• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.69-79
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• 2016

Lithium ion battery with high energy density is expanding its application area to electric automobile and electricity storage field beyond existing portable electric devices. Such expansion of an application field is demanding higher characteristic and stable long life characteristic of an anode material, the natural graphite that became commercialized in lithium ion battery. This thesis produced cathode by using natural graphite anode material, analyzed creation of the cathode SEI film created due to initial reaction by using electrolyte additives, VC (vinylene carbonate), VEC (vinyl ethylene carbonate), and FEC (fluoroethylene carbonate), and considered correlation with the accompanying electrochemical transformation. This study compared and analyzed the SEI film variation of natural graphite cathode according to the electrolyte additive with SEI that is formed at the time of initial filling and cathode of $60^{\circ}C$ life characteristic. At the time of initial filling, the profile showed changes due to the SEI formation, and SEI was formed in No-Additive in approximately 0.9 V through EVS, but for VC, VEC, and FEC, the formation reaction was created above 1 V. In $60^{\circ}C$ lifespan characteristic evaluation, the initial efficiency was highest in No-Additive and showed high contents percentage, but when cycle was progressed, the capacity maintenance rate decreased more than VC and FEC as the capacity and efficiency at the time of filling decreased, and VEC showed lowest performance in efficiency and capacity maintenance rate. Changes of SEI could not be verified through SEM, but it was identified that as the cycle of SEI ingredients was progressed through FT-IR, ingredients of Alkyl carbonate ($RCO_2Li$) affiliation of the $2850-2900cm^{-1}$ was maintained more solidly and the resistance increased as cycle was progressed through EIS, and specially, it was identified that the resistance due to No-Additive and SEI of VEC became very significant. Continuous loss of additives was verified through GC-MS, and the loss of additives from partial decomposition and remodeling of SEI formed the non-uniform surface of SEI and is judged to be the increase of resistance.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.44 no.1 s.296
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• pp.1-5
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• 2007

Fining and homogenization of melts during batch melting is closely related to the redox reaction of polyvalent element M (M: Sb, As etc), $M^{(x+n)+}+n/2O^{2-}{\rightarrow}M^{x+}+n/4O_2$. In this study, square wave voltammetry (SWV) measurements were performed to examine the redox behavior of an antimony ion in cathode ray tube (CRT) glass melts. According to results, well-separated two peaks are shown at low temperature while only one peak is shown at high temperature in voltammograms, which reveals that redox reaction of antimony consist of two steps: $Sb^{5+}/Sb^{3+}\;and\;Sb^{3+}/Sb^0$, depending on the temperature. Based on the peak potential shown in the voltammogram, the thermodynamic data and the redox ratio for two redox couple were determined.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.129.2-129.2
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• 2013

Electron injection enhancement at OLED (organic light-emitting diodes) cathode side has mostly been achieved by insertion of a low work function layer between metal electrode and emissive layer. We investigated the interfacial chemical reactions and electronic structures of alkaline-earth metal (Ca, Ba)/Alq3 [tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminium] and Ca/BaF2/Alq3 using in-situ X-ray & ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. The alkaline-earth metal deposited on Alq3 generates two energetically separated gap states in sequential manner. This phenomenon is explained by step-by-step charge transfer from alkali-earth metal to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) states of Alq3, forming new occupied states below Fermi level. The BaF2 interlayer initially prevents from direct contact between Alq3 and reactive Ca metal, but it is dissociated into Ba and CaF2. However, as the Ca thickness increases, the Ca penetrates the interlayer to directly participate in the reaction with underlying Alq3. The influence of the multiple gap state formation by the interfacial chemical reaction on the OLED performance will be discussed.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.279-284
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• 2021

The high theoretical specific capacity of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries makes them a more promising energy storage system than conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the slow kinetics of the electrochemical conversion reaction seriously hinders the utilization of Li-S as an active battery material and has prevented the successful application of Li-S cells. Therefore, exploration of alternatives that can overcome the sluggish electrochemical reaction is necessary to increase the performance of Li-S batteries. In this work, an ionic liquid (IL) is proposed as a functional additive to promote the electrochemical reactivity of the Li-S cell. The sluggish electrochemical reaction is mainly caused by precipitation of low-order polysulfide (l-PS) onto the positive electrode, so the IL is adopted as a solubilizer to remove the precipitated l-PS from the positive electrode to promote additional electron transfer reactions. The ILs effectively dissolve l-PS and greatly improve the electrochemical performance by allowing greater utilization of l-PS, which results in a higher initial specific capacity, together with a moderate retention rate. The results presented here confirmed that the use of an IL as an additive is quite effective at enhancing the overall performance of the Li-S cell and this understanding will enable the construction of highly efficient Li-S batteries.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.332-336
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• 2018

Alkaline oxygen electrocatalysis, targeting anion exchange membrane alkaline-based metal-air batteries has become a subject of intensive investigation because of its advantages compared to its acidic counterparts in reaction kinetics and materials stability. However, significant breakthroughs in the design and synthesis of efficient oxygen reduction catalysts from earth-abundant elements instead of precious metals in alkaline media still remain in high demand. One of the most inexpensive alternatives is carbonaceous materials, which have attracted extensive attention either as catalyst supports or as metal-free cathode catalysts for oxygen reduction. Also, carbon composite materials have been recognized as the most promising because of their reasonable balance between catalytic activity, durability, and cost. In particular, heteroatom (e.g., N, B, S or P) doping on carbon materials can tune the electronic and geometric properties of carbon, providing more active sites and enhancing the interaction between carbon structure and active sites. Here, we focused on boron and nitrogen doped nanocarbon composit (BNC nanocarbon) catalysts synthesized by a solution plasma process using the simple precursor of pyridine and boric acid without further annealing process. Additionally, guidance for rational design and synthesis of alkaline ORR catalysts with improved activity is also presented.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.337-342
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• 2022

In this study, a water electrolysis was studied to investigate the effect of ammonia on current density and H2 gas production. A H type cell with three electrodes was used and KOH solution was used as electrolyte. The conventional platinum foil was used for working electrode, whereas nickel foam was used for counter electrode. CV experiment was performed to see the activity of ammonia oxidation reaction. In addition, CP experiment was done to examine the dependence of Faraday efficiency of hydrogen on current density and NH3 concentration. The CV result shows the 0.5M NH3 concentration required for highest current density and reliable operation. The CP result shows the increased current density leads to higher H2 generation. The higher H2 production and subsequent energy efficiency was observed for 0.5M NH3 using a Pt/13%Rh coil for a cathode as compared to those in water electrolysis.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.587-591
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• 2011

The effect of the precipitator (NaOH, $NH_4OH$) and the amount of the precipitator (150, 200, 250, 300 ml) on the formation of $Fe_3(PO_4)_2$, which is the precursor used for cathode material $LiFePO_4$ in Li-ion rechargeable batteries was investigated by the co-precipitation method. A pure precursor of olivine $LiFePO_4$ was successfully prepared with coprecipitation from an aqueous solution containing trivalent iron ions. The acid solution was prepared by mixing 150 ml $FeSO_4$(1M) and 100 ml $H_3PO_4$(1M). The concentration of the NaOH and $NH_4OH$ solution was 1 M. The reaction temperature (25$^{\circ}C$) and reaction time (30 min) were fixed. Nitrogen gas (500 ml/min) was flowed during the reaction to prevent oxidation of $Fe^{2+}$. Single phase $Fe_3(PO_4)_2$ was formed when 150, 200, 250 and 300 ml NaOH solutions were added and 150, 200 ml $NH_4OH$ solutions were added. However, $Fe_3(PO_4)_2$ and $NH_4FePO_4$ were formed when 250 and 300 ml $NH_4OH$ was added. The morphology of the $Fe_3(PO_4)_2$ changed according to the pH. Plate-like lenticular shaped $Fe_3(PO_4)_2$ formed in the acidic solution below pH 5 and plate-like rhombus shaped $Fe_3(PO_4)_2$ formed around pH 9. For the $NH_4OH$, the pH value after 30 min reaction was higher with the same amount of additions of NaOH and $NH_4OH$. It is believed that the formation mechanism of $Fe_3(PO_4)_2$ is quite different between NaOH and $NH_4OH$. Further investigation on this mechanism is needed. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the pH value was measured by pH-Meter.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.43 no.5 s.288
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• pp.270-276
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• 2006

LSGM(($La_xSr_{1-x})(Ga_yMg_{1-y})O_3$) electrolyte is known to show very serious interfacial reaction with other unit cell components, especially with an anode. Such an interfacial reaction induced the phase instability of constituent component and deterioration of the unit cell performance, which become the most challenging issues in LSGM-based SOFCs. In this study, we fabricated LSGM($La_{0.8}Sr_{0.2}Ga_{0.83}Mg_{0.17}O_x$) electrolyte supported-type cell in order to avoid such interfacial problem by lowering the heat-treatment temperature of the electrode fabrication. According to the microstructural and phase analysis, there was no serious interfacial reaction at both electrolyte/anode and electrolyte/cathode interfaces. Moreover, from the electrochemical characterization of the unit cell performance, there was no distinct deterioration of the open cell voltage as well as an internal cell resistance. These results demonstrate the most critical point to be concerned in LSGM-based SOFC is either to find a proper electrode material which will not give any interfacial reaction with LSGM electrolyte or to properly adjust the processing variables for unit cell fabrication, to reduce the interfacial reaction.

• Clean Technology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.308-313
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• 2017

In this study, we investigated the electrocatalytic effects of the N and O co-doping of Graphite Felt (GF) electrode for the vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) at the cathode and the anode reaction, respectively. The electrodes were prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with $NH_3-O_2$ at 773 K, and its effects were compared with an electrode prepared by an O doping treatment. The surface morphology and chemical composition of the electrodes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrocatalytic properties of these electrodes were characterized in a VRFB single cell comparing the efficiencies and performance of the electrodes at the cathode, anode, and single cell level. The results exhibited about 2% higher voltage and energy efficiencies on the N-O-GF than the O-GF electrode. It was found that the N and O co-doping was particularly effective in the enhancement of the reduction-oxidation reaction at the anode.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.304-311
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• 2012

Chlorinated ethylenes such as perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) are widely used as industrial solvents and degreasing agents. Because of improper handling, these highly toxic chlorinated ethylenes have been often detected from contaminated soils and groundwater. Biological PCE dechlorination activities were tested in bacterial cultures inoculated with 10 different environmental samples from sediments, sludges, soils, and groundwater. Of these, the sediment using culture (SE 2) was selected and used for establishing an efficient PCE dechlorinating enrichment culture since it showed the highest activity of dechlorination. The cathode chamber of bioelectrochemical system (BES) was inoculated with the enrichment culture and the system with a cathode polarized at -500 mV (Vs Ag/AgCl) was operated under fed-batch mode. PCE was dechlorinated to ethylene via TCE, cis-dichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride. Microbial community analysis with polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) showed that the microbial community in the enrichment culture was significantly changed during the bio-electrochemical PCE dechlorination in the BES. The communities of suspended-growth bacteria and attached-growth bacteria on the cathode surface are also quite different from each other, indicating that there were some differences in their mechanisms receiving electrons from electrode for PCE dechlorination. Further detailed research to investigate electron transfer mechanism would make the bioelctrochemical dechlorination technique greatly useful for bioremediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with chlorinated ethylenes.