• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.234-234
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• 2013

The counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) play roles in not only collecting electrons from external circuit but also reducing I3- to I- in electrolytes. Generally, conventional counter electrodes for DSSCs are prepared from the high temperature treatment of the H2PtCl6 precursor solution at $400^{\circ}C$ However, the more simplified fabrication process of counter electrodes is required for the commercialization of DSSCs. In this work, we developed novel fabrication process of counter electrodes using nano-second pulsed laser. DSSCs employing counter electrodes prepared by laser process showed conversion efficiency of 6.75% with short-circuit current of 12.73 mA/cm2, open-circuit voltage of 0.74 V and fill factor of 0.72. Closer investigating of photovoltaic properties will be reported.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.817-822
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• 2012

Nano powders of $Al_2O_3$ and $TiO_2$ compounds made by high energy ball milling were pulsed current activated sintered for studying their sintering behaviors and mechanical properties. The advantage of this process is that it allows very quick densification to near theoretical density and inhibition of grain growth. Nano-structured $Al_2TiO_5$ with small amount of $Al_2O_3$ and$TiO_2$ was formed by sintering at $1300^{\circ}C$ for 5 minute, in which average grain size was about 96 nm. Hardness and fracture toughness of the nano-structured $Al_2TiO_5$ compound with a small amount of $Al_2O_3$ and$TiO_2$ were $602kg/mm^2$ and $2.6MPa{\cdot}m^{1/2}$, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 2015

$TiH_2$ nanopowder was made by high energy ball milling. The milled $TiH_2$ and CNT powders were then simultaneously synthesized and consolidated using pulsed current activated sintering (PCAS) within one minute under an applied pressure of 80 MPa. The milling did not induce any reaction between the constituent powders. Meanwhile, PCAS of the $TiH_2$-CNT mixture produced a Ti-TiC composite according to the reaction ($0.92TiH_2+0.08CNT{\rightarrow}0.84Ti+0.08TiC+0.92H_2$, $0.84TiH_2+0.16CNT{\rightarrow}0.68Ti+0.16TiC+0.84H_2$). Highly dense nanocrystalline Ti-TiC composites with a relative density of up to 99.7% were obtained. The hardness and fracture toughness of the dense Ti-8 mole% TiC and Ti-16 mole% TiC produced by PCAS were also investigated. The hardness of the Ti-8 mole% TiC and Ti-16 mole% TiC composites was higher than that of Ti. The hardness value of the Ti-16 mole% TiC composite was higher than that of the Ti-8 mole% TiC composite without a decrease in fracture toughness.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.344-348
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• 2009

Dense $4.25Co_{0.53}Fe_{0.47}-Al_{2}O_{3}$ composite was simultaneously synthesized and consolidated by pulsed current activated combustion method within 2 min from mechanically activated powders. Consolidation was accomplished under the combined effects of a pulsed current and mechanical pressure. Dense $4.25Co_{0.53}Fe_{0.47}-Al_{2}O_{3}$ with relative density of up to 96% was produced under simultaneous application of 80 MPa pressure and the pulsed current. Fracture toughness and hardness of the composite are $6MPa{\cdot}m^{1/2}$ and $570kg/mm^{2}$ respectively.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.417-423
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• 2010

A dense nanostructured MoSi$_{2}$-SiC composite was synthesized by a pulsed current activated combustion synthesis method within 2 min of one step from mechanically activated powders of Mo$_{2}$C and Si. Simultaneous combustion synthesis and consolidation were accomplished under the combined effects of a pulsed current and mechanical pressure. Highly dense MoSi$_{2}$-SiC with a relative density of up to 98% was produced under simultaneous application of an 80 MPa pressure and pulsed current. The average grain size and mechanical properties of the composite were investigated.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.608-613
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• 2011

Nanopowders of Mo, Ti and Si were made by high-energy ball milling. A dense nanostructured $(Ti,Mo)Si_2$ compound was sintered by the pulsed current activated combustion method within two minutes from mechanically activated powder of Mo, Ti and Si. A highly dense $(Ti,Mo)Si_2$ compound was produced under simultaneous application of 80 MPa pressure and a pulsed current. The mechanical properties and micorostructure were investigated. The hardness and fracture toughness of the $(Ti,Mo)Si_2$ were $1030kg/mm^2$ and $4.9MPa{\cdot}m^{1/2}$, respectively. The mechanical properties were higher than monolithic $TiSi_2$.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.8
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• pp.508-515
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• 2009

Ti-6Al-4V biomaterial is widely used as a bone alternative. However, Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy suffers from numerous problems such as a high elastic modulus and high toxicity. Therefore, non-toxic biomaterials with low elastic moduli need to be developed. Ti-HA(hydroxyapatite) composites were fabricated in the present work by pulsed current activated sintering (PCAS) at $1000^{\circ}C$ under 60 MPa using mixed Ti and HA powders. The effects of HA content on the physical and mechanical properties of the sintered Ti-HA composites have been investigated. X-ray diffraction(XRD) analysis of the Ti-HA composites, including Ti-40 wt%HA in particular, revealed new phases, $Ti_{2}O$, CaO, $CaTiO_3$, and TixPy, formed by chemical reactions between Ti and HA during sintering. The hardness of the Ti-HA composites decreased with an increase in HA content. The corrosion resistance of these composites was observed to be an excellent candidate as a commercial Ti-6Al-4 V ELI alloy. A Ti-5 wt%HA composite fabricated by PCAS is recommended as a new biomaterial, because it offers good corrosion resistance, compressive strength, wear resistance, and biocompatibility, and a low Young's modulus.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.374-379
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• 2011

Nano-powders of $Ti_3Al$ and $2Al_2O_3$ were synthesized from $3TiO_2$ and 5Al powders by high energy ball milling. A nanocrystalline $Al_2O_3$ reinforced composite was consolidated by pulsed current activated sintering within 2 minutes from mechanochemically synthesized powders of $Al_2O_3$ and $Ti_3Al$. Nanocrystalline materials, have received much attention as advanced engineering materials due to their improved physical and mechanical properties. The relative density of the composite was 99.5%. The average obtained hardness and fracture toughness values were 1510 kg/$mm^2$ and $9\;MPa{\cdot}m^{1/2}$, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.310-315
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• 2012

Nano-powders of 1.5TiAl and $Al_2O_3$ were synthesized from $1.5TiO_2$ and 3Al powders by high energy ball milling. Nanocrystalline $Al_2O_3$ reinforced composite was consolidated by pulsed current activated sintering within 2 minutes from mechanochemically synthesized powders of $Al_2O_3$ and 1.5TiAl. The relative density of the composite was 99.5%. The average hardness and fracture toughness values obtained were $1250kg/mm^2$ and $10MPa{\cdot}m^{1/2}$, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.330-331
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• 2006

Fabrication of a nano-laminar ceramic composite by sintering thin ceramic plates was examined. Silver-coated glass flakes with a thickness of less than $1{\mu}m$ were consolidated by pulsed current sintering or hotpressing to obtain model composites. The samples sintered at the optimum conditions were fairly dense, and the flakes were aligned by uniaxial press. The metal coating remained on the flakes through the sintering process, and became an interface layer between the flakes. No crack propagation through the transverse direction of the lamellar was observed in the indentation test. The possibilities of high resistance against crack propagation was suggested.