• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.88-94
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• 2019

Triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA-UC) is a photochemical process wherein two or more low-energy photons are converted to a high-energy photon through a special energy transfer mechanism. Herein, we report a strategy to enhance the efficiency of TTA-UC through the light-scattering effect induced by silica microparticles (SM) embedded in polymeric thin films. By incorporating monodisperse uniform silica microparticles with a uniform size of 950 nm synthesized by $St{\ddot{o}}ber$-based seeded growth method into UC polymeric thin films, the UC intensity in the 430-570 nm range was enhanced by as much as 64% when irradiated by 635 nm laser. Analyzing the lifetime of PdTPBP phosphorescence revealed that the presence of SM in the UC layer does not affect triplet-triplet energy transfer (TTET) between sensitizers and acceptors, supporting the enhancement of TTA-UC originated from the light-scattering effect. On the other hand, the incorporation of SM in UC layer is shown to enhance the triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) efficiency, which results in a 1.5-fold increase of the ${\Phi}_{UC}$, by scattering light source and thus increasing the number of excited photons to be utilized in TTA-UC process.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.142-149
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• 2020

In this study, the electrochemical performance of Graphite/Silicon/Pitch composites as anode material was investigated to improve the low theoretical capacity of artificial graphite. Spherical artificial graphite surface was coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) amphiphiles material to synthesize Graphite/Silica material by silica islands growth. The Graphite/Silicon/Pitch composites were prepared by petroleum pitch coating and magnesiothermic reduction. The Graphite/Silicon/Pitch composite electrodes manufactured using poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) binders. The coin type half cell was assembled using various electrolytes and additives. The Graphite/Silicon/Pitch composites were analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The electrochemical characteristics of Graphite/Silicon/Pitch composite were investigated by constant current charge/discharge, rate performance, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The Graphite/Silicon/Pitch composites showed high cycle stability at a graphite/silica/pitch ratio (1:4:8 wt%). When the electrode is prepared using PAA binder, the high capacity and stability is obtained. The coin type half cell assembled using EC: DMC: EMC electrolyte showed high initial capacity (719 mAh/g) and excellent cycle stability. The rate performance has an capacity retention (77%) at 2 C/0.1 C and an capacity recovery (88%) at 0.1 C / 0.1 C when the vinylene carbonate (VC) was added.