• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.154.2-154.2
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• 2016

In this work, we introduce a solution-processed CdS interlayer for use in inverted bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells, and compare this material to a series of standard organic and inorganic cathode interlayers. Different combinations of solution-processed CdS, ZnO and conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) layers were compared as cathode interlayers on ITO substrates to construct inverted solar cells based on $PTB7:PC_{71}BM$ and a $P3HT:PC_{61}BM$ as photoactive layers. Introduction of a CdS interlayer significantly improved the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of inverted $PTB7:PC_{71}BM$ devices from 2.0% to 4.9%, however, this efficiency was still fairly low compared to benchmark ZnO or CPE interlayers due to a low open circuit voltage ($V_{OC}$), stemming from the deep conduction band energy of CdS. The $V_{OC}$ was greatly improved by introducing an interfacial dipole (CPE) layer on top of the CdS layer, yielding outstanding diode characteristics and a PCE of 6.8%. The best performing interlayer, however, was a single CPE layer alone, which yielded a $V_{OC}$ of 0.727 V, a FF of 63.2%, and a PCE of 7.89%. Using $P3HT:PC_{61}BM$ as an active layer, similar trends were observed. Solar cells without the cathode interlayer yielded a PCE of 0.46% with a poor $V_{OC}$ of 0.197 V and FF of 34.3%. In contrast, the use of hybrid ZnO/CPE layer as the cathode interlayer considerably improved the $V_{OC}$ of 0.599 V and FF of 53.3%, resulting the PCE of 2.99%. Our results indicate that the CdS layer yields excellent diode characteristics, however, performs slightly worse than benchmark ZnO and CPE layers in solar cell devices due to parasitic absorption below 550 nm. These results suggest that the hybrid inorganic/organic interlayer materials are promising candidates as cathode interlayers for high efficiency inverted solar cells through the modification of interface contacts.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.103-107
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• 2024

In this study, nickel, a pure metal material, was proposed as a saggar for synthesizing NCM [Li(Ni_xCo_yMn_z)O₂] cathode active material. Nickel is known as a metal that is resistant to oxidation and has a high melting point. Nickel is one of the main components of NCM cathode material and was expected to be free from problems with contamination from saggar during cathode material synthesis. We sought to confirm the possibility of nickel as a saggar for synthesizing NCM cathode active materials. When a Ni metal crucible and Ni_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1(OH)₂ (NCM 811) precursor material were reacted at 900℃ for a long time, the change in the reaction layer on the surface of the crucible over time was analyzed. The nickel crucible reaction layer formed during heat treatment at 900℃ was nickel oxide, and is thought to have been created by simultaneous oxygen diffusion from the cathode precursor oxide and reaction with oxygen in the atmosphere. The change in thickness of the oxide layer appears to slow down after 480 hours, which suggests that the rate of oxygen diffusion from the precursor is reduced. It remained combined without falling out of the crucible until 480 hours. However, it was confirmed that the oxide layer falls off after 720 hours, so it is thought that it can be used as saggar for NCM synthesis only for a certain period of time.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2003.07b
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• pp.1003-1006
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• 2003

We have investigated the effect of hole-injection buffer layer and cathodes in organic light-emitting diodes u sing poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) : poly (stylenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) in a device structure of $ITO/PEDOT:PSS/TPD/Alq_3/Cathode$. Polymer PEDOT:PSS buffer layer was made using spin casting method. Current-voltage, luminance-voltage characteristics and efficiency of device were measured at room temperature with a variation of cathode materials. The device with LiF/Al cathode shows an improvement of external quantum efficiency approximately by a factor of ten compared to that of Al cathode only device. Our observation shows that the energy barrier-height in cathode side is important in improving the efficiency of the organic light-emitting diodes.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.70.1-70.1
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• 2012

In-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy studies of SOFC cathode materials will be discussed in this presentation. The mixed conducting perovskites (ABO3) containing rare and alkaline earth metals on the A-site and a transition metal on the B-site are commonly used as cathodes for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). However, the details of the oxygen reduction reaction are still not clearly understood. The information about the type of adsorbed oxygen species and their concentration is important for a mechanistic understanding of the oxygen incorporation into these cathode materials. XPS has been widely used for the analysis of adsorbed species and surface structure. However, the conventional XPS experiments have the severe drawback to operate at room temperature and with the sample under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions, which is far from the relevant conditions of SOFC operation. The disadvantages of conventional XPS can be overcome to a large extent with a "high pressure" XPS setup installed at the BESSY II synchrotron. It allows sample depth profiling over 2 nm without sputtering by variation of the excitation energy, and most importantly measurements under a residual gas pressure in the mbar range. It is also well known that the catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction is very sensitive to their electrical conductivity and oxygen nonstoichiometry. Although the electrical conductivity of perovskite oxides has been intensively studied as a function of temperature or oxygen partial pressure (Po2), in-situ measurements of the conductivity of these materials in contact with the electrolyte as a SOFC configuration have little been reported. In order to measure the in-plane conductivity of an electrode film on the electrolyte, a substrate with high resistance is required for excluding the leakage current of the substrate. It is also hardly possible to measure the conductivity of cracked thin film by electrical methods. In this study, we report the electrical conductivity of perovskite $La_{0.6}Sr_{0.4}CoO_{3-{\delta}}$ (LSC) thin films on yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte quantitatively obtained by in-situ IR spectroscopy. This method enables a reliable measurement of the electronic conductivity of the electrodes as part of the SOFC configuration regardless of leakage current to the substrate and cracks in the film.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.519-524
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• 2019

Spherical $Li_3V_2(PO_4)_3$ (LVP) and carbon-coated LVP with a monoclinic phase for the cathode materials are synthesized by a hydrothermal method using $N_2H_4$ as the reducing agent and saccharose as the carbon source. The results show that single phase monoclinic LVP without impurity phases such as $LiV(P_2O_7)$, $Li(VO)(PO_4)$ and $Li_3(PO_4)$ can be obtained after calcination at $800^{\circ}C$ for 4 h. SEM and TEM images show that the particle sizes are $0.5{\sim}2{\mu}m$ and the thickness of the amorphous carbon layer is approximately 3~4 nm. CV curves for the test cell are recorded in the potential ranges of 3.0~4.3 V and 3.0~4.8 V at a scan rate of $0.01mV\;s^{-1}$ and at room temperature. At potentials between 3.0 and 4.8 V, the third $Li^+$ ions from the carbon-coated LVP can be completely extracted, at voltages close to 4.51 V. The carbon-coated LVP exhibits an initial specific discharge capacity of $118mAh\;g^{-1}$ in the voltage region of 3.0 to 4.3 V at a current rate of 0.2 C. The results indicate that the reducing agent and carbon source can affect the crystal structure and electrochemical properties of the cathode materials.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.663-667
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• 2003

The effects of paste materials on field emission properties in a carbon nanotube(CNT) cathode were investigated for high-efficient field emission displays. The major components in CNT paste for screen printing were a metallic Ag-paste, a dielectric glass-frit and CNT ink. The emission current from the cathode by an electron tunneling effect increased with an increase in the dielectric material fraction in the CNT paste, which is related to an increase of field enhancement factor in Fowler-Nordheim equation. The surface treatment used, after soft baking of the screen-printed CNT films, greatly affected the decrease in the turn-on field in CNT cathode and the uniformity of emission sites over the entire CNT film area.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.08a
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• pp.990-993
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• 2006

We fabricated top emission organic light emitting diode (TEOLED) with transparent metal cathode Barium and Silver bilayer. Very thin Ba/Ag bilayer was deposited on the organic layer by thermal evaporation. This cathode shows high transmittance over 70% in visible range. And the device with a Ba-Ag has a low turn on voltage and good electrical properties.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.212-216
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• 2009

The spatial distribution of the optogalvanic (OG) signal in argon at the 801.489 nm ($1s_5-2p_8$ transition at the metastable level in Paschen notation) was investigated in the radial direction of a hollow cathode discharge tube. The results of this experiment showed that the OG signal amplitude decreases in accordance with the following two conditions; first, the level of discharge current and second, the distance from the cathode dark space. These results can be quantified by analyzing the electron density profile along the discharge regions, which can directly influence the collisional ionization induced by electron impact.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.59 no.11
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• pp.2026-2031
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• 2010

The electrical characteristics of galvanic cell which is composed of the cathode electrode(graphite, carbon and copper) and the anode electrode(Zn and Mg) were investigated. For this research as electrolyte 2~12 wt% NaCl aqueous solution were used. At graphite cathode electrodes which use Zn and Mg with the anode electrode, the open circuit voltage was 1.3V most highly. The maximum output power increased as the electrolyte concentration increased, due to a increase in ion density. When Zn and Mg with the anode electrode, the maximum output power respectively was evaluated as 2.2mW and 5.5mW about the graphite cathode electrode in the NaCl 4wt%. The research results indicated that the output power of cell which is composed with graphite with the cathode and Mg with the anode was most excellent and the efficiency of the cell could be enhanced by increasing the electrolyte concentration.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2005.07a
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• pp.475-476
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• 2005

Efficient electron injection is essential to achieve bright and efficient organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). In spite of high work function of Al, it is a common cathode because of its stability. In this paper, to overcome the poor electron injection in OLEDs with Al cathode, OLEDs with various composite cathodes were fabricated and investigated using a conventional OLEDs structure of indium tin oxide ITO/NPB(40 nm)/$Alq_3$(50 nm)/Al. composite cathodes were composed of alkaline materials such as Ca and Li, Al deposition or codeposited with AI. We showed best performance at the device with composite cathode (LiF/Al).