• ETRI Journal
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.254-261
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• 2019

Distinct from conventional energy-harvesting (EH) technologies, such as the use of photovoltaic, piezoelectric, and thermoelectric effects, betavoltaic energy conversion can consistently generate uniform electric power, independent of environmental variations, and provide a constant output of high DC voltage, even under conditions of ultra-low-power EH. It can also dramatically reduce the energy loss incurred in the processes of voltage boosting and regulation. This study realized betavoltaic cells comprised of p-i-n junctions based on silicon carbide, fabricated through a customized semiconductor recipe, and a Ni foil plated with a Ni-63 radioisotope. The betavoltaic energy converter (BEC) includes an array of 16 parallel-connected betavoltaic cells. Experimental results demonstrate that the series and parallel connections of two BECs result in an open-circuit voltage $V_{oc}$ of 3.06 V with a short-circuit current $I_{sc}$ of 48.5 nA, and a $V_{oc}$ of 1.50 V with an $I_{sc}$ of 92.6 nA, respectively. The capacitor charging efficiency in terms of the current generated from the two series-connected BECs was measured to be approximately 90.7%.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.167-174
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• 2019

To improve the performance of carbon nanofibers as electrode material in electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs), we prepare three types of samples with different pore control by electrospinning. The speciments display different surface structures, melting behavior, and electrochemical performance according to the process. Carbon nanofibers with two complex treatment processes show improved performance over the other samples. The mesoporous carbon nanofibers (sample C), which have the optimal conditions, have a high sepecific surface area of $696m^2g^{-1}$, a high average pore diameter of 6.28 nm, and a high mesopore volume ratio of 87.1%. In addition, the electrochemical properties have a high specific capacitance of $110.1F\;g^{-1}$ at a current density of $0.1A\;g^{-1}$ and an excellent cycling stability of 84.8% after 3,000 cycles at a current density of $0.1A\;g^{-1}$. Thus, we explain the improved electrochemical performance by the higher reaction area due to an increased surface area and a faster diffusion path due to the increased volume fraction of the mesopores. Consequently, the mesoporous carbon nanofibers are demonstrated to be a very promising material for use as electrode materials of high-performance EDLCs.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 2019

This study examines paraelectric $Bi_{1.5}Zn_{1.0}Nb_{1.5}O_7$ (BZN), which has no hysteresis and high dielectric strength, for energy density capacitor applications. To increase the breakdown dielectric strength of the BZN film further, poly(vinylidene fluoride) BZN-PVDF composite film is fabricated by aerosol deposition. The volume ratio of each composition is calculated using dielectric constant of each composition, and we find that it was 12:88 vol% (BZN:PVDF). To modulate the structure and dielectric properties of the ferroelectric polymer PVDF, the composite film is heat-treated at $200^{\circ}C$ for 5 and 30 minutes following quenching. The amount of ${\alpha}-phase$ in the PVDF increases with an increasing annealing time, which in turn decreases the dielectric constant and dielectric loss. The breakdown dielectric strength of the BZN film increases by mixing PVDF. However, the breakdown field decreases with an increasing annealing time. The BZN-PVDF composite film has the energy density of $4.9J/cm^3$, which is larger than that of the pure BZN film of $3.6J/cm^3$.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.994-1002
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• 2019

In this paper, we propose the development of a power conversion system for electric power take-off (e-PTO) of agricultural electric vehicles. Most e-PTOs use commercial power $220V_{AC}$. A bidirectional power conversion system having a two-stage structure consisting of a DC-DC converter and a DC-AC inverter for supplying a high output voltage using a low battery voltage of an agricultural electric vehicle is suitable. we propose a power conversion system consisting of the one-stage dual active bridge (DAB) converter and the two-stage bidirectional full bridge inverter. In addition, we propose a soft start algorithm for reducing the inrush current generated by the link capacitor charging during the initial operation. A 3kW prototype system and its corresponding algorithms have been implemented to verify its effectiveness through experiments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.100-108
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• 2019

In this paper, a new stacked element pressure sensor has proposed for heartbeat and respiration measurement. This device can be directly attached to an individual's chest; heartbeat and respiration are detected by the pulsatile vibration and deformation of the chest. A key feature of the device is the simultaneous measurement of heart rate and respiration. The structure of the sensor consists of two stacked elements, in which one element includes one polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) thin film bonded on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. In addition, for the measurement and signal processing, the electric circuit and the filter are simply constructed with an OP-amp, resistance, and a capacitor. One element (element1, PDMS) maximizes the respiration signal; the other (element2, PVDF) is used to measure heartbeat. Element1 and element2 had sensitivity of 0.163V/N and 0.209V/N, respectively, and element2 showed improved characteristics compared with element1 in response to force. Thus, element1 and element2 were optimized for measuring respiration heart rate, respectively. Through mechanical and vivo human tests, this sensor shows the great potential to optimize the signals of heartbeat and respiration compared with commercial devices. Moreover, the proposed sensor is flexible, light weight, and low cost. All of these characteristics illustrate an effective piezoelectric pressure sensor for heartbeat and respiration measurements.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.335-342
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• 2022

In this paper, a single-bit 3rd-order feedforward delta sigma modulator is proposed for audio applications. The proposed modulator is based on a class-C inverter for low voltage and power applications. For the high-precision requirement, the class-C inverter with regulated cascode structure increases its DC gain and acts as a low-voltage subthreshold amplifier. The proposed Class-C inverter-based modulator is designed and simulated in 180-nm CMOS process. With no performance loss and a low supply voltage compatibility, the proposed class-C inverter-based switched-capacitor modulator achieves high power efficiency. This design achieves an signal-to-noise-and-distortion ratio (SNDR) of 93.9 dB, an signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 108 dB, an spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) of 102 dB, and a dynamic range (DR) of 102 dB at a signal bandwidth of 20 kHz and a sampling frequency of 4 MHz, while only using 280 μW of power consumption from a 0.8-V power supply.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.184-193
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• 2023

This study investigates the effects of a carbon fiber layer formed on the surface of an etched aluminum current collector on the electrochemical properties of the activated carbon electrodes for an electric double layer capacitor. A particle size analyzer, field-emission SEM, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm analyzer are employed to analyze the structure of the carbon fiber layer. The electric and electrochemical properties of the activated carbon electrodes using a carbon fiber layer are evaluated using an electrode resistance meter and a charge-discharge tester, respectively. To uniformly coat the surface with carbon fiber, we applied a planetary mill process, adjusted the particle size, and prepared the carbon paste by dispersing in a binder. Subsequently, the carbon paste was coated on the surface of the etched aluminum current collector to form the carbon under layer, after which an activated carbon slurry was coated to form the electrodes. Based on the results, the interface resistance of the EDLC cell made of the current collector with the carbon fiber layer was reduced compared to the cell using the pristine current collector. The interfacial resistance decreased from 0.0143 Ω·cm² to a maximum of 0.0077 Ω·cm². And degradation reactions of the activated carbon electrodes are suppressed in the 3.3 V floating test. We infer that it is because the improved electric network of the carbon fiber layer coated on the current collector surface enhanced the electron collection and interfacial diffusion while protecting the surface of the cathode etched aluminum; thereby suppressing the formation of Al-F compounds.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2013

We have successfully synthesized $Bi_{4-x}La_xTi_3O_{12}$ (x~2) having Aurivillius-type layered perovskite structure from exfoliated layered perovskite oxide of $K_2La_2Ti_3O_{10}$ with Ruddlesden-Popper structure. The reaction between the exfoliated lanthanum titanate nanosheets and BiOCl nanocrystal resulted in the formation of polycrystalline $Bi_{4-x}La_xTi_3O_{12}$ (x~2) after heating above $700^{\circ}C$. Colloidal suspension of the nanosheets could be obtained by intercalating ethylamine (EA) into the protonated lanthanum titanate, $H_2La_2Ti_3O_{10}$, derived from $K_2La_2Ti_3O_{10}$. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis show that the exfoliated lanthanium titanate nanosheets have a thickness of a few nano meters. According to X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, the exfoliated lanthanium titanate was found to be transformed into $Bi_{4-x}La_xTi_3O_{12}$ (x~2) after restacking with BiOCl and subsequent thermal treatment at > $700^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.10 no.10
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• pp.684-690
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• 2000

In order to study effects of interfacial layers between $Pb(Zr,Til)Q_3(PZT)$ films and electrodes for Metal-Ferroelectric-MetaI(MFM) structure capacitors, we have fabricated the capacitors with the Pt/PZT/interfacial-layer/Pt/$TiO_2/SiO_2$/Si structure. $PbTiO_3(PT)$ interfacial layers were formed by sol-gel deposition and PbO, ZrO, and $TiO_2$ thin layers were deposited by reactive sputtering. $TiO_2$ interface layers result in the finest grains of PZT(crystalline Temp. $600^{\circ}C$) films compare to $PbO_2\;and\;ZrO_2$ layers. However, as the thickness of $TiO_2$ layer increases. PZT thin films become rough and electrical characteristics were deteriorated due to remained anatase phase. On the other hand. PT interface layers result in improved morphology of PZT films and do not significantly change ferroelectric properties. It is a also observed that seed layers at the middle and top of PZT films do not give significant effects on grain size but the PT seed layer at the interface between the bottom electrode and the PZT films results in the small grain size.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.759-764
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• 2018

3D porous carbon electrodes (cNPIM), prepared by solution casting of a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1) followed by nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) and carbonization are presented. In order to effectively control the pore size of 3D porous carbon structures, cNPIM was prepared by varying the THF ratio of mixed solvents. The SEM analysis revealed that cNPIMs have a unique 3D macroporous structure having a gradient pore structure, which is expected to grant a smooth and easy ion transfer capability as an electrode material. In addition, the cNPIMs presented a very large specific surface area ($2,101.1m^2/g$) with a narrow micropore size distribution (0.75 nm). Consequently, the cNPIM exhibits a high specific capacitance (304.8 F/g) and superior rate capability of 77% in an aqueous electrolyte. We believe that our approach can provide a variety of new 3D porous carbon materials for the application to an electrochemical energy storage.