• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1998

For the purpose of finding new cathode materials for medium-temperature $(700\~800^{\circ}C)$ solid oxide fuel cells, $Gd_{0.8}Ca_{0.2}Co_{1-x}Fe_xO_3,\;(x=0.0\~0.5)$ are prepared, and their thermal stability and conductivity characteristics are investigated. Also, the cathodic activities are measured after the cathode layer being attached on CGO (cerium-gadolinium oxide) electrolyte disk. The X-ray analyses indicate that the materials prepared by calcining the citrate-gels at $800^{\circ}C$ have the orthorhombic perovskite structure without discernible impurities. The thermal stability of the undoped Co perovskite is so poor that it is decomposed to the individual binary oxide even at $1300^{\circ}C$. But the partially Fe-doped cobaltates exhibit a better thermal stability to retain their structural integrity up to $1400^{\circ}C$. The observation whereby both the undoped and Fe-doped cobaltates melt at ca. $1300^{\circ}C$ leads us to perform the electrode adhesion at <$1300^{\circ}C$. The cathodic activity of $Gd_{0.8}Ca_{0.2}Co_{1-x}Fe_xO_3,\;(x=0.0\~0.5)$, electrodes is superior to $La_{0.9}Sr_{0.1}MnO_3$, among the samples of $x=0.0\~0.5$, the x=0.2 cathode shows the best activity for the oxygen reduction reaction. It is likely that the Fe-doping provides a better thermal stability to the materials but in turn imparts an inferior cathodic activity, such that the optimum trade-off is made at x=0.2 between the two factors. The total electrical conductivity and ion conductivity of $Gd_{0.8}Ca_{0.2}Co_{1-x}Fe_xO_3$, are measured to be 51 S/cm and $6.0\times10^{-4}S/cm\;at\;800^{\circ}C$, respectively. The conductivity values illustrate that the materials are a mixed conductor and the reaction sites can be expanded to the overall electrode surface, thereby providing a better cathodic activity than $La_{0.9}Sr_{0.1}MnO_3$.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.179-186
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• 2006

Two types of $TiO_2$, nanotube and nanoparticle, were used for the mesoporous coatings by doctor blade technique followed by calcining at $450^{\circ}C$. The coatings were used as working materials for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) later on and their photovoltaic characterization was carried out. The nanoparticle was synthesized from hydrogen titanate nanotube by hydrothermal treatment at $180^{\circ}C$ for 24 hr. The solar energy conversion efficiency (${\eta}$) of DSCs prepared by this nanoparticle reached 8.07％ with $V_{OC}$ (open-circuit potential) of 0.81 V, $I_{SC}$ (short-circuit current) of $18.29mV/cm^2$, and FF (fill factor) of 66.95％, respectively. For the preparation of nanotube, the concentration of NaOH solution varied from 3 M to 5 M. In the case of DSCs fabricated with nanotubes from 3 M NaOH solution, the ${\eta}$ reached 6.19％ with $V_{OC}$ of 0.77 V, $I_{SC}$ of $12.41mV/cm^2$, and FF of 64.49％, respectively. On the other hand, in the case of 5 M solution, the photovoltaic ${\eta}$ was decreased with 4.09％ due to a loss of photocarriers. In conclusion, it is demonstrated that the solar energy conversion efficiency of DSCs made from $TiO_2$ nanoparticle showed best results among those under investigation.