• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1125-1132
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• 2000

The pH effect of the precursor solution on the preparation of $LiCoO_2$ by a solution phase reaction containing malonic acid was carried out. Layered $LiCoO_2$ powders were obtained with the precursors prepared at the different pHs (4, 7, and 9) and heat-treated at $700^{\circ}C(LiCoO_2-700)$ or $850^{\circ}C(LiCoO_2-850)$ in air. pHs of the media for precursor synthesis affects the charge/discharge and electrochemical properties of the $LiCoO_2electrodes.$ Upon irrespective of pH of the precursor media, X-ray diffraction spectra recorded for $LiCoO_2-850$ powder showed higher peak intensity ratio of I(003)/I(104) than that of $LiCoO_2-700$, since the better crystallization of the former crystallized better. However, $LiCoO_2$ synthesized at pH 4 displayed an abnormal higher intensity ratio of I(003)/I(104) than those synthesized at pH 7 and 9. The surface morphology of the $LiCoO_2-850$ powders was rougher and more irregular than that of $LiCoO_2-700$ made from the precursor synthesized at pH 7 and 9. The $LiCoO_2electrodes$ prepared with the precursors synthesized at pH 7 and 9 showed a better electrochemical and charge/discharge characteristics. From the AC impedance spectroscopic experiments for the electrode made from the precursor prepared in pH 7, the chemical diffusivity of Li ions (DLi+) in $Li0.58CoO_2determined$ was 2.7 ${\times}$10-8 $cm^2s-1$. A cell composed of the $LiCoO_2-700$ cathode prepared in pH 7 with Lithium metal anode reveals an initial discharge specific capacity of 119.8 mAhg-1 at a current density of 10.0 mAg-1 between 3.5 V and 4.3 V. The full-cell composed with $LiCoO_2-700$ cathode prepared in pH 7 and the Mesocarbon Pitch-based Carbon Fiber (MPCF) anode separated by a Cellgard 2400 membrane showed a good cycleability. In addition, it was operated over 100 charge/discharge cycles and displayed an average reversible capacity of nearly 130 mAhg-1.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.67-78
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• 2023

The rare metals used as raw materials in high-tech industries undergo changes in demand structures and supply chains following domestic industrial structural shifts and technological advancements, exhibiting high price volatility. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically analyze changes in the demand structures of rare metals. Since domestic demand for most rare metals relies on imports in Korea, the changes in domestic demand for rare metals can be identified by analyzing changes in their trade structure. In the present study, we analyze the changes in trade volume, trade growth rate, trade rankings, and trading countries from 2000 to 2022 for 35 rare metals, categorized into five types-ores, metals, alloys, compounds, and scrap. The trade of the raw materials of rare metals in Korea has generally increased since the 2000s, except for a significant decline in 2009 and 2016. The total trade volume, encompassing both exports and imports, has increased by approximately tenfold in 2022 compared to 2001. Until the mid-2010s, the trade of the raw materials of rare metals was primarily focused on those used in steel-manufacturing such as silicon, nickel, chrome, molybdenum, manganese, and others. However, after that period, there has been an increase in the trade of platinum group metals like palladium, rhodium, platinum, and the raw materials of rare metals for secondary battery-manufacturing such as lithium and cobalt. Particularly in 2022, lithium has become the largest share in trade of the raw materials of rare metals in Korea, due to the price surge and increase in demand.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.555-560
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• 2009

Sulfonic acid of the sulfonated 6FDA-based polyimides were exchanged with the monovalent ($Li^+$, $Na^+$, $K^+$) and divalent ($Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Ba^{2+}$) ions. The effect of metal cations exchanged sulfonated polyimides was investigated in terms of gas permeability and selectivity for $CO_2$, $O_2$ and $N_2$ gases. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that thermal stability of sulfonated polyimide was improved by exchanged metal cations. The permeabilities of monovalent cation-exchanged, sulfonated polyimide were reduced as the ion radius reduced [$Li^+$(0.059 nm)>$Na^+$(0.102 nm)>$K^+$(0.138 nm)], and those of divalent cations exchanged were determined by the ionic radii and electrostatic crosslinking between the polymer and metal cations, whereas the selectivities of all the metal cation-exchanged, sulfonated polyimides for $CO_2/N_2$ and $O_2/N_2$, were higher than those of sulfonated polyimide membranes. The sulfonated polyimide exchanged with the potassium cation showed the $O_2$ permeability of 89.98 Barrer [$1\times10^{-10}\;cm^3$(STP) $cm/cm^2{\cdot}s{\cdot}cmHg$] and the sulfonated polyimide exchanged with the lithium cation showed the $O_2/N_2$ selectivity of 12.9.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.100-104
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• 2008

Titanium sheet metal substrates used in thin film batteries were wet etched and their surface area was increased in order to increase the discharge capacity and power density of the batteries. To obtain a homogeneous etching pattern, we used a conventional photolithographic process. Homogeneous hemisphere-shaped wells with a diameter of approximately $40\;{\mu}m$ were formed on the surface of the Ti substrate using a photo-etching process with a $20\;{\mu}m{\times}20\;{\mu}m$ square patterned photo mask. All-solid-state thin film cells composed of a Li/Lithium phosphorous oxynitride (Lipon)/$LiCoO_2$ system were fabricated onto the wet etched substrate using a physical vapor deposition method and their performances were compared with those of the cells on a bare substrate. It was found that the discharge capacity of the cells fabricated on wet etched Ti substrate increased by ca. 25% compared to that of the cell fabricated on bare one. High discharge rate was also able to be obtained through the reduction in the internal resistance. However, the cells fabricated on the wet etched substrate exhibited a higher degradation rate with charge-discharge cycling due to the nonuniform step coverage of the thin films, while the cells on the bare substrate demonstrated a good cycling performance.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.446-452
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• 2019

We have developed a method that can leach Co, Mn, and Ni in the cathode active material safely using lactic acid. When cathode active material was leached by lactic acid, lactic acid showed the highest efficiency at 2 N than 1 N and above 4 N concentration. When the cathode active material was added incrementally into the solution of lactic acid, the maximum solubility was 30 g/L at 2 N concentration. Oxalic acid was added in the solution of lactic acid and it showed that rare metals represent the most economical recovery efficiency at 4 g/L. Based on this study, it was found that the optimal condition for recovery of rare metals from cathode active material is oxalic acid : cathode active material = 7 : 1 as a ratio of weight. In addition, it was observed that the precipitate produced by oxalic acid is a polynuclear crystalline material bonded with 3 components of Co, Ni, and Mn.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.463-472
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• 1996

Experiments were carried out to study the operation characteristics of a regenerator with a thermo-syphon pump and a surface-flame burner for a lithium bromide (LiBr)-water absorption heat pump. A cylindrical-shape metal-fiber burner and commercial grade propane were used. The emission of carbon monoxide and nitric oxide was measured by a combustion gas analyzer. Ther regeneration rate of water vapor as a refrigerant was measured. It could be as a reference value showing the performance of the regenerator. The circulation rate of the LiBr-water solution was also measured from both the tanks for the weak-and the strong-solution. Using a refractometer, the LiBr concetration in the solution was calculated from the measured refractory index of the solution. Temperature of the solution and the condensed water was recorded at several points in the experimental apparatus with thermocouples, using a personal computer. This data collecting system for measuring temperature was calibrated with a set of standard thermometers. The generating rate of water vapor as refrigerant increased linearly with heat supplied. It was about 4.0g/s with the heat supplied at a rate of 16,500kcal/h. The circulation rate of LiBr solution also increases with the heat supplied. The difference in LiBr concentrations between the weak and the strong solution was in the range of 1 to 5% when the concentration of the strong solution was about 60%. It was dependent upon both the heat supplied and the circulation rate of the solution. The initial concentration and the level of the LiBr solution in the regenerator were measured and recorded before experiments. The effect of them on the generating rate of water vapor and the circulation rate of the solution was also studied. The generating rate of water vapor was not strongly dependent upon both the level of the LiBr solution and the initial LiBr concentration. However, the concentration difference of the solution increases with the initial level of the LiBr solution.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.541-551
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• 1988

The purpose of this investigation was to prepare multicomponent monolithic Li-Al-Si gels of composition(mol%) 16.67 Li2O-16.67 Al2O3-66.67 SiO2 and to convert the gels to monolithic glass-ceramic at low temperature without melting. The hydrolysis, DTA, TGA, TMA, SEM, pore distribution, density and the activation energy for crystallization of the glass-ceramic formation with rawmaterials of which tetraethl orhosilicate of networkforming cation(Si) is partially hydrolyzed, aluminum isoproxide and lithium methoxide prepared by Li-metal react with methanol were studied. The results were as follows : 1) Monolithic gels which were added with additional water, resulting in a total water content 2.5 to 3.0 times the stoichiometric amount required to fully hydrolyze the alkoxides. 2) Specimens were dried to form crylinders 60mm in length and 40mm in diameter in about 800 hrs at 5$0^{\circ}C$. 3) $\beta$-eucryptite crystals and $\beta$-spodumene crystals were detected in samples heated above 75$0^{\circ}C$. 4) Within the temperature and range of 25-50$0^{\circ}C$ and 1,00$0^{\circ}C$ the thermal expansion coefficient for crystallized samples were shown as 2.6-5.7$\times$10-7/$^{\circ}C$ and 7.4-12.5$\times$10-7/$^{\circ}C$, respectively. 5) The activation energy for the crystal growth was 11.01kcal/mol at 794$^{\circ}C$ to 85$0^{\circ}C$.

• Carbon letters
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• v.26
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• pp.18-24
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• 2018

Pollution of chloride ion-reinforced concrete can trigger active corrosion processes that reduce the useful life of structures. Multifunctional materials used as a counter-electrode by electrochemical techniques have been used to rehabilitate contaminated concrete. Cement-based pastes added to carbonaceous material, fibers or dust, have been used as an anode in the non-destructive Electrochemical Chloride Extraction (ECE) technique. We studied the performance of the addition of Carbon Fiber (CF) in a cement-graphite powder base paste used as an anode in ECE of concretes contaminated with chlorides from the preparation of the mixture. The experimental parameters were: 2.3% of free chlorides, 21 days of ECE application, a Carbon Fiber Volume Fraction (CFVF) of 0.1, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9%, a lithium borate alkaline electrolyte, a current density of $4.0A/m^2$ and a cement/graphite ratio of 1.0 for the paste. The efficiency of the ECE in the traditional technique using metal mesh as an anode was 77.6% and for CFVF of 0.9% it was 90.4%, with a tendency to increase to higher percentages of the CFVF in the conductive cement-graphite paste, keeping the pH stable and achieving a homogeneous ECE in the mass of the concrete contaminated with chlorides.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.507-515
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• 1995

The monolithic dry gels of the Li2O-Al2O3-TiO2-SiO2 system were prepared by the sol-gel technique using metal alkoxides as starting materials to obtain monolithic glass-ceramics at low temperature without melting. Activation energy for the crystal growth of the gel with 6.05% TiO2, nucleating ageng, for the preparation of Li2O-Al2O3-TiO2-SiO2 system glass-ceramic was 101.14kcal/mol. As a result of the analysis of DTA & XRD, it was confirmed that the crytallization of Li2O-Al2O3-TiO2-SiO2 system glass-ceramic was the most efficient when 6.05% TiO2, nucleating agent, was added. $\beta$-eucryptite solid solution crystals and $\beta$-spodumene solid solution crystals were detected in the sample heat treated above 85$0^{\circ}C$. The sintered gel heat treated at 85$0^{\circ}C$ had the specific surface area of 185$m^2$/g, the pore volume of 0.19cc/g and the average pore radius of 20.8$\AA$. This shows that the sintered gel is also comparatively porous material. In temperature range of 25~85$0^{\circ}C$ thermal expansion coefficient of the specimen which was crystallized for 10hrs at 85$0^{\circ}C$ was 6.7$\times$10-7/$^{\circ}C$, which indicated that the crystallized specimen was turned out to be the glass-ceramic with low thermal expansion.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.214-214
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• 2003

고체 고분자 전해질에 대한 연구는 1979년 wright와 Armand에 처음 시작된 이래로 지난 20여년간 연구가 계속적으로 지속되고 있다. 전지의 적용되기 위해 전해질이 갖추어야 할 조건중에 이온전도도가 상온에서 10-4 S/cm 이상의 전도도를 나타내야 하지만 지금까지 연구되고 있는 여러 고체 고분자 전해질은 이런 조건을 만족시키지 못하고 있는 실정이다. 본 연구에서는 이런 상온에서의 이온 전도성을 향상시키기 위해 여러 종류의 실리카와 세라믹 계열의 첨가제를 첨가하여 이온전도성의 향상을 꾀하고자 하였다. 본 연구에서는 고체 고분자 전해질의 host polymer로써 분자량 400,000 의 Polyethylene oxide를 사용하였으며 Lithuim salt로는 Lithium (bisperfluroethylsulfonyl)imide(3M)를 기본적으로 사용하였다. 여기에 가소제의 역활로써 (3-cyanopropyl)methylsiloxane cyclics를 첨가하였고 표면그룹이 CH3와 OH기로 이루어진 기능성 나노 실리카를(<11nm)이용하여 함량별 전기 화학적 특성 및 기본 물성을 측정하였다. 기본적으로 이 네 가지 물질을 유기용매 Acetonitril에 잘 용해하여 Solid Casting방법으로 80-100 마이크로의 복합고분자 전해질을 제조하였다. Homogeneous하고 uniform한 필름 제조하기 위해 9$0^{\circ}C$에서 열처리를 24h 동안 실시하였다. 제조되어진 복합고분자전해질은 XRD를 통하여 결정성을 조사하였고 DSC를 이용하여 유리 전이온도 및 결정화도를 조사하였다. 복합고체고분자의 전기화학적 성질을 평가하기 위해 blocking electrode를 제작하여 임피던스 스펙트로 스코피를 이용하여 이온전도성을 측정하였다. 또한 복합 고분자 전해질의 온도의존성에 대해서도 조사하였다. 또한 실제 전지의 작동구간에서의 전해질의 안정성을 확인하기 위해 LSV를 측정하였고. Li metal을 사용하여 non-blocking electrode를 제작하여 복합고분자 전해질과의 계면저항을 측정하였다.