• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.172-177
• /
• 2012

Mo-doped $LiFePO_4$ was synthesized via co-precipitation method using sucrose as the carbon source. Structure, surface morphology, and the electrochemical properties of the synthesized olivine compounds were investigated using Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction data (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrochemical charge-ischarge tests. Spherical morphology with the particle size of ${\sim}8{\mu}m$ authenticated the enhanced tap density and volumetric energy density of the synthesized materials. Charge-discharge behavior of $LiFePO_4$ and Mo-doped $LiFePO_4$ cells demonstrated a specific capacity of 130 and 145 mAh $g^{-1}$, respectively. Mo-doped $LiFePO_4$ cells exhibited an excellent discharge capacity at 96 mAh $g^{-1}$ at 7 C-rate.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.88-96
• /
• 2024

Lithium metal has garnered attention as a promising anode active material thanks to its high specific capacity, energy density, and the lowest reduction potential. However, the formation of dendrites, dendritic crystals that arise during the charge and discharge process, has posed safety and lifetime stability challenges. To resolve this, our study has introduced a novel separator design. This separator features a composite coating of vapor-grown carbon fiber, a conductive material in nanofibers, and silver. We have meticulously studied the impact of this innovative separator on the electrochemical properties of the lithium metal anode, unveiling promising results. To confirm the synergistic effect of VGCF and Ag, a separator with no surface treatment and a separator with only VGCF coated on one side were prepared and compared with the Ag-VGCF-separator. In the case of the bare separator, the Li metal surface is covered with dendrites during the initial charge and discharge process. In contrast, both the VGCF-separator and the Ag-VGCF-separator show Li precipitation inside the conductive coating layer coated on the separator surface. Additionally, the Ag-VGCF-separator showed a more uniform precipitate shape than the VGCF-separator. As a result, the Ag-VGCF-separators show improved electrochemical properties compared to the bare separators and the VGCF-separators.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.285-292
• /
• 2014

Commercial activated-carbon used as the electrode material of an electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) was posttreated with various acids and alkalis to increase its capacitance. The carbon samples prepared were then heat-treated in order to control the amount of acidic functional groups formed by the acid treatments. Coin-type EDLC cells with two symmetric carbon electrodes were assembled using the prepared carbon materials and an organic electrolyte. The electrochemical performance of the EDLC was measured by galvanostatic charge-discharge, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Among the various activated carbons, the carbon electrodes (CSsb800) prepared by the treatments of coconutshell-based carbon activated with NaOH and $H_3BO_5$, and then heat treated at $800^{\circ}C$ under a flow of nitrogen gas, showed relatively good electrochemical performance. Although the specific-surface-area of the carbon-electrode material ($1,096m^2/g$) was less than that of pristine activated-carbon ($1,122m^2/g$), the meso-pore volume increased after the combined chemical and heat treatments. The specific capacitance of the EDLC increased from 59.6 to 74.8 F/g (26%) after those post treatments. The equivalent series resistance of EDLC using CSsb800 as electrode was much lower than that of EDLC using pristine activated carbon. Therefore, CSsb800 exhibited superior electrochemical performance at high scan rates due to its low internal resistance.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 2015

The composite of porous silicon (Si) and amorphous carbon (C) is prepared by pyrolysis of a nano-porous Si + pitch mixture. The nano-porous Si is prepared by mechanical milling of magnesium powder with silicon monoxide (SiO) followed by removal of MgO with hydrochloric acid (etching process). The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of porous Si ($64.52m^2g^{-1}$) is much higher than that before etching Si/MgO ($4.28m^2g^{-1}$) which indicates pores are formed in Si after the etching process. Cycling stability is examined for the nano-porous Si + C composite and the result is compared with the composite of nonporous Si + C. The capacity retention of the former composite is 59.6% after 50 charge/discharge cycles while the latter shows only 28.0%. The pores of Si formed after the etching process is believed to accommodate large volumetric change of Si during charging and discharging process.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.117-120
• /
• 2013

In this study, an electro-catalyst of Pt nanoparticles supported by polypyrrole-functionalized graphene (Pt/PPy-reduced graphene oxide [RGO]) is reported. The Pt nanoparticles are deposited on the PPy-RGO composite by chemical reduction of H2PtCl6 using NaBH4. The presence of graphene (RGO) caused higher activity. This might have been due to increased electro-chemically accessible surface areas, increased electronic conductivity, and easier charge-transfer at polymer-electrolyte interfaces, allowing higher dispersion and utilization of the deposited Pt nano-particles. Microstructure, morphology and crystallinity of the synthesized materials were investigated using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed successful deposition of Pt nano-particles, with crystallite size of about 2.7 nm, on the PPy-RGO support film. Catalytic activity for methanol electro-oxidation in fuel cells was investigated using cyclic voltammetry. The fundamental electrochemical test results indicated that the electro-catalytic activity, for methanol oxidation, of the Pt/PPy-RGO combination was much better than for commercial catalyst.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.174-177
• /
• 2003

Electric double-layer capacitors based on charge storage at the interface between a high surface area activated carbon electrode and an electrolyte solution are characterized by their long cycle-life and high power density in comparison with batteries. However, energy density of electric double-layer capacitors obtained at present is about 6 Wh/kg at a power density of 500W/kg which is smaller as compared with that of batteries and limits the wide spread use of the capacitors. Therefore, a new capacitor that shows larger energy density than that of electric double-layer capacitors is proposed. The new capacitor is the hybrid capacitor consisting of activated carbon cathode, carbonaceous anode and an organic electrolyte. Maximum voltage applicable to the cell is over 4.2V that is larger than that of the electric double-layer capacitor. As a result, discharged energy density on the basis of stacked volume of electrode, current collector and separator is more than 18Wh/l at a power density of 500W/l.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.180-186
• /
• 2017

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to compare the surface resistance of cassettes according to the material, and to evaluate the wall deposition of carbon nanotubes(CNTs) by electrostatic loss in the inner wall of the cassette. Methods: Surface resistance was measured for three types of cassettes(25 mm polypropylene conductive cowl, 25 mm and 37 mm clear styrene cassettes) with a surface resistance meter. Also, electrostatic wall loss was measured at different weights of CNTs depending on the cassette. CNTs were laid on a weight dish with the cassette for five minutes to provide sufficient time to attach on the wall. Wipe sampling was performed to collect CNTs deposited on the wall and elemental carbon, known as a surrogate for CNTs, was analyzed. Results: The cassette with conductive materials(18% of black carbon) showed the lowest surface resistance($<1.21{\times}10^3{\Omega}$). Cassettes made from clear polystyrene showed the relatively highest surface resistance(25 mm: $10.02{\times}10^9{\Omega}$, 37 mm: $10.59{\times}10^9{\Omega}$). This means that particles are more likely to stick to the internal wall of styrene cassettes due to electrostatic electricity. This may lead to an underestimation of the airborne concentration of CNTs. The experiment showed that EC was not detected when using a 25 mm conductive cowl cassette, while EC was detected at the internal wall of 25 mm and 37 mm polystyrene cassettes. Conclusions: This study confirms that cassettes with a conductive cowl have low surface resistance and are more appropriate for CNT sampling. In addition, this finding could be applied for other types of particulate, especially regarding electrostatic charge and sampling.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.240-245
• /
• 2010

This work explored the catalytic effect of Pt in multi-wall carbon nanotube and poly-pyrrole conductive polymer electrocatalysts (Pt/PPy/MWCNT). A home-made Pt/PPy/MWCNT catalyst was first evaluated by comparing its electrochemical active surface area (ESA) with E-Tek commercial catalysts by cyclic voltammetry in $H_2SO_4$ solution. Then, the methanol oxidation currents of Pt/PPy/MWCNT and the hydrogen peaks in $H_2SO_4$ solution were serially measured with microporous electrode. This provided the current density of methanol oxidation based on the ESA, allowing a quantitative comparison of catalytic activity. The current densities were also measured for Pt/C catalysts of E-Tek and Tanaka Precious Metal Co. The current densities for the different catalysts were similar, implying that catalytic activity depended directly on the ESA rather than charge transfer or electronic conductivity.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
• /
• v.54 no.4
• /
• pp.164-170
• /
• 2021

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB) have emerged as large-scale energy storage systems (ESS) due to their advantages such as low cross-contamination, long life, and flexible design. However, Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in the negative half-cell causes a harmful influence on the performance of the VRFB by consuming current. Moreover, HER hinders V²⁺/V³⁺ redox reaction between electrode and electrolyte by forming a bubble. To address the HER problem, carbon nanotube/graphite felt electrode (CNT/GF) with oxygen functional groups was synthesized through the hydrothermal method in the H₂SO₄ + HNO₃ (3:1) mixed acid solution. These oxygen functional groups on the CNT/GF succeed in suppressing the HER and improving charge transfer for V²⁺/V³⁺ redox reaction. As a result, the oxygen functional group applied electrode exhibited a low overpotential of 0.395 V for V²⁺/V³⁺ redox reaction. Hence, this work could offer a new strategy to design and synthesize effective electrodes for HER suppression and improving the energy density of VRFB.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.310-317
• /
• 2010

The electrochemical properties of electric double layer capacitor(EDLC) was studied by controlling pore size distribution and specific surface area of the activated carbon fiber(ACF). The mesoporous ACF, which was prepared by the iron exchange method, showed the tendency of increasing average pore size and decreasing total surface area. The mesoporous ACF (surface area = 2225 $m^2$/g, pore size=1.93 nm) showed increased mesopore(pore size=1~3nm) volume from 0.055 cc/g to 0.408 cc/g compared to its raw ACF. The charging capacity of the EDLC which uses the prepared mesoporous ACF also increased from 0.39 F/$cm^2$ to 0.55 F/$cm^2$. From these results, it can be known that the electrochemical properties of EDLC are mainly dependent on the specific surface area, but above the surface area 2200 $m^2$/g, it is the mesopore volume that affects the performance of the capacitor considerably. Because the increased mesopore volume results in a decreased ion mobility resistance, the charge capacitance is enhanced.