• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

The importance of high capacity energy storage devices has recently emerged for stable power supply through renewable energy generation. From this point of view, the Na-air battery (NAB), which is a next-generation secondary battery, is receiving huge attention because it can realize a high capacity through abundant and inexpensive raw materials. In this study, activated carbon-based catalysts for hybrid type Na-air batteries were prepared and their characteristics were compared and analysed. In particular, from the viewpoint of resource recycling, activated carbon (Orange-C) was prepared using discarded orange peel, and performance was compared with Vulcan carbon, which is widely used. In addition, a Pt/C catalyst (homemade-Pt/C, HM-Pt/C) was synthesized using a modified polyol method to check whether the prepared activated carbon can be used as a supported catalyst, and a commercial Pt/C catalyst (Commercial Pt/C) and electrochemical performance were compared. The prepared Orange-C exhibited a typical H3 type BET isotherm, which is evidence that micropore and mesopore exist. In addition, in the case of HM-Pt/C, it was confirmed through TEM analysis that Pt particles were evenly distributed on the activated carbon supported catalyst. In particular, the HM-Pt/C-based NAB showed the smallest voltage gap (0.224V) and good voltage efficiency (92.34%) in the 1st galvanostatic charge-discharge test. In addition, the cycle performance test conducted for 20 cycles showed the most stable performance.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.88-96
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• 2024

Lithium metal has garnered attention as a promising anode active material thanks to its high specific capacity, energy density, and the lowest reduction potential. However, the formation of dendrites, dendritic crystals that arise during the charge and discharge process, has posed safety and lifetime stability challenges. To resolve this, our study has introduced a novel separator design. This separator features a composite coating of vapor-grown carbon fiber, a conductive material in nanofibers, and silver. We have meticulously studied the impact of this innovative separator on the electrochemical properties of the lithium metal anode, unveiling promising results. To confirm the synergistic effect of VGCF and Ag, a separator with no surface treatment and a separator with only VGCF coated on one side were prepared and compared with the Ag-VGCF-separator. In the case of the bare separator, the Li metal surface is covered with dendrites during the initial charge and discharge process. In contrast, both the VGCF-separator and the Ag-VGCF-separator show Li precipitation inside the conductive coating layer coated on the separator surface. Additionally, the Ag-VGCF-separator showed a more uniform precipitate shape than the VGCF-separator. As a result, the Ag-VGCF-separators show improved electrochemical properties compared to the bare separators and the VGCF-separators.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.861-867
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• 2019

$Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ is a promising next-generation anode material for lithium-ion batteries due to excellent cycle life, low irreversible capacity, and little volume expansion during charge-discharge process. However, it has poor charge capacity at high current density due to its low electrical conductivity. To improve this weakness, porous $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ was synthesized by sol-gel method with P123 as chelating agent. The physical characteristics of as-prepared sample was investigated by XRD, SEM, and BET analysis, and electrochemical properties were characterized by cycle performance test, cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ synthesized by 0.01mol ratio of P123/Ti showed most unified particle size, high specific surface area, and relatively high porosity. EIS analysis showed that depressed semicircle size was remarkably reduced, which suggested resistance value in electrode was decreased. Capacity in rate performance showed 178 mAh/g at 0.2C, 170 mAh/g at 0.5C, 110 mA/h at 5C, and 90 mAh/g at 10C. Capacity retention also showed 99% after rate performance.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2020

Electrochemical characterization and thermal stability were investigated for MgF₂ coated LiNi_0.8Co_0.15Al_0.05O₂ cathode. The ratio of MgF₂ was controlled by 0.5, 1, 3 wt%. Cyclic voltammetry, charge-discharge profiles, rate capability, cycle life were measured for electrochemical properties. DSC analysis was measured for thermal stability. The first discharge capacities of MgF₂ coated LiNi_0.8Co_0.15Al_0.05O₂ were decreased at 0.1C-rate compared to pristine LiNi_0.8Co_0.15Al_0.05O₂. But the rate capability and cycle life of MgF₂ coated LiNi_0.8Co_0.15Al_0.05O₂ were improved at 2C-rate. In DSC analysis result, the exothermic temperature of MgF₂ coated LiNi_0.8Co_0.15Al_0.05O₂ was increased and peak height was decreased.

• 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.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.444-448
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• 2016

Hollow silicon/carbon (H-Si/C) composites as anode materials for lithium ion batteries were investigated to overcome the large volume expansion. H-Si/C composites were prepared as follows; hollow $SiO_2\;(H-SiO_2)$ was prepared by adding $NaBH_4$ to $SiO_2$ synthesized using $st{\ddot{o}}ber$ method followed by magnesiothermic reduction and carbonization of phenolic resin. The H-Si/C composites were analyzed by XRD, SEM, BET and EDX. To improve the capacity and cycle performance, the electrochemical characteristics of H-Si/C composites synthesized with various $NaBH_4$ contents were investigated by charge/discharge, cycle, cyclic voltammetry and impedance tests. The coin cell using H-Si/C composite ($SiO_2:NaBH_4=1:1$ in weight) in the electrolyte of $LiPF_6$ dissolved in organic solvents (EC : DMC : EMC = 1 : 1 : 1 vol%) has better capacity (1459 mAh/g) than those of other composition coin cells. It is found that the coin cell ($SiO_2:NaBH_4=1:1$ in weight) has an excellent capacity retention from 2nd cycle to 40th cycle.

• 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 Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.219-225
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• 2000

The spinel structured $LiMn_2O_4$was obtained by two consecutive heat treatment on xerogel; the first heat treatment was at $150^{\circ}C$ and the second at $350^{\circ}C$ was obtained by sol-gel process using an aqueous solution of lithium hydroxide and manganese acetate. The synthesized $LiMn_2O_4$ by the sol-gel process showed a discharge capacity of 88~56 mAh/g after 15 cycles in Li/lM $LiClO_4$(in PC)/$LiMn_2O_4$at a current density of 0.25 mA/$\textrm{cm}^2$ and the voltage ranged 3.5 V to 4.3 V. For the second heat treatment above $350^{\circ}C$, $Mn_2O_3$was formed as a by-product during the synthesis of $LiMn_2O_4$. The heat treatment at $500^{\circ}C$, for example, showed a lower discharge capacity 81~47 mAh/g, after the 15 charge/discharge cycles. The lower capacity was due to the increment of $Mn^{3+}$ ion and this phenomenon was in agreement with the Jahn-Teller distortion.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2013

Graphite is a commercial anode material to have the specific capacity of 372 mAh/g and the true density of 2.2 g/ml. Many effort had been pouring to find out the better material than graphite. Good candidates are silicon, tin, etc. Zinc is also a plausible candidate to have the specific capacity of 412 mAh/g and the true density of 7.14 g/ml. In this study, the Zn based anode material including indium and nickel as minor additives was synthesised. In order to get the homogeneouly mixed Zn-In-Ni composite material, the sol-gel method was used. The anode prepared by Zn-In-Ni composite material has the $1^{st}$ specific capacity of 910 mAh/g. Through prolonged charge-discharge cycling, the specific capacities were reduced to 365 (at $31^{st}$ cycle) and 378 mAh/g (at $62^{th}$ cycle). The $1^{st}$ Ah efficiency was 45% and Ah efficiencies were exhibited at the prolonged cycle.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.689-692
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• 2005

In order to improve the electrochemical performances of Li-ion batteries when spinel $LiMn_2O_4$ is employed as a cathode active material, binary conductive agents were prepared using two different particle-sized carbons like Super P Black and $Vulcan^{(R)}$ XC-72R. The electrochemical performances of the $LiMn_2O_4$ cell system using binary conductive agents were evaluated in terms of specific charge and discharge capacities and cycle life. The cell with binary conductive agent in the 3:7 weight ratios of Super P Black and $Vulcan^{(R)}$ XC-72R showed better electrochemical performances due to the proper combination of ionic diffusion rate and electric contact.