• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2017

Pseudo capacitors belong to one group of super capacitors which are consisted with non carbon based electrodes. As such, conducting polymers and metal oxide materials have been employed for pseudo capacitors. Conducting polymer based pseudo capacitors have received a great attention due to their interesting features such as flexibility, low cost and ease of synthesis. Much work has been done using liquid electrolytes for those pseudo capacitors but has undergone various drawbacks. It has now been realized the use of solid polymer electrolytes as an alternative. Among them gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) are in a key place due to their high ambient temperature conductivities as well as suitable mechanical properties. In this study, composition of a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based GPE was optimized and it was employed as the electrolyte in a pseudo capacitor having polypyrrole (PPy) electrodes. GPE was prepared using ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) and PAN as starting materials. The maximum room temperature conductivity of the GPE was $1.92{\times}10^{-3}Scm^{-1}$ for the composition 202.5 PAN : 500 EC : 500 PC : 35 NaSCN (by weight). Performance of the pseudo capacitor was investigated using Cyclic Voltammetry technique, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) technique and Continuous Charge Discharge (GCD) test. The single electrode specific capacity (Cs) was found out to be 174.31 F/g using Cyclic Voltammetry technique at the scan rate of 10 mV/s and within the potential window -1.2 V to 1.2 V. The same value obtained using EIS was about 84 F/g. The discharge capacity ($C_d$) was 69.8 F/g. The capacity fade over 1000 cycles was rather a low value of 4%. The results proved the suitability of the pseudo capacitor for improving the performance further.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.305-310
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• 2002

The microwave dielectric properties of Ba(Mg$_{1}$3/Ta$_{2}$3/O$_3$-Ba(Co$_{1}$3/Nb$_{2}$3/O$_3$[BMT-BCN] ceramics were investigated. The specimens were prepared by the conventional mixed oxide method with the sintering temperature of 15$25^{\circ}C$~1575$^{\circ}C$. It was found that Ba(Mg$_{1}$3/Ta$_{2}$3/O$_3$[BMT] and BCN formed a solid solution with complex perovskite structure. As increasing the mole fraction of BCN, dielectric constant increased while the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency was changed from positive to negative value. The highest value of quality factor, Q$\times$f$_{0}$=138,205GHz, obtained in the 0.9BMT-0.1BCN ceramics sintered at 1575$^{\circ}C$. In the range of x$\geq$0.4, the dielectric constant was about 30. The 0.55BMT-0.45BCN ceramics sintered at 15$25^{\circ}C$ for 5 hours showed the microwave dielectric properties of $\varepsilon$$_{r}$=30.21, Q$\times$f$_{0}$=85,789GHz and $\tau$$_{f}$=2.9015ppm/$^{\circ}C$.EX>.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.273-278
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• 2018

Lithium-ion batteries have been considered the most important devices to power mobile or small-sized devices due to their high energy density. $LixCoO_2$ has been studied as a cathode material for the Li-ion battery. However, the limitation of its capacity impedes the development of high capacity cathode materials with Ni, Mn, etc. in them. The substitution of Mn and Ni for Co leads to the formation of solid solution phase $LiNi_xMn_yCo_{1-x-y}O_2$ (NMC, both x and y < 1), which shows better battery performance than unsubstituted $LiCoO_2$. However, despite a high discharge capacity in the Ni-rich compound (Ni > 0.8 in the metal site), poor cycle retention capability still remains to be overcome. In this study, aiming to improve the stability of the physical and chemical bonding, we investigate the stabilization effect of Ca in the Ni-rich layered compound $Li(Ni_{0.83}Co_{0.12}Mn_{0.05})O_2$, and then Ca is added to the modified secondary particles to lower the degree of cationic mixing of the final particles. For the optimization of the final grains added with Ca, the Ca content (x = 0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 at.%) versus Li is analyzed.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.652-658
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• 1997

The phase stability in the interface of Sr-doped LaMnO3(LSM)/Gd-doped CeO2(CGO) was examined in this study in order to check the feasibility of using LSM as the cathode material in a low-temperature SOFC(solid oxide fuel cell) using CGO as the electrolyte. For the purpose, CGO powders of Ce0.82Gd0.18O0.91 and two LSM powders having different compositions, La0.9Sr0.1MnO3(LSM10) and La0.5Sr0.5MnO3(LSM50), were synthesized using Pechini method. Then, specimens having the LSM/CGO interface were prepared, heat-treated at 130$0^{\circ}C$ for up to 3 days, and analyzed by XRD and STEM/EDX. Face-centered cubic CGO powders of less than 10 nm size were obtained by calcination of polymeric precursor formed in the process at 45$0^{\circ}C$. Higher calcination temperature of $700^{\circ}C$ was necessary for monoclinic LSM10 and cubic LSM50 powders. LSM powders were coarser than CGO and observed to be in the range of 50~100 nm. No trace of LSM-CGO interaction product was found in the XRD pattern. Also it was known from the concentration profile in the vicinity of the interface that interdiffusion was occurred over only a small penetration depth of ~100 nm order.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.3301-3306
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• 2013

This paper aims to address the cellular toxicity of ultra-pure titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) frequently employed in sunscreens as inorganic physical sun blockers to provide protection against adverse effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation including UVB (290-320 nm) and UVA (320-400 nm). In consideration that the production and the use of inorganic NPs have aroused many concerns and controversies regarding their safety and toxicity and that microsized $TiO_2$ and ZnO have been increasingly replaced by $TiO_2$ and ZnO NPs (< 100 nm), it is very important to directly investigate a main problem related to the intrinsic/inherent toxicity of these NPs and/or their incompatibility with biological objects. In the present study, we took advantage of the laser-assisted method called laser ablation for generation of $TiO_2$ and ZnO NPs. NPs were prepared through a physical process of irradiating solid targets in liquid phase, enabling verification of the toxicity of ultra-pure NPs with nascent surfaces free from any contamination. Our results show that $TiO_2$ NPs are essentially non-poisonous and ZnO NPs are more toxic than $TiO_2$ NPs based on the cell viability assays.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.58.2-58.2
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• 2012

Heavy hydrocarbon reforming is a core technology for "Dirty energy smart". Heavy hydrocarbons are components of fossil fuels, biomass, coke oven gas and etc. Heavy hydrocarbon reforming converts the fuels into $H_2$-rich syngas. And then $H_2$-rich syngas is used for the production of electricity, synthetic fuels and petrochemicals. Energy can be used efficiently and obtained from various sources by using $H_2$-rich syngas from heavy hydrocarbon reforming. Especially, the key point of "Dirty energy smart" is using "dirty fuel" which is wasted in an inefficient way. New energy conversion laboratory of KAIST has been researched diesel reforming for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) as a part of "Dirty energy smart". Diesel is heavy hydrocarbon fuels which has higher carbon number than natural gas, kerosene and gasoline. Diesel reforming has difficulties due to the evaporation of fuels and coke formation. Nevertheless, diesel reforming technology is directly applied to "Dirty fuel" because diesel has the similar chemical properties with "Dirty fuel". On the other hand, SOFC has advantages on high efficiency and wasted heat recovery. Nippon oil Co. of Japan recently commercializes 700We class SOFC system using city gas. Considering the market situation, the development of diesel reformer has a great ripple effect. SOFC system can be applied to auxiliary power unit and distributed power generation. In addition, "Dirty energy smart" can be realized by applying diesel reforming technology to "Dirty fuel". As well as material developments, multidirectional approaches are required to reform heavy hydrocarbon fuels and use $H_2$-rich gas in SOFC. Gd doped ceria (CGO, $Ce_{1-x}Gd_xO_{2-y}$) has been researched for not only electrolyte materials but also catalysts supports. In addition, catalysts infiltrated electrode over porous $La_{0.8}Sr_{0.2}Ga_{0.8}Mg_{0.2}O_3-{\delta}$ and catalyst deposition at three phase boundary are being investigated to improve the performance of SOFC. On the other hand, nozzle for diesel atomization and post-reforming for light-hydrocarbons removal are examples of solving material problems in multidirectional approaches. Likewise, multidirectional approaches are necessary to realize "Dirty energy smart" like reforming "Dirty fuel" for SOFC.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.626-630
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• 2012

The properties of SOFC unit cells manufactured using the decalcomania method were investigated. SOFC unit cell manufacturing using the decalcomania method is a very simple process. In order to minimize the ohmic loss of flattened tube type anode supports of solid oxide fuel cells(SOFC), the cells were fabricated by producing an anode function layer, YSZ electrolyte, LSM electrode, etc., on the supports and laminating them. The influence of these materials on the power output characteristics was studied when laminating the components and laminating the anode function layer between the anode and the electrolyte to improve the output characteristics. Regarding the performance of the SOFC unit cell, the output was 246 $mW/cm^2$ at a temperature of $800^{\circ}C$ in the case of not laminating the anode function layer; however, this value was improved by a factor of two to 574 $mW/cm^2$ due to the decrease of the ohmic resistance and polarization resistance of the cell in the case of laminating the anode function layer. The outputs appeared to be as high as 574 and 246 $mW/cm^2$ at a temperature of $800^{\circ}C$ in the case of using decalcomania paper when laminating the electrolyte layer using the in dip-coating method; however, the reason for this is that interfacial adhesion was improved due to the dense structure, which leads to a thin thickness of the electrolyte layer.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.430-436
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• 2011

Joining of NiO-YSZ to 316 stainless steel was carried out with B-Ni2 brazing alloy (3 wt% Fe, 4.5 wt% Si, 3.2 wt% B, 7 wt% Cr, Ni-balance, m.p. 971-$999^{\circ}C$) to seal the NiO-YSZ anode/316 stainless steel interconnect structure in a SOFC. In the present research, interfacial (chemical) reactions during brazing at the NiO-YSZ/316 stainless steel interconnect were enhanced by the two processing methods, a) addition of an electroless nickel plate to NiO-YSZ as a coating or b) deposition of titanium layer onto NiO-YSZ by magnetron plasma sputtering method, with process variables and procedures optimized during the pre-processing. Brazing was performed in a cold-wall vacuum furnace at $1080^{\circ}C$. Post-brazing interfacial morphologies between NiO-YSZ and 316 stainless steel were examined by SEM and EDS methods. The results indicate that B-Ni2 brazing filler alloy was fused fully during brazing and continuous interfacial layer formation depended on the method of pre-coating NiO-YSZ. The inter-diffusion of elements was promoted by titanium-deposition: the diffusion reaction thickness of the interfacial area was reduced to less than 5 ${\mu}m$ compared to 100 ${\mu}m$ for electroless nickel-deposited NiO-YSZ cermet.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1738-1742
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• 2009

Nanocrystalline Zn$Fe_2O_4$ oxide-semiconductor with spinel structure was synthesized by the polymerized complex (PC) method and investigated for its photocatalytic and photoelectric properties. The observation of a highly pure phase and a lower crystallization temperature in Zn$Fe_2O_4$ made by PC method is in total contrast to that was observed in Zn$Fe_2O_4$ prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction (SSR) method. The band gap of the nanocrystalline Zn$Fe_2O_4$ determined by UV-DRS was 1.90 eV (653 nm). The photocatalytic activity of Zn$Fe_2O_4$ prepared by PC method as investigated by the photo-decomposition of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) under visible light (${\geq}$ 420 nm) was much higher than that of the Zn$Fe_2O_4$ prepared by SSR as well as Ti$O_{2-x}N_x$. High photocatalytic activity of Zn$Fe_2O_4$ prepared by PC method was mainly due to its surface area, crystallinity and the dispersity of platinum metal over Zn$Fe_2O_4$.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.155-162
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• 2011

Eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) is a naturally occurring phenolic compound that is widely used in dentistry as a component of zinc oxide eugenol cement that is commonly applied to the mouth environment. Cisplatin is one of the most potent known anticancer agents and shows significant clinical activity against a variety of solid tumors. This study was undertaken to investigate the synergistic apoptotic effects of co-treatments with eugenol and cisplatin on human melanoma (G361) cells. To investigate whether this co-treatment efficiently reduces the viability of G361 cells compared with each single treatment, an MTT assay was conducted. The induction and augmentation of apoptosis were confirmed by DNA electrophoresis, Hoechst staining and an analysis of DNA hypoploidy. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescent staining were also performed to evaluate the expression levels and the translocation of apoptosis-related proteins following this co-treatment. Furthermore, proteasome activity and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) changes were also assayed. The results indicated that a co-treatment with eugenol and cisplatin induced multiple pathways and processes associated with an apoptotic response in G361 cells including nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation, a reduction in MMP and proteasome activity, the increase and decrease of Bax and Bcl-2, a decreased DNA content, the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, the translocation of AIF and DFF40 (CAD) into the nucleus, and the activation of caspase-9, caspase-7, caspase-3, PARP and DFF45 (ICAD). In contrast, separate treatments of 300 ${\mu}M$ eugenol or 3 ${\mu}M$ cisplatin for 24 h did not induce apoptosis. Our present data thus suggest that a combination therapy of eugenol and cisplatin is a potential treatment strategy for human melanoma.