• 전기화학회지
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.57-62
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• 2016

The over-discharging phenomena in sodium-nickel chloride batteries were investigated in relation to decomposition of molten salt electrolyte and consequent metal co-deposition. From XRD analysis, the material deposited on graphite cathode current collector was revealed to be by-product of molten salt electrolyte decomposition. In particular, the result showed that the Ni-Al alloys ($Al_3Ni_2$, $Ni_3Al$ and $Al_3Ni$) were electrochemically deposited on graphite current collectors in line with over-discharging behaviors. It is assumed that the $NiCl_2$ solubility in molten salt electrolytes leads to the co-deposition of Ni-Al alloys by increasing metal deposition potential above 1.6 V (vs. $Na/Na^+$). The cell tests have revealed that the composition of molten salt electrolytes modified by various additives makes a decisive influence on the over-discharging behaviors of the cells. It was revealed that NaOCN addition to molten salt electrolytes was advantageous to suppress over-discharge reactions by modifying the characteristics of molten salt electrolytes. NaOCN addition into molten salt electrolytes seems to suppress Ni solubility by maintaining basic melts. The cell using modified molten salt electrolyte with NaOCN (Cell D) showed relatively less cell degradation compared with other cells for long cycles.

• 한국전기전자재료학회논문지
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• 제28권7호
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• pp.467-472
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• 2015

Thermal batteries are primary power sources for military applications requiring high reliability, robustness and long storage life. Conventional electrodes for thermal batteries are prepared by compacting powder mixtures into pellets. Separator is composed of halide mixture, such as LiCl-KCl eutectic salt, blended with MgO to immobilize the molten salt. In order to increase the power density and energy density, the resistance of electrolyte should be reduced because the resistance of electrolyte is predominant in thermal batteries. In this study, wetting behaviors and impregnation weight of molten salts as well as the micro structures of ceramic felt were investigated to be applicable to thin electrolyte. Discharge performances of single cell with the ceramic separator impregnated by molten salt were evaluated also. Zirconia felt with high porosity and large pore outperformed alumina felt in wetting characteristics and molten salt impregnation as well as discharge performances. Based on the results of this study, ceramic felt separator impregnated with molten salt have revealed as an alternative of conventional thick MgO based separator with no conspicuous sign of thermal runaway by short circuit.

• 한국세라믹학회지
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• 제45권8호
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• pp.464-471
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• 2008

The electrolyte separator for thermal battery should be easily handled and loaded a large amount of the molten salt. Ceramic fibers, especially fibrous commercial glass filters were used as an electrolyte separator and the lithium based molten salts were infiltrated into the ceramic filters. The pore structures of the ceramic filter and the melting properties of the lithium salts affected to the electrolyte loading and leakage. During the infiltration, ions of $Li^+$ and $F^-$ in the molten salts were reacted with the glass fiber and caused to be weaken the fiber strength.

• 한국전기전자재료학회논문지
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• 제30권5호
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• pp.331-337
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• 2017

Thermal batteries, reserve power source, is activated by melting of molten salt at the temperature range of $350{\sim}550^{\circ}C$. To immobile the molten state electrolyte when the thermal battery is activated, the binder must be added in electrolyte. Usually, molten salts include 30~40 wt% of MgO binder to ensure electrical insulation as well as safety. However, the conventional MgO binder tends to increase ionic conductive resistance and thus the inclusion of the binder increases the total impedance of the battery. This paper mainly focused on the study of yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) as an alternative binder for molten salt. The chemical stability between the molten salt and YSZ is measured by XRD and DSC. And the sufficient path for ionic conduction on molten salt could be confirmed by the enhanced wetting behavior and the enlarged pore size of YSZ. The electrochemical properties were analyzed using single cell tests so that it showed the outstanding performance than that using MgO binder.

• 한국세라믹학회지
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• 제45권7호
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• pp.423-429
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• 2008

Ceramic Fiber separator is the promising material for thermal battery system because it reduces the production cost and offers the potential to a new application compared to a pellet type electrolyte. The molten salt electrolytes for thermal battery were prepared by the impregnation of the commercial glass filters such as GF-A, C and F (Whatman, USA) with two types of molten-lithium salts, LiCl-KCl and LiK-LiBr-LiF. The wetting properties were evaluated by wetting balance test and wetting angle measurement. The wetting behaviors were strongly affected by the composition of the molten salts and the pore structure of the glass separators. The optimum wetting conditions for maximum loading and effective retention of the molten electrolyte were also studied.

• 한국군사과학기술학회지
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.820-826
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• 2012

For the development of reliable thermal batteries, electrolyte is quite important because it is closely related to the performance and stability of thermal batteries. This paper describes general image processing method used for the inspection of molten-salt based electrolyte disk and also describes how we can apply this image processing method to the inspection of thermal battery electrolyte. Moreover we have found optimized image processing conditions to improve the discriminating ability of compaction defects such as non-uniform parts in an electrolyte.

• 한국세라믹학회지
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.648-652
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• 2009

Ceramic fiber separator is the promising material for thermal battery system because it reduces the production cost and offers the potential to a new application compared to a pellet type electrolyte. The electrolyte separator for thermal battery should be easily handled and loaded a large amount of the molten lithium salt. Ceramic fibers were used as an electrolyte separator and the lithium based molten salts were infiltrated into the ceramic filters. Leakage of molten salt (several lithium salts) leads to short-circuit during the thermal battery operation. In this study, a uniform and fine SiOC mat with fibers ranging from 1 to 3 ${\mu}m$ was obtained by electrospinning of polycarbosilane and pyrolysis. The optimum spinning conditions for obtaining fine diameters of SiOC fiber were controlled by the solution composition and concentration, applied voltage and spinning rate, release rate by porosity. The pore structures of the ceramic filter and the melting properties of the lithium salts affected to the electrolyte loading and leakage. The importance of the fiber size and porosity and their control was discussed and the mechanical properties were also discussed.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• 제13권spc2호
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• pp.198-201
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• 2012

The electrolytes in thermal batteries are nonconductive solids at ambient temperature, which prevent the self-discharge and corrosion. To meet severe environmental requirements and guarantee acceptable handling yields, all the pellets in cells should have adequate strength, especially for the cathodes due to their poor binding properties among FeS2 particles. By modifying the surface microstructure of FeS2 through molten-salt heat treatment, the inter-particle binding strength is greatly increased, resulting in the enhanced pellet strength and yield. The addition of Li2O also promoted the soft salt coating coverage of hard FeS2 particles, which can be explained by the enhanced wettability of the molten salt.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.123-127
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• 2013

The electrolytic reduction of a spent oxide fuel involves liberation of the oxygen in a molten LiCl electrolyte, which is a chemically aggressive environment that is too crosive for typical structural materials. Therefore, it is essential to choose the optimum material for the process equipment for handling a molten salt. In this study, the corrosion behavior of pyro-carbon made by CVD was investigated in a molten LiCl-$Li_2O$ salt under an oxidation atmosphere at $650^{\circ}C$ and $750^{\circ}C$ for 72 hours. Pyro-carbon showed no chemical reactions with the molten salt because of its low wettability between pyro-carbon and the molten salt. As a result of XRD analysis, pyro-carbon exposed to the molten salt showed pure graphite after corrosion tests. As a result of TGA, whereas the coated layer by CVD showed high anti-oxidation, the non-coated layer showed relatively low anti-oxidation. The stable phases in the reactions were $C_{(S)}$, $Li_2CO_{3(S)}$, $LiCl_{(l)}$, $Li_2O$ at $650^{\circ}C$ and $C_{(S)}$, $LiCl_{(l)}$, $Li_2O_{(S)}$ at $750^{\circ}C$. $Li_2CO_{(S)}$ was decomposed at $750^{\circ}C$ into $Li_2O_{(S)}$ and $CO_{2(g)}$.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.155-160
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• 2005

The electrolytic reduction of spent oxide fuel involves the liberation of oxygen in a molten LiCl electrolyte, which results in a chemically aggressive environment that is very corrosive fir typical structural materials. So, it is essential to choose the optimum material f3r the process equipment handling molten salt. In this study, the corrosion behavior of Al-Y coated Haynes 263 in a molten salt of $LiCl-Li_2O$ under oxidation atmosphere was investigated at $650^{\circ}C$ for $72\~168$ hours. The corrosion rate of Al-Y coated Haynes 263 was low while that of bare Haynes 263 was high in a molten salt of $LiCl-Li_2O$. Al-Y coated Haynes 263 improved the corrosion resistance better than bare Haynes 263 alloy. An Al oxide layer acts as a protective film which Prohibits Penetration of oxygen. Corrosion Products were formed $Li(Ni,Co)O_2$ and $LiTiO_2$ on bare Haynes 263, but $LiAlO_2,\;Li_5Fe_5O_8\;and\;LiTiO_2$ on Al-Y coated Haynes 263.