• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.308-313
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• 2014

The effect of electrochemical characteristics of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) upon employing multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) on both working electrode and counter electrode were examined with using EIS, J-V curves and UV-Vis absorption spectrometry. When 0.1 wt% of MWCNT was employed in the $TiO_2$-MWCNT composit on working electrode, the energy conversion efficiency increased about 12.5% compared to the $TiO_2$ only working electrode. The higher light conversion efficiency may attribut to the high electrical conductivity of MWCNT in $TiO_2$-MWCNT composite which improves the electron transport in the working electrode. However, higher amount of MWCNT than 0.1 wt% in the $TiO_2$-MWCNT composite decreases the light conversion efficiency, which is mainly ascribed to the decreased transmittance of light by MWCNT and to the decreased adsorption of dye onto $TiO_2$. The MWCNT employed counter electrode exhibited much lower light conversion efficiency of DSSC than the Pt-counter electrode, while the MWCNT-Pt counter electrode showed similar in light conversion efficiency to that of Pt-counter electrode.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics T
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• v.35T no.2
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• pp.66-71
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• 1998

A compact ESP of two-stage type is widely used with positive corona discharge in working environment where the production of ozone is extreamly prohibited. Since there are few scientific reports on a compact ESP, we have investigated the fundamental characteristics of a two-stage ESP. A model two-stage ESP is made with simple structure in order to simplify theoretical analysis and the relative position of the ionizer and collector section can be changed. The experimental investigation revealed many interesting facts.: The electric field in the collector electrodes affects the corona discharge of the ionizer. The concentration of particles after collector remarkably varied in the region between the high voltage and grounded electrodes. The collection efficiency right behind the high voltage electrode is much greater than that behind the grounded one. The total collection efficiency, calculated by integrating the particle concentration in whole measuring region, is greater when the high voltage electrode of the collector is located behind the discharge electrode of ionizer. Thus, the relative position of the ionizer and collector electrodes affects the precipitation characteristics.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.118.2-118.2
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• 2011

In order to increase the energy conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), we employed a counter electrode that was platinum coated using a doctor blade technique on synthesized ZnO nanostructures on fluorinedoped tin oxide (FTO). The ZnO nanostructures possessing high electrochemical activity and large surface area of the counter electrode were grown by a chemical bath deposition (CBD) method at various times, 2, 4, and 8 h. The efficiency of DSSC with the Pt-ZnO counter electrode was improved 7.01% (grown for 2 h), 7.63% (grown for 4 h), and 6.13% (grown for 8 h), respectively. Compared with a standard DSSC without ZnO nanostructures, whose efficiency was 6.27%, the energy conversion efficiency increased approximately 22% for the DSSC with the Pt-ZnO (grown for 4 h) electrode. It indicates that the Pt coated on the ZnO nanostructure improves the electrocatalytic activity of the counter electrode.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.335-338
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• 2007

Cost effectiveness is an important parameter for producing DSSCs as compared to the widely used conventional silicon based solar cells. A fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate coated with a catalytic amount of platinum is used as counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cell. Carbonaceous materials are quite attractive to replace platinum due to their high electronic conductivity, corrosion resistance towards $I_{2}$, good catalytic effect and low cost. In this paper, the unit DSSCs with Pt and CNT as a counter electrode were connected in series-parallel externally, then the current-voltage curves were investigated to find out the connection characteristics of the DSSC with CNT counter electrode. The connection characteristics of the DSSC with CNT counter electrode is superior to that of the DSSC with Pt counter electrode. And a parallel connection of the DSSC with CNT counter electrode has higher efficiency than a series connection of that.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.131-133
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• 2008

A serious problem of the 21st century is the supply of energy resources. Reserves of fossil fuels are facing depletion: renewable energy resources must be developed in this era. Dye sensitized solar cell (DSC) has been very economical and easy method to convert solar energy to electricity. Recently a novel tandem cell structure is proposed to improve photocurrent of DSC. To fabricated a tandem cell, the mesh structure of counter electrode is essential for the improvement in transmittance. In this study, we conducted the experiment to get the characteristic of DSC with mesh counter electrode. Under the standard test condition (AM 1.5, 100mW/$cm^2$), we obtained the maximum efficiency of 3.41% and the transmittance of 72% in the DSC with mesh counter electrode.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2007.07a
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• pp.1293-1294
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• 2007

태양전지는 대표적인 결정질 실리콘 태양전지를 비롯해 다양한 종류가 있지만 모두 입사광의 광량이나 광도에 출력이 의존한다는 점은 공통적이다. 이는 입사광의 에너지를 받아 염료 분자의 여기를 통해 전자를 생산하는 염료감응형 태양전지의 매커니즘에도 적용되는 것이다. 즉, 입사광의 광도나 광량의 값이 클수록 염료감응형 태양전지는 더 높은 출력전력을 생산한다는 의미이다. 본 연구에서는 투명성 때문에 입사광의 투과도가 높은 염료감응형 태양전지의 특성에 착안해 상대전극에 금속박막을 sputtering함으로써 입사광의 반사율을 증가시켜 입사된 광의 에너지를 더 효과적으로 활용할 수 있는 방법을 시도했다. 금속박막의 재료로 니켈, 백금, 은을 대상으로 실험한 결과, 금속박막을 sputtering 하지 않은 경우에 비해 전체적으로 염료감응형 태양전지의 효율이나 전력면에서 개선된 결과를 얻었고 그 중 백금 반사막을 입힌 셀로부터 최대 24.4%의 투과도 감소를 비롯, 11.5%의 출력전력의 증가와 0.4%의 효율 상승을 이끌어냈다.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.154-157
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• 2006

The counter electrode widely used in DSCs (Dye-sensitized Solar Cells) is constructed of conducting glass substrates coated with Pt films, where the platium acts as a catalyst. Pt counter electrodes in DSCs are one important component. It is expected that characteristics of Pt electrodes strongly depend on fabrication process and its surface condition. In this study, Pt counter electrode surface of DSC is deposited by reactive RF magnetron sputtering under the conditions of Ar 5mtorr, RF power of 120w and substrate temperature of $100^{\circ}C$. Surface morphology of Pt electrodes was investigated by FE-SEM and AFM. And this paper shows our recent results and technology to fabricate the new designed cell with Pt electrodes deposited by sputtering method. We have achieved fill factor 65% and photoelectric conversion efficiency around 2.6% as the best results of new designed DSCs structure.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2021

Gas diffusion layer (GDL) compression is important parameter of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance to have an effect on contact resistance, reactants transfer to electrode, water content in membrane and electrode assembly (MEA). In this study, the effect of GDL compression on fuel cell performance was investigated for commercial products, JNT20-A3. Polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was performed at different relative humidity and compression ratio using electrode area of 25 ㎠ unit cell. The contact resistance was reduced to 8, 30 mΩ·㎠ and membrane hydration was increased as GDL compression increase from 18.6% to 38.1% at relative humidity of 100 and 25%, respectively. It was identified through ohmic resistance change at relative humidity conditions that as GDL compression increased, water back-diffusion from cathode and electrolyte membrane hydration was increased because GDL porosity was decreased.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.592-597
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• 2014

The graphite/$SiO_2$ composites as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries were prepared by sol-gel method to improve the graphite's electrochemical characteristics. The prepared graphite/$SiO_2$ composites were analysed by XRD, FE-SEM and EDX. The graphite surface modified by silicon dioxide showed several advantages to stabilize SEI layer. The electrochemical characteristics were investigated for lithium ion battery using graphite/$SiO_2$ as the working electrode and Li metal as the counter electrode. Electrochemical behaviors using organic electrolytes ($LiPF_6$, EC/DMC) were characterized by charge/discharge, cycle, cyclic voltammetry and impedance tests. The lithium ion battery using graphite/$SiO_2$ electrodes had better capacity than that of using graphite electrodes and was able to deliver a discharge capacity with 475 mAh/g at a rate of 0.1 C. Also, the capacity retention ratio of the modified graphite reaches 99% at a rate of 0.8 C.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 2021

A solar water battery is a system that generates power using solar energy. It is a combination of photoelectrochemical cells and an energy storage system. It can simultaneously convert and store solar energy without additional external voltage. Solar water batteries consist of photoelectrodes, storage electrodes and counter electrodes, and their properties and combination are important for the performance and the efficiency of the system. In this study, we tried to find the effect that changing the components of solar water batteries has on its system. The effects of the counter electrode during discharge, the kinds of photoelectrode and storage electrode materials, and electrolytes on the solar energy conversion and storage capacitance were studied. The optimized composition (TiO2 : NaFe-PB : Pt foil) exhibited 72.393 mAh g-1 of discharge capacity after 15 h of photocharging. It indicates that the efficiency of solar energy conversion and storage is largely affected by the configuration of the system. Also, the addition of organic pollutants to the chamber of the photoelectrode improved the battery's photo-current and discharge capacity by efficient photoelectron-hole pair separation with simultaneous degradation of organic pollutants. Solar water batteries are a new eco-friendly solar energy conversion and storage system that does not require additional external voltages. It is also expected to be used for water treatment that utilizes solar energy.