• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 2017

Electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) have received a tremendous interest due to their suitability for diverse applications. They have been fabricated using different carbon based electrodes including activated carbons, single walled/multi walled carbon nano tubes. But, graphite which is one of the natural resources in Sri Lanka has not been given a considerable attention towards using for EDLCs though it is a famous carbon material. On the other hand, EDLCs are well reported with various liquid electrolytes which are associated with numerous drawbacks. Gel polymer electrolytes (GPE) are well known alternative for liquid electrolytes. In this paper, it is reported about an EDLC fabricated with a nano composite polyethylene oxide based GPE and two Sri Lankan graphite based electrodes. The composition of the GPE was [{(10PEO: $NaClO_4$) molar ratio}: 75wt.% PC] : 5 wt.% $TiO_2$. GPE was prepared using the solvent casting method. Two graphite electrodes were prepared by mixing 85% graphite and 15% polyvinylidenefluoride (PVdF) in acetone and casting n fluorine doped tin oxide glass plates. GPE film was sandwiched in between the two graphite electrodes. A non faradaic charge discharge mechanism was observed from the Cyclic Voltammetry study. GPE was stable in the potential windows from (-0.8 V-0.8 V) to (-1.5 V-1.5 V). By increasing the width of the potential window, single electrode specific capacity increased. Impedance plots confirmed the capacitive behavior at low frequency region. Galvanostatic charge discharge test yielded an average discharge capacity of $0.60Fg^{-1}$.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.221-226
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• 2000

After manufacturing the electrochromic device (structure: ITO glass/$WO_3$/electrolyte/$V_2O_5$/ITO;glass) by using of sol-gel process and evaporation, optical properties and migration effect were investigated. The result shows that electrochromic device with heat treated (at water vapor ambient, $500^{\circ}C$, 1 hour) sol-gel coated $WO_3$ and $V_2O_5$ films had the highest transmittance variance. Electrochromic devices are based on the reversible insertion of guest atoms into structure of the host solid. But after cyclic operation, we find that the tungsten in $WO_3$ film and the indium in ITO film were migrated with each other. For the purpose of blocking migration, tungsten barrier film is inserted between ITO and $WO_3$ film. The result of cyclic voltamogram and the Auger depth profile show that the peak separation of cyclic voltamogram is reduced to below 1/10 and we could effectively block the indium and tungsten migration that is caused by flow of Li ions.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.456-463
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• 2015

In this study, we synthesize novel silane based inorganics for preparation of the polymer electrolyte membrane with high proton conductivity under high temperature condition and developed membranes are characterized. SPAES, hydrocarbon based polymer are synthesized and used as main polymeric material. We used sol-gel method to prepare inorganic material with high performance using silica, phosphate and zirconium. Three types of inorganics were prepared by control of the mole ration of each component. As a result of EDX analysis, the inorganic materials are well dispersed in the polymer membrane. The water uptake of the composite membrane is increased by introduction of the hydrophilic inorganic material in the membrane. When the content of the zirconium in the membrane is increased, the proton conductivity of the composite membrane shows the higher value than pure SPAES membrane at the high temperature. And the silica based inorganics effect to increase the proton conductivity under low temperature condition.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2019

Electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) which are fabricated using carbon based electrodes have been emerging at an alarming rate to fulfill the energy demand in the present day world. Activated charcoal has been accepted as a very suitable candidate for electrodes but its cost is higher than natural graphite. Present study is about fabrication of EDLCs using composite electrodes with activated charcoal and Sri Lankan natural graphite as well as a gel polymer electrolyte which is identified as a suitable substitute for liquid electrolytes. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, Cyclic Voltammetry and Galvanostatic Charge Discharge test were done to evaluate the performance of the fabricated EDLCs. Amount of activated charcoal and natural graphite plays a noticeable role on the capacity. 50 graphite : 40 AC : 10 PVdF showed the optimum single electrode specific capacity value of 15 F/g. Capacity is determined by the cycling rate as well as the potential window within which cycling is being done. Continuous cycling resulted an average single electrode specific capacity variation of 48 F/g - 16 F/g. Capacity fading was higher at the beginning. Later, it dropped noticeably. Initial discharge capacity drop under Galvanostatic Charge Discharge test was slightly fast but reached near stable upon continuous charge discharge process. It can be concluded that initially some agitation is required to reach the maturity. However, the results can be considered as encouraging to initiate studies on EDLCs using Sri Lankan natural graphite.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.176-183
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• 2016

This study relates to a polymer electrolyte membrane for improved performance fuel cell, were researched with respect to properties required for driving a fuel cell. The bis(4-fluorophenyl)phenyl phosphine oxide was sulfonated using fuming sulfuric acid. Synthetic hydrophilic oligomer and the hydrophobic oligomer and the block copolymers were prepared via aromatic nucleophilic substitution polycondensation. A block copolymer structure and degree of sulfonation was analyzed by $^1H$-NMR and gel permeation chromatography(GPC) analysis. Thermal stability was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis(TGA), block copolymer was stable at high temperature(>$200^{\circ}C$), The ion conductivity was measured in order to demonstrate the performance of fuel cell. Synthesis membrane was the increase of temperature was improved conductivity up to 58 mS/cm due to the influence of the developed ion clusters. The phase separation of the polymer was observed to make AFM analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.235-239
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• 2010

The $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$/CNT composite is prepared by ultrasound associated sol-gel method. The prepared composite is characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD and TG analysis, and their electrochemical behaviors are investigated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and charge-discharge test in 1M $LiBF_4$/PC electrolyte. From the results, it is identified that the $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ nanoparticles coated on CNT surface have regular size with around 10~30 nm and spinel-framework structure. At the current rate of 20C, the discharge capacities of $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$/CNT composites with CNT contents of 15, 30 and 50 wt% are 57, 63 and $48mAhg^{-1}$, respectively, which have similar value. The improved electrochemical behavior of the $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$/CNT composite electrode is attributed to the addition of CNT with electronic conductivity.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2017

Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) composite including tungstophosphoric acid(TPA) membranes have been intensively investigated for polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) and thus covalently linked sulfonated polyether ether ketone (CL-SPEEK) with captured TPA composite membranes were prepared and characterized. Sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK) was prepared in sulfonation of PEEK and was cross-linked with 1,4 diiodobutane. The carbonyl group of SPEEK was reduced with $NaBH_4$ and 3-isocyanatepropyltriethoxysilane (ICPTES) was added. The TPA captured composite was prepared in reaction of TPA with 3-mercaptopropyltrime thoxysilane (MPTMS). The polymer composite membranes showed better thermostability and electrochemical properties than SPEEK. The membranes were prepared by sol-gel casting method. The polymer composite membrane featured 0.1285 S/cm of proton conductivity at $80^{\circ}C$ and outstanding durability.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.168-172
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• 2006

Potentiometric $CO_{2}$ sensors were fabricated using a NASICON ($Na_{1+x}Zr_{2}Si_{X}P_{3-X}O_{12}$, 1.8 < x < 2.4) thick film and auxiliary layers. The powder of a precursor of NASICON with high purity was synthesized by a sol-gel method. By using the NASICON paste, an electrolyte was prepared on the alumina substrate by screen printing and then sintered at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 4 h. A series of $Na_{2}CO_{3}-CaCO_{3}$ auxiliary phases were deposited on the Pt sensing electrode. The electromotive force (emf) values were linearly dependent on the logarithm of $CO_{2}$ concentration in the range between 1,000 and 10,000 ppm. The device attached with $Na_{2}CO_{3}-CaCO_{3}$ (1:2 in mol.%) showed good sensing properties in the low temperatures.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.982-990
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• 1999

YSZ/LSM composite cathode was fabricated by dip-coating of YSZ sol on the internal pore surface of a LSM cathode followed by sintering at low temperature (800-100$0^{\circ}C$) The YSZ coating significantly increased the TPB(Triple Phase Boundary) where the gas the electrode and the electrolyte were in contact with each other. Sinter the formation of resistive materials such as La2Zr2O7 or SrZrO3 was prevented due to the low processing temperature and TPB was increased due to the YSZ film coating the electrode resistance (Rel) was reduced about 100 times compared to non-modified cathode. From the analysis of a.c impedance it was shown that microstructural change of the cathode caused by YSZ film coating affected the oxygen reduction reaction. In the case of non-modified cathode the RDS (rate determining step) was electrode reactions rather than mass transfer or the oxygen gas diffusion in the experimental conditions employed in this study ($600^{\circ}C$-100$0^{\circ}C$ and 0,01-1 atm of Po2) for the YSZ film coated cathode however the RDS involved the oxygen diffusion through micropores of YSZ film at high temperature of 950-100$0^{\circ}C$ and low oxygen partial pressure of 0.01-0.03 atm.

• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 1996

Solid electroyte nasion was synthesized by the optimized solid state reaction minimizing the volume fraction of secondary $ZrO_2$ and glassy phases. To compensate for the evaporation of Na and P during heat-treatment, excess Na and P were added to the starting composition $Na_{1+x} Zr_2 Si_x P_{d-x} O_{12}$ (x=2.1). Phases pure nasicon comparable in volume fraction to the one obtaied from sol-gel process were synthesized after the reaction at $1100~1150^{\circ}C$,$ P_{O2}>=0.1-0.15 $$ZrO_2$ increased with the heat-treatment time due to the decomposition of nasicon phase and that of glassy phase increased as partial oxygen pressure decreased. The synthesized nasion showed a good electrical conductivity of $-1{\times}10^{-2}({\omega}{\cdot}cm)^{-1}$ at $350^{\circ}C$.