• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.1253-1258
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• 2019

The solid-state electrolyte based on polymer is applicable to various electrochemical devices including supercapacitor, battery, sensor, actuator and has great attention to develop its ionic conductivity from conventional polymer electrolyte by uisng wide range of ionic liquids. The research about ion gel as a solid state electrolyte with the ionic liquid has focused on the wearable and flexible electronic device to use as the high electrical and electrochemical performances, mechanical strength of polymer. In this work, we have investigated and developed solid-state electrolyte based on the ionic liquid and polymer with enhanced ionic conductivity and stability.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.58-62
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• 2020

Recently, electrochromic devices (ECDs) have gathered increasing attention owing to their high color contrast and memory effect, which make them highly applicable to smart windows, auto-dimming mirrors, sensors, etc. Traditional ECDs have a sandwich structure that contains an electrochromic layer between two ITO substrates. These sandwich-type devices are usually fabricated through the lamination of two electrodes and followed by the injection of a liquid electrolyte in the inner space. However, this process is sometimes complex and time consuming. In this study, we fabricated ECDs with a lateral electrode structure that uses only an ITO substrate and an all-in-one electrochromic gel, which is a mixture of electrolyte and electrochromic material. Furthermore, we investigated the EC properties of the lateral-type device by comparing it with a sandwich-type device. The lateral-type ECD shows strong blue absorption as the applied voltage increases and has a competitive coloration efficiency compared to the sandwich-type device.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.584-587
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• 2011

In this work, the $TiO_2$ and $SnO_2$ thin films as blocking layers were coated directly onto the metal-mesh electrode surface to prevent unnecessary inflow of back-transfer electrons from the electrolyte ($I^-/I_3^-$) to the metal-mesh electrode. The DSCs were fabricated with working electrode of SUS mesh coated with blocking $TiO_2$ and $SnO_2$ layers, dye-attached mesoporous $TiO_2$ film, gel electrolyte and counter electrode of Pt-deposited F:$SnO_2$. From the experimental result, it was ascertained that the efficiency of metal electrode coated with $TiO_2$ by Dip-coating was superior to that of metal electrode coated with $SnO_2$ by Dip-coating and screen printing with the results of experiments. The photo-current conversion efficiency of the cell obtained from optimum fabrication condition was 3% ($V_{oc}$=0.61V, $J_{sc}$=11.64 mA/$cm^2$, ff=0.64) under AM1.5, 100 mW/$cm^2$ illumination.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.656-662
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• 2021

For the high efficiencies of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs), it is important to control the severe electron recombination at the interface of photoanode/electrolyte. In this work, we optimize the surface passivation process of ZnS/SiO₂ double overlayers for the enhanced photovoltaic performances of QDSCs. The overlayers of zinc sulfide (ZnS) and SiO₂ are coated on the surface of QD-sensitized photoanode by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method, and sol-gel reaction, respectively. In particular, for the sol-gel reaction of SiO₂, the influences of temperature of precursor solution are investigated. By application of SiO₂ overlayers on the ZnS-coated photoanode, the conversion efficiency of QDSCs is increased from 5.04% to 7.35%. The impedance analysis reveals that the electron recombination at the interface of photoanode/electrolyte is obviously reduced by the SiO₂ overlayers.

• Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
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• v.68
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• pp.168-172
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• 2018

This study first investigates the effect of the choice of cation on three different ionic-liquid-based gel polymer electrolytes (ILPEs) with polyimide membranes. The preparation of three ILPEs based on electrospun membranes of PI and incorporating a room-temperature ionic liquid, 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide complexed with lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, is described. ILPE-EMImTFSI has an ionic conductivity as high as $5.3{\times}10^{-3}S\;cm^{-1}$ at $30^{\circ}C$. Furthermore, it shows higher thermal stability and electrochemical oxidation stability compared to the other two ILPEs because of its stronger bonds. These results indicate that polyimide-based ILPE-EMImTFSI is a good candidate for use in high-safety rechargeable lithium metal batteries.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.484.2-484.2
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• 2014

There are many efforts to improving the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Although DSCs have a low production cost, their low PCE and low thermal stability have limited commercial applications. This study describes the preparation of a novel multifunctional polymer gel electrolyte in which a cross-linking polymerization reaction is used to encapsulate $TiO_2$ nanoparticles toward improving the power conversion efficiency and long-term stability of a quasi-solid state DSC. A series of liquid junction dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) was fabricated based on polymer membrane encapsulated dye-sensitized $TiO_2$ nanoparticles, prepared using a surface-induced cross-linking polymerization reaction, to investigate the dependence of the solar cell performance on the encapsulating membrane layer thickness. The ion conductivity decreased as the membrane thickness increased; however, the long term-stability of the devices improved with increasing membrane thickness. Nanoparticles encapsulated in a thick membrane (ca. 37 nm), obtained using a 90 min polymerization time, exhibited excellent pore filling among $TiO_2$ particles. This nanoparticle layer was used to fabricate a thin-layered, quasi-solid state DSC. The thick membrane prevented short-circuit paths from forming between the counter and the $TiO_2$ electrode, thereby reducing the minimum necessary electrode separation distance. The quasi-solid state DSC yielded a high power conversion efficiency (7.6/8.1%) and excellent stability during heating at $65^{\circ}C$ over 30 days. These performance characteristics were superior to those obtained from a conventional DSC (7.5/3.5%) prepared using a $TiO_2$ active layer with the same thickness. The reduced electrode separation distance shortened the charge transport pathways, which compensated for the reduced ion conductivity in the polymer gel electrolyte. Excellent pore filling on the $TiO_2$ particles minimized the exposure of the dye to the liquid and reduced dye detachment.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.179-184
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• 2002

Polymer electrolyte films consisting of poly (vinylidenefluoride-hexafluoro-propylene) (PVdF-HFP) $H_3PO_4$and a mixture of ethylene carbonate(EC), $\gamma$-butyrolactone(BL) and dimethylcarbonate (DMC) were examined in order to obtain the best compromise between high protonic conductivity, homogeniety and dimensional stability. Measurements of differential scanning calorimetry and ionic conductivity have been carried out for various compositions. The highest proton conductivity of 7.3 $\times$$10^{-3}Sm^{-1}$ at $30^{\circ}C$ were obtained for a film of 30(PVdF-HFP) + 50EC/DMC + 20H$_3$PO$_4$. From the thermal study, it has been found that the PVdF-HFP gels are stable up to $80^{\circ}C$, and the $H_3PO_4$ enhances the miscibility of the polymer and the solvent by interacting sensitively with polymer segments.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.430-438
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• 2023

In this study, we synthesized pH-controlled resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) gels through the polymerization of two starting materials: resorcinol and formaldehyde. The prepared RF gels were dried using an acetone substitution method, and they were subsequently carbonized under nitrogen atmosphere to obtain carbon xerogels (CX_Y) prepared at different pH (Y). The carbon xerogels were utilized as active materials for coin-type organic supercapacitor electrodes to investigate the influence of pH on the electrochemical properties of the carbon xerogels. The carbon xerogels prepared at lower pH (CX_9.5 and CX_10) exhibited sufficient particle growth, with a three-dimensional network of particles during the RF gel formation, resulting in the development of abundant mesopores. Conversely, the carbon xerogels prepared at higher pH (CX_11 and CX_12) retained densely packed structures of small particles, leading to pore collapse and low specific surface areas. Consequently, CX_9.5 and CX_10 showed high specific surface areas, and provided ample adsorption sites for the formation of electric double layers with electrolyte ions. Moreover, the three-dimensional particle network in CX_9.5 and CX_10 significantly enhanced electrical conductivity. The presence of well-developed mesopores in these materials further facilitated the effective transport of electrolyte ions, contributing to their superior performance as organic supercapacitor electrodes. This study confirmed that pH-controlled carbon xerogels are one of the promising active materials for organic supercapacitor electrodes. Furthermore, we concluded that pH during RF gel formation is a crucial factor determining the electrode performance of the carbon xerogels, highlighting the need for precise pH control to obtain high-performance carbon xerogel electrodes.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2017

Pseudo capacitors belong to one group of super capacitors which are consisted with non carbon based electrodes. As such, conducting polymers and metal oxide materials have been employed for pseudo capacitors. Conducting polymer based pseudo capacitors have received a great attention due to their interesting features such as flexibility, low cost and ease of synthesis. Much work has been done using liquid electrolytes for those pseudo capacitors but has undergone various drawbacks. It has now been realized the use of solid polymer electrolytes as an alternative. Among them gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) are in a key place due to their high ambient temperature conductivities as well as suitable mechanical properties. In this study, composition of a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based GPE was optimized and it was employed as the electrolyte in a pseudo capacitor having polypyrrole (PPy) electrodes. GPE was prepared using ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) and PAN as starting materials. The maximum room temperature conductivity of the GPE was $1.92{\times}10^{-3}Scm^{-1}$ for the composition 202.5 PAN : 500 EC : 500 PC : 35 NaSCN (by weight). Performance of the pseudo capacitor was investigated using Cyclic Voltammetry technique, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) technique and Continuous Charge Discharge (GCD) test. The single electrode specific capacity (Cs) was found out to be 174.31 F/g using Cyclic Voltammetry technique at the scan rate of 10 mV/s and within the potential window -1.2 V to 1.2 V. The same value obtained using EIS was about 84 F/g. The discharge capacity ($C_d$) was 69.8 F/g. The capacity fade over 1000 cycles was rather a low value of 4%. The results proved the suitability of the pseudo capacitor for improving the performance further.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.397-404
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• 2016

The objective of this study is to determine the physical characteristics of the gel mass of vegetable soft capsules and to maintain their rheological stability for improving manufacturability. The effect of each capsule shell component on the viscosity of the gel mass was studied for 6 hours, and the effects of adding an alkalizer or electrolytes to neutralize the sulfate groups on the carrageenan molecule were also investigated. Carrageenan was identified as a major component that affects the viscosity of the gel mass, and it showed unstable properties with age. The viscosity and stability of the gel mass were remarkably improved when an alkalizer or electrolytes were added at 3.0% relative to the carrageenan. 3.6 M KCl showed the highest effect on increasing the viscosity. A stable gel mass composition for vegetable soft capsules was successfully developed, which can be considered to increase the application of the capsules in the pharmaceutical and food industries.