• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 2005

Dye-sensitized solar cells(DSSCs) have been under investigation for the past decade due to their attractive features such as high energy conversion efficiency and low production costs. The basis for energy conversion in the injection of electrons from a photoexcited stateof a dye sensitizer into the conduction band of the nanocrystalline $TiO_2$ semiconductor upon absorption of light. It is believed that the DSSC is one of the most promising technologies to solve the significant energy problems. In this article, the development trends and perspective of DSSCs were reviewed.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.483-487
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• 2010

To fabricate $TiO_2$ nanoparticle-based dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) at a low-temperature, DSSCs were fabricated using hydropolymer and ZnO nanoparticles composites for the electron transport layer around a low-temperature ($200^{\circ}C$). ZnO nanoparticle with 20 nm and 60 nm diameter were used and Pt was deposited as a counter electrode on ITO/glass using an RF magnetron sputtering. We investigate the effect of ZnO nanoparticle concentration in hydropolymer and ZnO nanoparticle solution on the photoconversion performance of the low temperature fabricated ($200^{\circ}C$) DSSCs. Using cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,20 bipyridy1-4,40 dicarboxylato) ruthenium (II) bis-tetrabutylammonium (N719) dye as a sensitizer, the corresponding device performance and photo-physical characteristics are investigated through conventional physical characterization techniques. The effect of thickness of the ZnO photoelectrode and the morphology of the ZnO nanoparticles with the variations of hydropolymer to ZnO ratio on the photoconversion performance are also investigated. The morphology of the ZnO layer after sintering was examined using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). 60 nm ZnO nanoparticle DSSCs showed an incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) value of about 7% higher than that of 20 nm ZnO nanoparticle DSSCs. The maximum parameters of the short circuit current density ($J_{sc}$), the open circuit potential ($V_{oc}$), fill factor (ff), and efficiency ($\eta$) in the 60 nm ZnO nanoparticle-based DSSC devices were 4.93 mA/$cm^2$, 0.56V, 0.40, and 1.12%, respectively.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.20 no.A
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• pp.51-56
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• 2000

The Photocatalytic decolorization and degradation of commercial dyes were studied using a batch reactor. Degussa P25 titanium dioxide and $H_2O_2$ were used as the photocatalyst and proved to be effective for dyes degradation when they were irradiated with UV light. The light source was a 20W low pressure mercury lamp. Three different kinds of dyes, such as direct dye(congo red), acid dye (acid black) and disperse dye(disperse blue) were tested. Extending the UV only treatment up to 120min, direct dye was decolorized to 60% and degraded to 30% as COD. On the other side, acid and disperse dyes were eliminated less than 10% as color and COD. But, color and COD were eliminated about 90% for all of the three dyes by $UV/H_2O_2$ system. And then the most effective decolorization was done for direct dye with 96% removal efficiency by $UV/TiO_2$ system at 120min with 500mg/L of $TiO_2$.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2014

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), developed two decades ago, are considered to be an attractive technology among various photovoltaic devices because of their low cost, accessible dye chemistry, ease of fabrication, high power conversion efficiency, and environmentally friendly nature. A typical DSSCs consists of a dye-coated $TiO_2$ photoanode, a redox electrolyte, and a platinum (Pt)-coated fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) counter electrode. Among them, redox electrolytes have proven to be extremely important in improving the performance of DSSCs. Due to many drawbacks of iodide electrolytes, many research groups have paid more attention to seeking other alternative electrolyte systems. With regard to this, one-electron outer sphere redox shuttles based on cobalt complexes have shown promising results: In 2014, porphyrin dye (SM315) with the cobalt (II/III) redox couple exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 13% in DSSCs. In this review, we will provide an overview and perspectives of cobalt redox electrolytes in DSSCs.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.142-148
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility utilizing Metasequoia(Metasequoia glyptostroboides) cone as a new natural dye resource. Dyeing onto cotton fiber was carried out to study the effect of dyeing conditions and mordanting effect on dye uptake, color change, and colorfastness. FT-IR analysis supported that hydrolyzable tannins were contained in the extracted colorant. Metasequoia cone colorant showed low affinity to cotton fiber and maximum dye uptake was obtained at pH 3.5 showing YR Munsell color. Mordanting improved dye uptake regardless of mordant type, especially Fe($C_5H_{10}FeO_6$) mordant was effective as much as 2 times higher dye uptake comparing with un-mordanted sample. The color of dyed fabric with mordanting showed YR Munsell color except of the Fe($FeSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$) mordanted sample showing Y Munsell color. Colorfastness to rubbing and washing was relatively good, whereas lightfastness of the dyed fabrics was above grade 3/4 except that the dyed samples with Fe mordanting showed grade 2. It is necessary to apply Metasequoia cone colorant onto other fibers, especially protein fibers, for evaluating its efficacy as a new natural dye resource.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.819-823
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• 2016

DSSC (dye-sensitized solar cell) is expected to be one of the next-generation photovoltaics because of its environment-friendly and low-cost properties. However, commercialization of DSSC is difficult because of the electrolyte leakage. We propose thermal curable base on silicon resin and apply a unit cell and large area ($200{\times}200mm$) dye-sensitized solar cell. The resin aimed at sealing of DSSC and gives a promising resolution for sealing of practical DSSC. In result, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the unit cell and the module was 6.63% and 5.49%, respectively. In the durability test result, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the module during 500, 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000 hours was 0.73%, 0.73%, 1.82% and 2.36% respectively. It was confirmed that the photoelectric conversion efficiency characteristics are constant. We have developed encapsulation material of thermal curing method excellent in chemical resistance. A sealing material was applied to the dye-sensitized solar cell and it solved the problem of durability the dye-sensitized solar cell. Sealing material may be applied to verify the possibility of practical application of the dye-sensitized solar cell.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2018

The interactions of water soluble polymers with dye are studied by ultrafiltration using a molecular weight cut off of 10 KDa regenerated cellulose ultrafiltration membrane. Two water-soluble polymers, namely Poly (Sodium-4 Styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) (PVA) were selected for this study. The effects of process parameters, such as, polyelectrolyte concentrations, transmembrane pressure, ionic strength and pH of solution on dye retention and permeation flux were examined. PSS enhanced ultrafiltration achieved dye retention as high as 99% as a result of complexation between polyanion containing aromatic groups and cationic dye. This result was confirmed by the red shift. The retention of dye decreases as the salt concentration increases, a high retention was obtained at pH above 4. However, in case of PVA, relatively low retention (50%) was observed. Ionic strength and pH has no significant effect on the removal of MB. The permeate flux depended slightly on polyelectrolytes concentrations, transmembrane pressure, salt concentration and pH.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.413-422
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• 2004

Established microleakage tests have their own disadvantages. In this study, 3D reconstruction method was tried to overcome these disadvantages. Four types of microleakage tests were used and relationships among them were estimated: penetrated dye volume: marginal adaptability: degree of dye penetration and relative penetrated length to cavity wall. Twenty-four Class V cavities were bulk filled with composite (Esthet X) following surface treatments: N group (no treatment): E group (etching only): T group (etching + Prime & Bond NT). 50% silver nitrate was used as a dye solution after thermocycling ($5^{\circ}C{\;}&{\;}55^{\circ}C$, 1.000 times). Teeth were serially ground with a thickness of 0.2 mm. Volume of dye penetration was estimated from a three-dimensionally reconstructed image with a software (3D-DOCTOR). Percentage of margin without gap was estimated from SEM and degree of dye penetration and the relative length of dye penetration to overall cavity wall were also estimated. ANOVA and Scheffe test for dye volume, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney test for marginal quality, Spearman's rho test for checking of relationships among methods were used. The results were as follows: 1. Dye penetration could be seen from several directions, furthermore, its volumetric estimation was possible. 2. Reverse relationship was found between dye volume and marginal quality (r = -0.881/ p = 0.004). 3. Very low relationship was seen between dye volume and two-dimensional tests (degree of dye penetration and relative length). However, 2D evaluation methods showed high relationship (p = 0.002-0.054) each other. 4. Three times vertical section could be recommended as a 2D test.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.90.1-90.1
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• 2010

Due to the rapidly diminishing energy sources and higher energy production cost, the interest in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) has been increasing dramatically in recent years. A typical DSSC is constructed of wide band gap semiconductor electrode such as $TiO_2$ or ZnO that are anchored by light-harvesting sensitizer dyes and surrounded by a liquid electrolyte with a iodide ion/triiodide ion redox couple. DSSCs based on one-dimensional nano-structures, such as ZnO nanorods, have been recently attracting increasing attention due to their excellent electrical conductivity, high optical transmittance, diverse and abundant configurations, direct band gap, absence of toxicity, large exiton binding energy, etc. However, solar-to-electrical conversion performances of DSSCs composed of ZnO n-type photo electrode compared with that of $TiO_2$ are not satisfactory. An important reason for the low photovoltaic performance is the dissolution of $Zn^{2+}$ by the adsorption of acidic dye followed by the formation of agglomerates with dye molecules which could block the I-diffusion pathway into the dye molecule on the ZnO surface. In this paper, we prepared the DSSC with the ZnO electrode using the chemical bath deposition (CBD) method under low temperature condition (< $100^{\circ}C$). It was demonstrated that the ZnO seed layers played an important role on the formation of the ZnO nanostructures using CBD. To achieve truly low-temperature growth of the ZnO nanostructures on the substrates, a two-step method was developed and optimized in the present work. Firstly, ZnO seed layer was prepared on the FTO substrate through the spin-coating method. Secondly, the deposited ZnO seed substrate was immersed into an aqueous solution of 0.25M zinc nitrate hexahydrate and 0.25M hexamethylenetetramine at $90^{\circ}C$ for hydrothermal reaction several times.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.333-339
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• 2011

In this work, electrochemical characteristics and optical transmittance of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) counter electrodes which had different amount of CNTs in CNTs slurries were analyzed. Two-step heat treatment processes were applied to achieve well-fabricated CNTs electrode. Three sets of CNTs electrodes and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with CNTs counter electrodes were prepared. As the amount of CNTs increased, sheet resistance of CNTs electrode decreased. CNTs electrode with low sheet resistance had low electrochemical impedance and fast redox reaction. On the other hand, in case of CNTs counter electrode with low density of CNTs, performance of the dye-sensitized solar cell was improved due to its high optical transmittance. We found that the transmittance of CNTs counter electrode influence the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells.