• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.664-670
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• 2021

Stainless steel was applied as bipolar plate (BP) of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) due to high mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, and good machinability. However, stainless steel was corroded and increased contact resistance resulting PEMFC performance decrease. Although the corrosion resistance could be improved by surface treatment such as noble metal coating, there is a disadvantage of cost increase. The stainless steel corrosion behavior and passive layer influence on PEMFC performance should be studied to improve durability and economics of metal bipolar plate. In this study, SUS316L bipolar plate of 25 cm² active area was manufactured, and experiments were conducted for corrosion behavior at an anode and cathode. The influence of SUS316L BP corrosion on fuel cell performance was measured using the polarization curve, impedance, and contact resistance. The metal ion concentration in drained water was analyzed during fuel cell operation with SUS316L BP. It was confirmed that the corrosion occurs more severely at the anode than at the cathode for SUS316L BP. The contact resistance was increased due to the passivation of SUS316L during fuel cell operation, and metal ions continuously dissolved even after the passive layer formation.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.446-451
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• 2022

In this study, to improve capacity and cycle stability, the pitch coated nano silicon sheets/CNT composites were prepared through electrostatic bonding of nano silicon sheets and CNT. Silica sheets were synthesized by hydrolyzing TEOS on the crystal planes of NaCl, and then nano silicon sheets were prepared by using magnesiothermic reduction method. To fabricate the nano silicon sheets/CNT composites, the negatively charged CNT after the acid treatment was used to assemble the positively charged nano silicon sheets modified with APTES. THF as a solvent was used in the coating process of PFO pitch. The physical properties of the prepared anode composites were analysed by FE-SEM, XRD and EDS. The electrochemical performances of the synthesized anode composites were performed by current charge/discharge, rate performances, differential capacity and EIS tests in the electrolyte LiPF₆ dissolve solvent (EC:DMC:EMC = 1:1:1 vol%). It was found that the anode material with high capacity and stability could be synthesized when high composition of silicon and conductivity of CNT were used. The pitch coated nano silicon sheets/CNT anode composites showed initial discharge capacity of 2344.9 mAh/g and the capacity retention ratio of 81% after 50 cycles. The electrochemical property of pitch coated anode material was more improved than that of the nano silicon sheets/CNT composites.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2023

In this study, the electrochemical properties of dopamine coated silicon/silicon carbide/carbon(Si/SiC/C) composite materials were investigated to improve cycle stability and rate performance of silicon-based anode active material for lithium-ion batteries. After synthesizing CTAB/SiO₂ using the Stöber method, the Si/SiC composites were prepared through the magnesium thermal reduction method with NaCl as heat absorbent. Then, carbon coated Si/SiC anode materials were synthesized through polymerization of dopamine. The physical properties of the prepared Si/SiC/C anode materials were analyzed by SEM, TEM, XRD and BET. Also the electrochemical performance were investigated by cycle stability, rate performance, cyclic voltammetry and EIS test of lithium-ion batteries in 1 M LiPF₆ (EC: DEC = 1:1 vol%) electrolyte. The prepared 1-Si/SiC showed a discharge capacity of 633 mAh/g and 1-Si/SiC/C had a discharge capacity of 877 mAh/g at 0.1 C after 100 cycles. Therefore, it was confirmed that cycle stability was improved through dopamine coating. In addition, the anode materials were obtain a high capacity of 576 mAh/g at 5 C and a capacity recovery of 99.9% at 0.1 C/0.1 C.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.638-646
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• 2023

Recently, active research has been conducted to enhance the power characteristics and thermal stability of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) by modifying separators using a ceramic coating method. However, since the thermal properties and surface features of the separator vary depending on the characteristics of the ceramic powders applied to the separator, it is crucial to manufacture ceramic powders optimized for the separator's performance. In this study, we evaluated the characteristics of three types of α-alumina (A-1, A-2, and A-3) produced with varying dispersant contents and milling times, in addition to commercial α-alumina (AES-11). Subsequently, the optimized powders (A-3) were coated onto the separator using an aqueous binder for comparison with the characteristics of an AES-11 coated separator and an uncoated PE separator. The A-3 coated separator improved electrolyte wettability with a low contact angle (44.69°) and increased puncture strength (538 gf). Furthermore, it exhibited excellent thermal stability, with a shrinkage value of 5.64% when exposed to 140℃ for 1 hour, compared to the AES11 coated separator (6.09%) and the bare PE separator (69.64%).

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2017

Using a precursor of $LiNi_{0.6}Co_{0.2}Mn_{0.2}O_2$ as a starting material, a surface-modified cathode material was obtained by coating with KCl, where the added KCl reduces residual Li compounds such as $Li_2CO_3$ and LiOH, on the surface. The resulting electrochemical properties were investigated. The amounts of $Li_2CO_3$ and LiOH decreased from 8,464 ppm to 1,639 ppm and from 8,088 ppm to 6,287 ppm, respectively, with 1 wt% KCl added $LiNi_{0.6}Co_{0.2}Mn_{0.2}O_2$ that had been calcined at $800^{\circ}C$. X-ray diffraction results revealed that 1 wt% of KCl added $LiNi_{0.6}Co_{0.2}Mn_{0.2}O_2$ did not affect the parent structure but enhanced the development of hexagonal crystallites. Additionally, the charge transfer resistance ($R_{ct}$) decreased dramatically from $225{\Omega}$ to $99{\Omega}$, and the discharge capacity increased to 182.73mAh/g. Using atomic force microscopy, we observed that the surface area decreased by half because of the exothermic heat released by the Li residues. The reduced surface area protects the cathode material from reacting with the electrolyte and hinders the development of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film on the surface of the oxide particles. Finally, we found that the introduction of KCl into $LiNi_{0.6}Co_{0.2}Mn_{0.2}O_2$ is a very effective method of enhancing the electrochemical properties of this active material by reducing the residual Li. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to demonstrate this phenomenon.