• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.16-21
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• 2016

Silicon/Carbon/CNT composites as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries were synthesized to overcome the large volume change during lithium alloying-de alloying process and low electrical conductivity. Silicon/Carbon/CNT composites were prepared by the fabrication processes including the synthesis of SBA-15, magnesiothermic reduction of SBA-15 to obtain Si/MgO by ball milling, carbonization of phenolic resin with CNT and HCl etching. The prepared Silicon/Carbon/CNT composites were analysed by XRD, SEM, BET and EDS. In this study, the electrochemical effect of CNT content to improve the capacity and cycle performance was investigated by charge/discharge, cycle, cyclic voltammetry and impedance tests. The coin cell using Silicon/Carbon/CNT composite (Si:CNT=93:7 in weight) in the electrolyte of $LiPF_6$ dissolved in organic solvents (EC:DMC:EMC=1:1:1 vol%) has better capacity (1718 mAh/g) than those of other composition coin cells. The cycle performance of coin cell was improved as CNT content was increased. It is found that the coin cell (Si:CNT=89:11 in weight) has best capacity retension (83%) after 2nd cycle.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제33권9호
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• pp.3025-3032
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• 2012

Carbon microcapsules containing silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs)-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanocomposite (Si-CNT@C) have been fabricated by a two step polymerization method. Silicon nanoparticles-carbon nanotubes (Si-CNT) nanohybrids were prepared with a wet-type beadsmill method. A polymer, which is easily removable by a thermal treatment (intermediate polymer) was polymerized on the outer surfaces of Si-CNT nanocomposites. Subsequently, another polymer, which can be carbonized by thermal heating (carbon precursor polymer) was incorporated onto the surfaces of pre-existing polymer layer. In this way, polymer precursor spheres containing Si-CNT nanohybrids were produced using a two step polymerization. The intermediate polymer must disappear during carbonization resulting in the formation of an internal free space. The carbon precursor polymer should transform to carbon shell to encapsulate remaining Si-CNT nanocomposites. Therefore, hollow carbon microcapsules containing Si-CNT nanocomposites could be obtained (Si-CNT@C). The successful fabrication was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). These final materials were employed for anode performance improvement in lithium ion battery. The cyclic performances of these Si-CNT@C microcapsules were measured with a lithium battery half cell tests.

• Composites Research
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.395-400
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• 2020

In this paper, we manufactured silsesquiaznae (SSQZ)-coated carbon nanotube (CNT) surface heating elements, which allowed stable heating at high temperatures. The prepared composite sheet was confirmed by FE-SEM that the SSQZ fully coated the surface of CNT sheet. Furthermore, it was also confirmed that the silicon carbonitride (SiCN) ceramic formed by heat treatment of 800℃ have no defects found and maintain intact structure. The CNT/SiCN composite sheet was able to achieve higher thermal stability than raw CNT sheets in both nitrogen and air atmosphere. Finally, the CNT/SiCN composite sheet was possible to heat up at a temperature of over 700℃ in the atmosphere, and the re-heating was successfully operated after cooling.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.313-317
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• 2018

Carbon-based coatings, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, and buckyball ($C_{60}$), receive much interest because of their outstanding mechanical and electrical properties for a wide range of electromechanical component-based applications. Previous experimental results demonstrate that these carbon-based coatings are promising solid lubricants because of their superior tribological properties, and thus help prolong the lifetime of silicon-based applications. In this study, CNT coatings are deposited on a bare silicon (100) substrate by electrodynamic spraying under different deposition conditions. During the coating deposition, the applied voltage, CNT concentration of the solution, distance between the injecting nozzle and the substrate and diameter of the injecting nozzle are optimized to control the thickness and surface roughness of the CNT coatings. The surface morphology and thickness of the coatings are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. The friction and wear properties of the coatings are investigated by using a pin-on-reciprocating-type tribotester under various experimental conditions. The friction coefficient of the CNT coating is as low as 0.15 under high normal loads. The overall results reveal that CNT coatings deposited by electrodynamic spraying provide relatively uniform with superior lubrication performance.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.50-55
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• 2008

Carbon Nanotube (CNT) films were deposited with varying deposition temperature by RF plasma CVD on Fe catalysts deposited onto $SiO_2$ films grown thermally on the silicon wafer using $C_2H_2$ and $H_2$ gases. The Fe catalysts on silicon oxide film were made by RF magnetron sputtering. The grounded grid mesh cover on the substrate holder was used for depositing CNT thin films with high purity. The surface morphologies and chemical structure of deposited CNT films were characterized using SEM, Raman, XPS and TEM. It was observed that deposited CNTs films were carbon fiber type having Bamboo-like multiwall structure and CNT film grown at $600^{\circ}C$ was more dense than that at $550^{\circ}C$, but become less dense at $650^{\circ}C$.

• Advances in nano research
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.23-56
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• 2014

The significant growth of the Si photovoltaic industry has been so far limited due to the high cost of the Si photovoltaic system. In this regard, the most expensive factors are the intrinsic cost of silicon material and the Si solar cell fabrication processes. Conventional Si solar cells have p-n junctions inside for an efficient extraction of light-generated charge carriers. However, the p-n junction is normally formed through very expensive processes requiring very high temperature (${\sim}1000^{\circ}C$). Therefore, several systems are currently under study to form heterojunctions at low temperatures. Among them, carbon nanotube (CNT)/Si hybrid solar cells are very promising, with power conversion efficiency up to 15%. In these cells, the p-type Si layer is replaced by a semitransparent CNT film deposited at room temperature on the n-doped Si wafer, thus giving rise to an overall reduction of the total Si thickness and to the fabrication of a device with cheaper methods at low temperatures. In particular, the CNT film coating the Si wafer acts as a conductive electrode for charge carrier collection and establishes a built-in voltage for separating photocarriers. Moreover, due to the CNT film optical semitransparency, most of the incoming light is absorbed in Si; thus the efficiency of the CNT/Si device is in principle comparable to that of a conventional Si one. In this paper an overview of several factors at the basis of this device operation and of the suggested improvements to its architecture is given. In addition, still open physical/technological issues are also addressed.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.112-121
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• 2019

In this study, silicon / carbon nanotube / carbon composite particles with high capacity were fabricated by using micro-sized silicon particles and carbon nanotubes as an anode material for lithium ion batteries. The silicon / carbon nanotube / carbon composite particles were prepared by spray drying method to prepare spherical composite particles. The composite particles have the network structure of the carbon nanotubes around the silicon particles, in which the silicon particles and the carbon nanotubes are bonded by amorphous carbon. It appears that the volume expansion of silicon is effectively buffered and the electrical contact is maintained in the network structure of the composite particles during charge-discharge cycles.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제60권3호
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• pp.327-333
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• 2022

In this study, silicon/carbon nanotube/carbon (Si/CNT/C) composites for anode were prepared to improve the volume expansion of silicon used as a high-capacity anode material. Si/CNT were prepared by electrostatic attraction of the positively charged Si and negatively charged CNT and then hydrothermal synthesis was performed to obtain the spherical Si/CNT/C composites. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), polyacrylic acid (PAA), and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) were used as binders for electrode preparation, and coin cell was assembled using 1.0 M LiPF₆ (EC:DMC:EMC = 1:1:1 vol%) electrolyte and fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) additive. The physical properties of Si/CNT/C anode materials were analyzed using SEM, EDS, XRD and TGA, and the electrochemical performances of lithium-ion batteries were investigated by charge-discharge cycle, rate performance, dQ/dV and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests. Also, it was confirmed that both capacity and rate performance were significantly improved using the PAA/SBR binder and 10 wt% FEC-added electrolyte. It is found that Si/CNT/C have the reversible capacity of 914 mAh/g, the capacity retention ratio of 83% during 50 cycles and the rate performance of 70% in 2 C/0.1 C.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제59권1호
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• pp.35-41
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• 2021

Silicon is a promising next-generation anode material for lithium-ion battery, and it has been studied for commercialization due to the high theoretical capacity. However, it has problems of the volume change during charge-discharge and the poor electrical conductivity. To solve these problems, formation of SiO2 and carbon coating on the surface of silicon crystal were performed to protect the side reaction and enhance the electrical conductivity of silicon. CNT and CNF were also added to mitigate the volume change and increase the conductivity. Physical properties of asprepared samples were analyzed by XRD, SEM, and EDS. Electrochemical characteristics were investigated by electrical conductivity measurement, EIS, CV and cycle performance test. (Si/SiO2/C)+CNT&CNF showed high electrical conductivity and low charge-transfer resistance, and the capacity was 1528 mAh/g at 1st cycle and 1055 mAh/g at 50th cycle with 83% capacity retention.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.35-41
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• 2023

The carbon-coated silicon monoxide (c-SiO_x), which is a negative electrode active material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), has a limited cycle performance due to severe volume changes during cycles, despite its high specific capacity. In particular, the significant volume change of the active material can deform the electrode structure and easily damage the electron transfer pathway. To improve performance and mitigate electrode damage caused by volume changes, we replaced parts of the carbon black conducting agent with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) having a linear shape. The content of the entire conductive material in the electrode was fixed at 10% by mass, and the relative content of CNTs ranged from 0% to 25% by mass to prepare electrodes and evaluate electrochemical performance. As the CNT content in the electrode increased, both cycle life and rate capability improved. Even a small amount of CNT can significantly improve the electrochemical performance of a c-SiO_x negative electrode with large volume changes. Furthermore, dispersing CNTs effectively can lead to achieving the equivalent performance with a reduced quantity of CNTs.