• Composites Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.190-196
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• 2024

The bipolar plate is a crucial element of the vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) as it serves as both the electrical conduit and the structural support for the cell within the VRFB stack. Although, the graphite material is primarily used for the bipolar plate due to its excellent electrical conductivity, a significant limitation of performance of the VRFB is present due to high interfacial contact resistance (ICR) arises between the electrode and bipolar plate in the cell stack. This study aims to develop an integrated electrode-bipolar plate assembly that will address the limitations of the ICR. The integrated assembly was constructed using a single carbon felt with thermoplastic and thermoset polymers utilizing hot press method. Experimental results verify that the bipolar plate assembly exhibits reduced area specific resistance (ASR) due to the continuous electrical path. Additionally, from the charge/discharge cell test results, the integrated assembly shows improved cell performance. Therefore, the developed integrated electrode-bipolar plate assembly can serve as a substitute for the conventional bipolar plate and electrode assembly.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.94-102
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• 2014

Cation exchange membrane (Nafion) was modified to reduce the vanadium ion permeation through the membrane and to increase the vanadium redox flow battery (VRB) system performance by coating the graphene oxide (GO) which has nano-plate like morphology. Modified membrane properties were studied by measuring the ion exchange capacity (I.E.C), water uptake and proton conductivity. The thickness of the coated layer on the surface of the Nafion membrane was observed as $0.93{\mu}m$ by SEM. Proton conductivity and vanadium ion permeability of the modified membrane were decreased to 27% and 25% compared to that of the commercial Nafion membrane respectively. VRB single cell performance test was performed to compare the system performance of the VRB applied with commercial Nafion membrane and modified membrane. VRB system applied with modified membrane showed higher coulombic efficiency and energy efficiency than the VRB system applied with the commercial Nafion membrane due to the reduction of the vanadium ion permeation. From these result, we could suggest that the membrane modification by coating the GO on the surface of the Nafion membrane could be one of the promising strategies to reduce the vanadium ion permeation and to increase the VRB system performance effectively.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2014

As an electrolyte additive, the effects of lithium bis(oxalate)borate (LiBOB) on the electrochemical properties of a carbon-coated silicon monoxide (C-coated SiO) negative electrode are investigated. The used electrolyte is 1.3M $LiPF_6$ that is dissolved in ethylene carbonate (EC), fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), and diethyl carbonate (DEC) (5:25:70 v/v/v) with or without 0.5 wt. % LiBOB. In the LiBOB-free electrolyte, the film resistance is not so high in the initial period of cycling that lithiation is facilitated to generate the crystalline $Li_{15}Si_4$ phase. Due to repeated volume change that is caused by such a deep charge/discharge, cracks form in the active material to cause a resistance increase, which eventually leads to capacity fading. When LiBOB is added into the electrolyte, however, more resistive surface film is generated by decomposition of LiBOB in the initial period. The crystalline $Li_{15}Si_4$ phase does not form, such that the volume change and crack formation are greatly mitigated. Consequently, the C-coated SiO electrode exhibits a better cycle performance in the later cycles. At an elevated temperature ($45^{\circ}C$), wherein the effect of film resistance is less critical, the alloy ($Li_{15}Si_4$ phase) formation is comparable for the LiBOB-free and added cell to give a similar cycle performance.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.593-599
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• 2017

In order to enhance ultra battery performances, the electrochemical characteristics of nano Pb/AC anode composite was investigated. Through nano Pb adsorption onto activated carbon, nano Pb/AC was synthesized and it was washed under vacuum process. The prepared anode materials was analysed by SEM, BET and EDS. The specific surface area and average pore size of nano Pb/AC composite were $1740m^2/g$ and 1.95 nm, respectively. The negative electrode of ultra battery was prepared by nano Pb/AC dip coating on lead plate. The electrochemical performances of ultra battery were studied using $PbO_2$ (the positive electrode) and prepared nano Pb/AC composite (the negative electrode) pair. Also the electrochemical behaviors of ultra battery were investigated by charge/discharge, cyclic voltammetry, impedance and rate capability tests in 5 M $H_2SO_4$ electrolyte. The initial capacity and cycling performance of the present nano Pb/AC ultra battery were improved with respect to the lead battery and the AC-coated lead battery. These experimental results indicate that the proper addition of nano Pb/AC into the negative electrode can improve the discharge capacity and the long term cycle stability and remarkably suppress the hydrogen evolution reaction on the negative electrode.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.280-288
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• 2017

Nanocarbon base materials such as, graphene and graphene hybrid with high electrochemical performances have great deal of attention to investigate flexible, stretchable display and wearable electronics in order to develop portable and high efficient energy storage devices. Battery, fuel cell and supercapacitor are able to achieve those properties for flexible, stretchable and wearable electronics, especially the supercapacitor is a promise energy storage device due to their remarkable properties including high power and energy density, environment friendly, fast charge-discharge and high stability. In this study, we have fabricated flexible supercapacitor composed of graphene/conductive polymer composite which could improve its electrochemical performance. As a result, specific capacitance value of the flexible supercapacitor (unbent) was $198.5F\;g^{-1}$ which decreased to $128.3F\;g^{-1}$ (65% retention) after $500^{th}$ bending cycle.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.593-598
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• 2016

We report on the preparation of reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) electrodes deposited onto flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) via spray coating technique. The highest capacitance value of the unbent rGO/SWNTs electrode was $82Fg^{-1}$ in 1 M $H_2SO_4$ at $100mVs^{-1}$, which decreased to $38Fg^{-1}$ after 500 bending cycle. Further characterization, including galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), showed that the rGO/SWNTs electrode retained a well-defined capacitive response after repetitive bending cycle. Overall, the rGO/SWNTs composite electrode showed reasonable electrochemical properties even prolonged bending cycle. Approximately 50% of the initial capacitance for the rGO/SWNTs composite electrode is remained after 500 bending cycle, making the electrode a potential option for flexible energy storage applications.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.750-759
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• 2016

The $MnO_2$ electrodeposited on the surface of the carbon nanofiber mats ($MnO_2$-LCNFM) were prepared from electrospun lignin-g-PAN copolymer via heat treatments and subsequent $MnO_2$ electrodeposition method. The resulting $MnO_2$-LCNFM was evaluateed for its potential use in a supercapicitor electrode. The increase of $MnO_2$ electric deposition time was revealed to increase diameter of carbon nanofibers as well as $MnO_2$ content on the surface of carbon nanofiber mats as confirmed by scanning electon microscope (SEM) analysis. The electrochemical properties of $MnO_2$-LCNFM electrodes are evaluated through cyclic voltammetry test. It was shown that $MnO_2$-LCNFM electrode exhibited good electrochemical performance with specific capacitance of $168.0mF{\cdot}cm^{-2}$. The $MnO_2$-LCNFM supercapacitor successfully fabricated using the gel electrolyte ($H_3PO_4$/Polyvinyl alcohol) showed to have the capacitance efficiency of ~90%, and stable behavior during 1,000 charging/discharging cycles.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.220-225
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• 1998

The spinel structured $LiMn_2O_4$ was prepared from $Li_2CO_3$ and $MnO_2$ by calcination at various temperatures in the range of $750{\sim}900^{\circ}C$. It was found that the most suitable cubic structure of $LiMn_2O_4$ was obtained by heating at $850^{\circ}C$ for 12 hrs. However, in the calcination at $900^{\circ}C$, $Mn^{4+}$ of 0.06M was changed to $Mn^{+3}$ by the oxygen loss, so that it has been shown that the formula has changed to $LiMn_2O_{3.97}$. This phenomena were in agreement with the Jahn-Teller distortion by the increment of $Mn^{+3}$ ion on the octahedral sites of the spinel structured $LiMn_2O_4$. The results showed that after 15 charge/discharge cycles in the voltage range from 3.5V to 4.3V versus Li/$Li^+$ with a current density of $0.25mA/cm^2$, the spinel structured $LiMn_2O_4$ that was prepared at $900^{\circ}C$ showed a lower discharge capacity, 82~50 mAh/g, while the $LiMn_2O_4$, prepared at $850^{\circ}C$, showed the discharge capacity of 102~64 mAh/g.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.260-267
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• 2020

In this study, supercapacitor based on the all solid state electrolyte with PVA(polyvinyl alcohol), ionic liquid as a BMIMBF4(1-buthyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) and activated carbon/Ni-MOF composite was fabricated and characterized its electrochemical properties with function of MOF. In order to analysis and comparison that electrochemical performances [including cyclic voltammetry(CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) and galvanostatic charge/discharge test] of prepared supercapacitor based on activated carbon/Ni-MOF composite and all solid state electrolyte. As a result, specific capacitance of the supercapacitor without Ni-MOF was 380 F/g which value decreased to 340 F/g after adding Ni-MOF to activated carbon as a electrode material. This result exhibited that decreased electrochemical property of the supercapacitor effected on physical hinderance in the electrode. In further, it needs to optimization of the Ni-MOF amount (wt%) in the electrode composite to maximize its electrochemical performances.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.746-752
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• 2016

In this study, soft carbon was prepared by carbonization of carbon precursor (pitch) obtained from PFO (pyrolysis fuel oil) heat treatment. Three carbon precursors prepared by the thermal reaction were 3903 (at $390^{\circ}C$ for 3 h), 4001 (at $400^{\circ}C$ for 1 h) and 4002 (at $400^{\circ}C$ for 2 h). After the prepared soft carbon was ground to a particle size of $25{\sim}35^{\circ}C$, the soft carbon was synthesised by the chemical treatment with boric acid ($H_3BO_3$). The prepared soft carbon were analysed by XRD, FE-SEM and XPS. Also, the electrochemical performances of soft carbon were investigated by constant current charge/discharge test, cyclic voltammetry and impedance tests in the electrolyte of $LiPF_6$ dissolved inorganic solvents (EC:DMC=1:1 vol%+VC 3 wt%). The coin cell using soft carbon of $25{\sim}35^{\circ}C$ with 3903 soft carbon ($H_3BO_3$/Pitch=3:100 in weight) has better initial capacity and efficiency (330 mAh/g, 82%) than those of other coin cells. Also, it was found that the retention rate capability of 2C/0.1C was 90% after 30 cycles.