cycling was significantly reduced by introducing the carbon-free electrode based on $H_2SO_4$-treated PEDOT micro-particles, compared with that of the carbon electrode. The cycle life was improved owing to the effect of the redox mediators. The refore, the use of the carbon -free electrode combined with redox mediators could realize excellent cyclic performance and low over-potential simultaneously.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.45-50
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• 2015

In the present work, to increase the chemical stability of the lithium-ion-conducting ceramic electrolyte ($Li_{1+x+y}Al_xTi_{2-x}Si_yP_{3-y}O_{12}$, LATP) in the strong alkaline solution, the surface of LATP was modified by the nitridation process. The surface and structural properties of nitride LATP solid electrolyte were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectrometer and scanning electron microscopy and ac-impedance spectroscopy, which were correlated to the chemical stability and electrochemical performance of LATP. The nitrided LATP immersed in the alkaline solution for 30 days exhibits the enhanced chemical stability than the pristine LATP. Moreover, a rechargeable hybrid Li-air battery constructed with the nitrided LATP solid electrolyte shows considerably reduced discharge-charge voltage gaps (enhanced the round-trip efficiency) in comparison to the cell constructed with pristine LATP, which indicate that the surface nitridation process can be the efficient way to improve the chemical stability of solid electrolyte in alkaline media.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2018

In this study, the compound $Li_3BO_3$ (LBO) is intended to be prepared by a polymeric complex method as a sintering aid for the densification of $Li_7La_3Zr_2O_{12}$ (LLZ) solid electrolyte. A polymeric precursor containing Li and B is heat-treated in an air atmosphere at a temperature range between $600^{\circ}C$ and $800^{\circ}C$. Instead of LBO, the compound $Li_{2+x}C_{1-x}B_xO_3$ (LCBO) is unexpectedly synthesized after a heat-treatment of $700^{\circ}C$. The effect of LCBO addition on sintering behavior and ion conductivity of LLZ is studied. It is found that the LCBO compound could lead to significant improvements in the densification and ionic conductivity of LLZ compared to pure LLZ. After sintering at $1100^{\circ}C$, the density of the LLZ-12wt%LBO composite is $3.72g/cm^3$, with a high Li-ion conductivity of $1.18{\times}10^{-4}Scm^{-1}$ at $28^{\circ}C$, while the pure LLZ specimen had a densify of $2.98g/cm^3$ and Li-ion conductivity of $5.98{\times}10^{-6}Scm^{-1}$.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.247-252
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• 2012

Of late, the development of advanced batteries with high power density and capacity has been indispensible for pushing ahead with much wider applications to electric vehicles and smart IT devices. However, a conventional Li-ion battery contains a limited energy density due to various technological challenges such that other types of Li batteries including Li-S and Li-air have been extensively studied due to their interestingly high energy capacities. Sulfur and oxygen, of which both are cathode materials, showing similar physicochemical characteristics have widely been available which may also contribute to the commercialization of these batteries. In this review, we introduce some perspectives in improving these advanced Li batteries through several approaches such as the provision of porous cathode structures, the optimization of cathode-electrolyte interfaces and the modification of Li anodes.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 2013

As the cathode material for li-ion battery, $LiNi_{0.5}Mn_{0.3}Co_{0.2}O_2$ were synthesized by supercritical hydrothermal method and calcined $850^{\circ}C$ and $900^{\circ}C$ for 10hrs in air. The effect of temperature in the heat treatment on the powder and its performance were studied of xray diffraction pattern, SEM-image, physical properties and electrochemical behaviors. As a result, calcined at $900^{\circ}C$ material particle size more increase than calcined at $850^{\circ}C$ material, especially shows excellent electrochemical performance with initial reversible specific capacity of 163.84 mAh/g (0.1C/2.0-4.3V), 186.87 mAh/g (0.1C/2.0-4.5V) and good capacity retention of 91.49% (0.2C/2.0-4.3V) and 90.36% (0.2C/2.0-4.5V) after 50th charge/discharge cycle.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.124-129
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• 2014

In this article, we report the fabrication and characterization of carbon sphere/$Fe_3O_4$ nanocomposite for Li/air batteries. $Fe_3O_4$ nanoparticles are dispersed homogeneously on the surface of carbon spheres in an attempt to enhance the low conductivity of oxide catalyst ($Fe_3O_4$). The carbon sphere/$Fe_3O_4$ nanocomposite could offer wide surface area of $Fe_3O_4$ and increased carbon/catalyst contact area, which lead to enhanced catalytic activity. The electrode employing carbon sphere/$Fe_3O_4$ nanocomposite presented relatively low overpotential and stable cyclic performance compared with the electrode employing carbon sphere.