• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.75-80
• /
• 1999

Li-ion cells employ lithium transtion metal oxide as the cathode material and carbon as anode material. To manufacture Li-ion cell with higher capacity and better cycle life, the utilization of electrode materials should be as high as possible without lithium deposition onto the carbon surface during charging. A careful design of cell balance between cathode and anode materials as well as a proper charge method is a key factor to design Li-ion cell with long cycle life. In this study, we investigated the effect of cathode/anode weight ratio on the performance of $LiCoO_2/MPCF$ cell. First we evaluated the charge-discharge behaviours of half-cells. And cylindrical Li-ion cells were fabricated using graphitized MPCF anode and $LiCoO_2$ cathode. The voltage profiles for each half-cell in $LiCoO_2/MPCF$ cell were measured by using lithium metal as a reference electrode. Also, we evaluated the cyclic performance of $LiCoO_2/MPCF$ cells according to weight ratio. From the result of experiment $LiCoO_2$ cathode utilization was independent of weight ratio, but MPCF anode utilization was dependant on weight ratio. Also, the optimal weight ratio of $LiCoO_2/MPCF$ cell was found to be $2.0\~2.2$.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.28-38
• /
• 2018

Although the adhesion properties of composite electrodes are important for securing long-term reliability and realizing high energy density of lithium secondary batteries, related research has not been carried out extensively due to the limitation of measurement technology. However, surface and interfacial cutting analysis system(SAICAS), which can measure the adhesion properties while cutting and peeling a coating layer of $1{\sim}1000{\mu}m$ thickness, has been developed and applied for analyzing the adhesion properties of composite electrodes for lithium secondary batteries. Thus, this review presents not only the principle and measurement method of SAICAS but also comparison results between SAICAS and conventional peel test. In addition, application examples of SAICAS are introduced in the study of electrode design optimization, new binder derivation study, and binder distribution in composite electrode. This suggests that SAICAS is an analytical method that can be easily applied to investigate the adhesion properties of composite electrodes for lithium secondary batteries.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.486-493
• /
• 2012

Photocurable sulfonated polyimide (SPI) polyelectrolyte containing chalcone group was prepared and fabricated on an alumina electrode pretreated with chalcone-containing silane-coupling agent. SPI films with bis(tetramethyl)ammonium 2,2'-benzidinedisulfonate ($Me_4N$-BDS)/4,4'-diaminochalcone (DAC)/pyromellitic dianhydride (PA)= 90/10/100 possessed very linear response(Y = -0.04528X+7.69446, $R^2=0.99675$) and showed resistance changing from 4.48 to $2.1k{\Omega}$ between 20 and 95 %RH. The response time for absorption and desorption measurements between 33 and 94 %RH% was about 79 s, which affirmed the high efficiency of crosslinked SPI film for rapid detection of humidity. A negative temperature coefficient showing $-0.49%RH/^{\circ}C$ was found and proper temperature compensation should be considered in future applications. Moreover, pretreatment of the substrates with chalcone-containing silane-coupling agent was performed to improve the water durability and the stability of the humidity sensors at a high humidity and a high temperature and long-term stability for 480 h. The crosslinked SPI films anchored to electrode substrate could be a promising material for the fabrication of efficient humidity sensors with superior characteristics compared to the commercially available sensors.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.111-122
• /
• 2013

Sodium sulfur (NAS) battery is a high energy storage system (ESS). These days, as the use of renewable green energy like wind energy, solar energy and ocean energy is rapidly increasing, the demand of ESS is increasing and NAS battery is considered to be one of the most promising ESS. Since NAS battery has a high energy density(3 times of lead acid battery), long cycle life and no self-charge and discharge, it is a good candidate for ESS. A NAS battery consists of sulfur as the positive electrode, sodium as the negative electrode and ${\beta}$"-alumina as the electrolyte and a separator simultaneously. Since sulfur is an insulator, carbon felt should be used as conductor with sulfur and so the composition and property of the cathode could largely influence the cell performance and life cycle. Therefore, in this paper, the composition of NAS battery, the property of carbon felt and sodium polysulfides ($Na_2S_x$, intermediates of discharge), and the effects of these factors on cycle performance of cells are described in detail.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.59 no.3
• /
• pp.339-344
• /
• 2021

In order to improve the PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell) durability, it is important to accurately evaluate the durability of the membrane in a short time. Recently, DOE (Department of Energy) reported a protocol that combines the chemical and mechanical durability of membranes to evaluate them effectively. This protocol applies chemical/mechanical deterioration to the membrane by repeating wet/dry while OCV (Open Circuit Voltage) holding. The problem of this protocol is that it is highly affected by electrode degradation due to change cycles in OCV and that the evaluation time is long. By using oxygen instead of air as the cathode gas while leaving the other conditions of the DOE protocol as it is, the durability evaluation time could be reduced from 408 hours to 144 hours. By reducing the number of voltage change cycles to 1/3, the electrode degradation due to the voltage change cycle was reduced to 1/12 when oxygen was used compared to air at the end, thereby enabling more accurate evaluation of polymer membrane durability.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.33-38
• /
• 2021

Demand for lithium-based secondary batteries is greatly increasing with the explosive growth of related industries, such as mobile devices and electric vehicles. In Korea, there are several top-rated global lithium-ion battery manufacturers accounting for 40% of the global secondary battery business. Most discarded lithium secondary batteries are recycled as scrap to recover valuable metals, such as Nickel and Cobalt, but residual wastes are disposed of according to the residual lithium-ion concentration. Furthermore, there has not been an attempt on the possibility of water discharge system contamination due to the concentration of lithium ions, and the effluent water quality standards of public sewage treatment facilities are becoming stricter year after year. In this study, the as-received waste water generated from the cathode electrode coating process in the manufacturing of high-nickel-based NCM cathode material used for high-performance and long-term purposes was analyzed. We suggested a facile recycling process chart for waste water treatment. We revealed a correlation between lithium-ion concentration and pH effect according to the proposed waste water of each recycling process through analyzing standard water quality tests and daphnia ecological toxicity. We proposed a realistic waste water treatment plan for lithium electrode manufacturing plants via comparison with other industries' ecotoxicology.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.27-32
• /
• 2013

Renewable gas fuels such as biogas and landfill gas are obtained from the biodegradable organic wastes so that they inherently have carbon-neutral nature which can respond global warming. Therefore, attentions are paid to use this renewable gases as a main fuel for internal combustion engines. However, the composition of the fuel varies by its origin or conversion process, it is necessary to make stable combustion and accomplish high efficiency when used in power generating spark ignition (SI) engines. In this study, efforts have been made to investigate the effect of the composition of renewable gas fuel on the engine performance and exhaust emissions. In addition, a new spark plug with a long electrode was tested and compared with a base spark plug as a way to improve engine efficiency and reduce harmful emissions.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.133-139
• /
• 2020

Background: The gastrocnemius (GCM) is one of the lower extremity muscles that tend to tighten easily. GCM tightness results in limited ankle dorsi-flexion (DF), especially when the knee joint is fully extended. Joint flexibility is determined by the morphological and physiological characteristics of joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Impaired joint flexibility can be attributed to increased susceptibility to muscle injury. High-frequency diathermy is clinically used to reduce pain and muscle tightness and to improve limited range of motion. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of high-frequency therapy in subjects with GCM tightness. Methods: The study was designed as a one-group before-after trial. The subjects included 28 volunteers with GCM tightness (an active ankle DF angle of less than 12°) without any known neurological and musculoskeletal pathologies in the ankle and calf areas. WINBACK Transfer Electrode Capacitive and Resistive Therapy equipment was used to apply high-frequency therapy to the subjects' GCMs for 10-15 minutes. The pennation angle and the fascicle length of the GCM were measured using ultrasonography. The flexibility of the ankle joint, peak torque to the passive ankle DF (Biodex), and soft tissue stiffness (MyotonPRO) were also measured. Results: The pennation angle was significantly decreased following the treatment; however, no significant difference in the fascicle length was found (p < 0.05). The flexibility was significantly increased and both the passive peak torque to passive ankle DF and the soft tissue stiffness significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Conclusion: High-frequency therapy is immediately effective for improving the muscle's architectural properties and functional factors in subjects with GCM tightness. Further longitudinal clinical studies are required to investigate the long-term effects of high-frequency therapy on subjects with GCM tightness from various causes.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.239-245
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to compare the electromyography signal's power spectrum mean and median tendencies appearing in the lower extremity during walking while wearing roller shoes. 9 male subjects volunteered who have no experience riding inline-skate or roller-skate, and have no record of musculoskeletal disorder. Subjects walked on treadmill twice for an hour (Once a week, one trial with the roller on and the other without roller, Walking velocity = 1.39 m/s). Electromyography was measured every 15 minute (0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes). Surface electrode sticked muscle at rectus femoris(R.F.), vastus lateralis(V.L.), vastus medialis(V.M.), biceps femoris(B.F.), tibialis anterior(T.A.), gastrocnemius lateralis(G.L.), gastrocnemius medialis(G.M.). At Rectus femoris, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus medialis, and Biceps femoris showed no statistically significant decrease of median frequency or mean edge frequency as time passes. Also, between two treatments (wearing the roller shoes vs not wearing the roller shoes), no statistically significant difference. After 60 minutes, mean edge frequency showed statistically significant decrease at tibalis anterior and after 45 minutes, mean edge frequency showed statistically significant decrease compared to wearing roller shoes without the wheels at gastrocnemius lateralis. At gastrocnemius medialis after 30 minutes, median frequency showed statistically significant decrease, and showed statistically significant difference compared to the control group. Wearing the roller shoes with wheels for a long time resulted in statistically significant decrease of mean edge frequency and median frequency in lower extremity, especially in shank muscles. Increase of wearing time of roller shoes and walking on a bumpy road wearing roller shoes with wheels result fatigue and thus, danger of injury.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2002.05b
• /
• pp.111-118
• /
• 2002

A new lithium niobate optical modulator with a polymer buffer layer on Ni in-diffused optical waveguide is proposed for the fist time, successfully fabricated and examined at a wavelength of 1.3 mm. By determining the diffusion parameters of Ni in-diffused waveguide to achieve more desirable mode size which is well matched to the mode in the fiber, the detailed results on the achievement of high optical throughput are reported. In addition, the usefulness of polymer buffer layer which can be applicable to a buffer layer in Ni in-diffused waveguide devices is demonstrated. Several sets of channel waveguides fabricated on Z-cut lithium niobate by Ni in-diffusion were obtained and on which coplanar traveling-wave type electrodes with a polymer-employed buffer layer were developed by a conventional fabrication method for characterizing of electro-optical performances of the proposed device. The experimental results show that the measured half-wave voltage is of ~10 V and the total measured fiber-to-fiber insertion loss is of ~6.4 dB for a 40 mm long at a wavelength of =1.3 mm, respectively. From the experimental results, it is confirmed that the polymer-employed buffer layer in LiNbO3 optical modulator can be a substitute material instead of silicon oxide layer which is usually processed at a high temperature of over $300^{\circ}C$. Moreover, the fabrication tolerances by using polymer materials in LiNbO3 optical modulators are much less strict in comparison to the case of dielectric buffer layer.