• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.297-302
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• 2022

This study compares the characteristics of a compact TiO₂ (c-TiO₂) powdery film, which is used as the electron transport layer (ETL) of perovskite solar cells, based on the manufacturing method. Additionally, its efficiency is measured by applying it to a carbon electrode solar cell. Spin-coating and spray methods are compared, and spray-based c-TiO₂ exhibits superior optical properties. Furthermore, surface analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) exhibits the excellent surface properties of spray-based TiO₂. The photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) is 14.31% when applied to planar perovskite solar cells based on metal electrodes. Finally, carbon nanotube (CNT) film electrode-based solar cells exhibits a 76% PCE compared with that of metal electrode-based solar cells, providing the possibility of commercialization.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.113-120
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• 2022

Quantum dots (QDs) are attractive photosensitizer candidates for application not only in solar cells but also in solar hydrogen generation. For the prepartion of highly efficient QD-sensitized photoelectrodes, it is important to reduce electron recombination at the photoanode/electrolyte interface. Here, we study on the coating condition of ZnS passivation layers on the photoanodes in QD-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs). The ZnS passivation layers are coated by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method, and as the cation precursor, zinc acetate and zinc nitrate are empolyed. Due to the higher pH of cation precursor solution, the ZnS loading is improved when the zinc acetate is used, compared to the zinc nitrate. This improved loading of ZnS leads to the reduced electron recombination at the surface of photoanodes and the enhaced conversion efficiency of QDSCs from 6.07% to 7.45%.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.105-109
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• 2016

We prepared a working electrode (WE) with a blocking layer (BL) containing 0 ~ 0.5 wt% Ag nano powders to improve the energy conversion efficiency (ECE) of dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). FESEM and micro-Raman were used to characterize the microstructure and phase. UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy was employed to determine the adsorption of the WE with Ag nano powders. A solar simulator and a potentiostat were used to confirm the photovoltaic properties of the DSSC with Ag nano powders. From the results of the microstructural analysis, we confirmed that Ag nano powders with particle size of less than 150 nm were dispersed uniformly on the BL. Based on the phase and adsorption analysis, we identified the existence of Ag and found that the adsorption increased when the amount of Ag increased. The photovoltaic results show that the ECE became 4.80% with 0.3 wt%-Ag addition compared to 4.31% without Ag addition. This improvement was due to the increase of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of the BL resulting from the addition of Ag. Our results imply that we might be able to improve the efficiency of a DSSC by proper addition of Ag nano powder to the BL.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2006.04b
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• pp.52-56
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• 2006

Some of factors affecting photo-conversion efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells (DSCs) are discussed in terms of $TiO_2$ electrodes. The first topic is on the surface modification of $TiO_2$ nano-particles, which is associated with electron traps on the surface of $TiO_2$ nano-particles. The surface is modified with dye molecules under pressurized $CO_2$ atmosphere to increase the surface coverage of $TiO_2$ nano-particles with dye molecules. This increases Jsc because of an increase in the amount of dye molecules and a decrease in the amount of trapping sites on $TiO_2$ nano-particles. In addition, the decrease in the amount of trap sites increases Voc because decreases in Voc are brought about by the recombination of $I_2$ molecules with electrons trapped on the $TiO_2$ surfaces. Selective staining for tandem cells is proposed. The second topic is on the contact between a $SnO_2$/F transparent conductive layer (TCL) and nano-particles. Polishing the TCL surfaces with silica nano-particles increases the contact, resulting in Jsc increases. The third topic is the fabrication of ion-paths in $TiO_2$ layers. Electro-spray coating of $TiO_2$ nano-particles onto TCL is shown to be effective for fabricating ion-paths in $TiO_2$ layers, which increases Jsc.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2018

Perovskite solar cells have received increasing attention in recent years because of their outstanding power conversion efficiency (exceeding 22%). However, they typically contain toxic Pb, which is a limiting factor for industrialization. We focused on preparing Pb-free perovskite films of Ag-Bi-I trivalent compounds. Perovskite thin films with improved optical properties were obtained by applying an anti-solvent (toluene) washing technique during the spin coating of perovskites. In addition, the surface condition of the perovskite film was optimized using a multi-step thermal annealing treatment. Using the optimized process parameters, $AgBi_2I_7$ perovskite films with good absorption and improved planar surface topography (root mean square roughness decreased from 80 to 26 nm) were obtained. This study is expected to open up new possibilities for the development of high performance $AgBi_2I_7$ perovskite solar cells for applications in Pb-free energy conversion devices.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.90-96
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• 2013

We report here flexible dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) based on Ti-mesh electrodes that show good mechanical flexibility and electrical conductivity. $TiO_2$ nanotube arrays prepared by electrochemical anodizing Ti-mesh substrate were used as photoanode. A Pt-coated Ti-mesh substrate was used as counter electrode. The photoanodes were modified by coating a $TiO_2$ porous layer onto the $TiO_2$ nanotubes in order to increase the specific surface area. To increase the long term stability of the DSSCs, a gel type electrolyte was used instead of a conventional liquid type electrolyte. The DSSC based on $33.2{\mu}m$ long porous $TiO_2$ nanotubes exhibited a better energy conversion efficiency of ~2.33%, which was higher than that of the DSSCs based on non-porous $TiO_2$ nanotubes.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.421-428
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• 1996

In this study, in order to make up its draw-back in Cu-ZSM-5 catalytic system, some of transition metals or alkaline earth metals were cocation-exchanged in Cu-ZSM-5. Among various cocation-ion-exchanged ZSM-5 catalysts, Mg/Cu-ZSM-5 has been found the most active and durable in NOx reduction even at high oxygen content as well as at the presence of water vapor. The role of Mg in ZSM-5 is supposed to prevent the dealumination of aluminum ions in super-cage even at harsh hydro-thermal conditions, and also it seems to stabilize the Cu ions in the structure. In order to prepare commercially available catalysts, Mg/Cu-ZSM-5 catalysts were wash-coated on the surface of honeycomb type monolith, and tested in terms of catalytic activities. As a result, it was found that the catalyst prepared bt the wash-coating showed satisfactorily high NOx conversion for the practical use in SCR process.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.384-388
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• 2015

We prepared blocking layers by adding 0.0 ~ 0.6 wt% nano diamond blends (DBs) to $TiO_2$ blocking layers to improve the energy conversion efficiencies (ECEs) of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). TEM and micro-Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the microstructure and phases of DBs, respectively. Optical microscopy and FE-SEM were used to analyze the microstructure of the $TiO_2$ blocking layer with DBs. UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy was used to determine the absorbance of the working electrodes. A solar simulator and a potentiostat were used to determine the photovoltaic properties and the impedance of the DSSCs with DBs. From the results of the DBs analysis, we determined a 6.97 nm combination of nano diamonds and graphite. We confirmed that ECE increased from 5.64 to 6.48 % when the added DBs increased from 0.0 to 0.2 wt%. This indicates that the effective surface area and electron mobility increased when DBs were added to the $TiO_2$ blocking layer. Our results indicate that the ECE of DSSCs can be enhanced by adding an appropriate amount of DBs to the $TiO_2$ blocking layers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.322-323
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• 2012

This study discussed the formation of phosphate conversion coatings on AZ31 Mg alloy (AZ31) from the zinc phosphating bath with various concentrations of sodium fluoride (NaF). The effects of NaF on the formation, structure, composition and electrochemical behavior of the phosphate coatings were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) weight balances, open circuit potential (OCP) transients, potentiodynamic polarization curves and immersion test. The coatings were composed of two layers: an outer $Zn_2(PO_4)_3.4H_2O$ (hopeite) crystal layer and an inner amorphous of $MgZn_2(PO_4)_2$. NaF concentration is emphasized to be highly effective in the formation of the hopeite crystal and etching and coating rates. Potentiodynamic polarization and immersion test showed that the coatings formed in the zinc phosphating bath with addition of NaF have much higher corrosion resistance than bare AZ31.

• Clean Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2018

Catalytic filter has many advantages for the industrial application owing to its bi-functional ability to treat nitrogen oxides and particulate simultaneously. The technical feasibility of using the catalytic filter in the flue gas treatment process will be more promoted if the high porous ceramic sheet filter is utilized. However, it is not easy to prepare the effective catalytic filter using sheet filter as it has less room for catalyst support due to its thin layer. In this study, catalytic filter using a domestic ceramic sheet filter element has been prepared and conducted the experimental evaluation for NO reduction performance. The current sheet filter element shows the low catalytic activity less than 92% conversion for NO concentration 700 ppm at the face velocity $0.02m\;s^{-1}$. This unexpected low catalytic activity seems to be caused by the present of extraordinary large pores from the lack of uniformity in the pore size distribution of the sheet filter. The large pore size of the sheet filter is reduced by composing the smaller powder as its raw material, which presents improvement in NO conversion more than 96%. More improvement is observed showing 98% NO conversion which is applicable to a commercial plant when the catalyst coating layer is expanded by adding the large $TiO_2$ particles during the catalyst preparation. Both of above two methods is regarded as that the broad gates of the larger pores in the coating layer are effectively filled with the proper catalyst. So these results encourage the utilization of sheet filter as a good catalytic filter material with its potential merit of high permeability.