• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.62-62
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• 2013

Magnesium alloys exhibit many attractive properties such as low density, high strength/weight ratio, high thermal conductivity, very good electromagnetic features and good recyclability. However, most commercial magnesium alloys require protective coatings because of their poor corrosion resistance. Attempts have been made to improve the corrosion resistance of the Mg alloys by surface treatments, such as chemical conversion coatings, anodizing, plating and metal coatings. Among them, chemical conversion coatings are regarded as one of the most effective and cheapest ways to prevent corrosion of Mg alloys. In this study, the effects of various $Zn^{2+}$ concentrations and pH levels on the formation of zinc phosphate conversion coatings (ZPCCs) on AZ31 magnesium alloy were investigated, and corrosion resistances of the coated samples were evaluated by immersion test and potentiodynamic polarization experiment. The corrosion resistance of the coated AZ31 samples was found to increase with increasing $Zn^{2+}$ concentration and the lowest corrosion rate was obtained for the samples coated at pH of 3.07, independent of $Zn^{2+}$ concentration. The best coatings on AZ31 were obtained at [$Zn^{2+}$] = 0.068 M and pH 3.07. At the conditions of [$Zn^{2+}$] = 0.068 M and pH 3.07, the formation and growth processes of ZPCCs on AZ31 Mg alloy are divided into four stages: formation of a dense layer, precipitation of fine crystals on the dense layer, growths of the inner and outer layers, and reorganization of outer crystalline layer.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.73-79
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• 2010

A chromium-free conversion coating for AZ31 magnesium alloy has been obtained by using a permanganatephosphate solution, which has been developed with acid pickling. Examination have been carried out on the conversion coatings for morphology, composition and corrosion resistance. The morphology of the conversion-coated layer was observed using optical microscope and SEM. It was shown that the conversion coatings are relatively uniform and continuous, with thickness 1.8 to 2.7 ${\mu}m$. The chemical composition of conversion coating was mainly consisted of Mg, O, P, K, Al and Mn by EDS analysis. It was found that the corrosion resistance of the AZ31 magnesium alloy has been improved by the permanganate-phosphate conversion treatment from electrochemical polarization.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.110-115
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• 2016

We prepared a working electrode (WE) coated with 0 ~ 50 nm-thick indium gallium zinc oxide(IGZO) by using RF sputtering to improve the energy conversion efficiency (ECE) of a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to analyze the microstructure and composition of the IGZO layer. UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy was used to determine the transparency of the WE with IGZO layers. A solar simulator and a potentiostat were used to confirm the photovoltaic properties of the DSSC with IGZO layer. From the results of the microstructural analysis, we were able to confirm the successful deposition of an amorphous IGZO layer with the expected thickness and composition. From the UV-VIS-NIR analysis, we were able to verify that the transparency decreased when the thickness of IGZO increased, while the transparency was over 90% for all thicknesses. The photovoltaic results show that the ECE became 4.30% with the IGZO layer compared to 3.93% without the IGZO layer. As the results show that electron mobility increased when an IGZO layer was coated on the $TiO_2$ layer, it is confirmed that the ECE of a DSSC can be enhanced by employing an appropriate thickness of IGZO on the $TiO_2$ layer.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.294-298
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• 2015

Blocking layers with nano carbon blacks (NCBs) were prepared by adding 0.0 ~ 0.5 wt% NCBs to the $TiO_2$ blocking layer. Then, dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated with a $0.45cm^2$ active area. TEM and micro-Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the microstructure and phases of the NCBs, respectively. Optical microscopy and AFM were used to analyze the microstructure of the $TiO_2$ blocking layer with NCBs. UV-VIS-NIS spectroscopy was used to determine the band gap of the $TiO_2$ blocking layer with NCBs. A solar simulator and potentiostat were used to determine the photovoltaic properties and impedance of DSSCs with NCBs. The energy conversion efficiency (ECE) increased from 3.53 to 6.20 % when the NCB content increased from 0.0 to 0.3 wt%. This indicates that the effective surface area and electron mobility increased in the $TiO_2$ blocking layer with NCBs. However, the ECE decreased when the NCB content was increased to over 0.4 wt%. This change occurred because the effective electron transport area decreased with the addition of excessive NCBs to the $TiO_2$ blocking layer. The results of this study suggest that the ECE of DSSCs can be enhanced by adding the appropriate amount of NCBs to the $TiO_2$ blocking layer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.408.2-409
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• 2016

Theoretically, the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are high efficiency solar cells. However DSSCs have low power conversion efficiency (PCE) than silicon based solar cells. In this study, we use the phosphor materials, such as $Y_2O_3:Eu$ (Red), $Zn_2SiO_4:Mn$ (Green), $BaMgAl_{14}O_{23}:Eu$ (Blue), to enhance the PCE of DSSCs. Three phosphors were prepared and used as an effective scattering layer on the transparent $TiO_2$ with doctor blade method. We confirmed that the three scattering layers improve the PCE and Jsc due to the light harvesting enhancement via increased the scattering and absorbance in visible range. Under the sun illumination AM 1.5 conditions, the PCE of the mesoporous $TiO_2$ based DSSCs is 5.18 %. The PCE of the DSSCs with Y2O3:Eu, $Zn_2SiO_4:Mn$ and $BaMgAl_{14}O_{23}:Eu$ as scattering layer were enhanced to 5.66 %, 5.72% and 5.82%, respectably. In order to compare the optical properties change, DSSCs were measured by EQE, reflectance and PCE. At the same time, FE-SEM and XRD were used to confirm the structural changes of each layer.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.253-257
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• 2016

We added 0 ~ 5 wt% $YBO_3:Eu^{3+}$ nano powders in a scattering layer of a working electrode to improve the energy conversion efficiency (ECE) of a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). FESEM and XRD were used to characterize the microstructure and phase. PL and micro Raman were used to determine the fluorescence and the composition of $YBO_3:Eu^{3+}$ phosphor. A solar simulator and a potentiostat were used to confirm the photovoltaic properties of the DSSC with $YBO_3:Eu^{3+}$. From the results of the microstructure and phase of the fabricated $YBO_3:Eu^{3+}$ nano powders, we identified $YBO_3:Eu^{3+}$ having particle size less than 100 nm. Based on the microstructure and micro Raman results, we confirmed the existence of $YBO_3:Eu^{3+}$ in the scattering layer and found that it was dispersed uniformly. Through photovoltaic properties results, the maximum ECE was shown to be 5.20%, which can be compared to the value of 5.00% without $YBO_3:Eu^{3+}$. As these results are derived from conversion of light in the UV range into visible light by employing $YBO_3:Eu^{3+}$ in the scattering layer, these indicate that the ECE of a DSSC can be enhanced by employing an appropriate amount of $YBO_3:Eu^{3+}$.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2018

The high rate of corrosion of magnesium alloys makes it limited for industrial applications. Therefore, surface treatment is required to enhance their corrosion resistance. In our study, a chemical conversion coating for protecting the corrosion of the magnesium alloy, AZ31B, was prepared by using a phosphate-permanganate solution. The chemical conversion coating had a limited protection ability due to defects arising from cracks and pores in the coating layer. The sol-gel coating was prepared by using trimethoxymethylsilane (MTMS) and 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) as precursors, and aluminum acetyl acetonate as a ring opening agent. The corrosion protection properties of sol-gel and conversion coatings in 0.35wt% NaCl solution were measured by the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization test. The EIS results indicated that the resistance of the chemical conversion coating with the sol-gel coating was significantly improved through the sol-gel sealed phosphate-permanganate conversion coating. The results of the potentiodynamic polarization test revealed that the sol-gel coating decreased the corrosion current density ($I_{corr}$). The SEM image showed that the sol-gel coating sealed conversion coating and improved corrosion protection.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.190-195
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• 2011

To investigate the photon-trapping effect and scattering layer effect of $TiO_2$ multi-layer in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and the degree of recombination of electrons at the electrode treated $TiCl_4$, we formed electrodes of different conditions and obtained the most optimal electrode conditions. To estimate characteristics of the cell, IV curve, UV-Vis spectrophotometer, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) were measured. As a result, we confirmed that the multi-layer's efficiency was higher than that of monolayer in the IV curve and the performance of $TiCl_4$ treated electrode was increased according to decreasing the impedance of EIS. Among several conditions, the efficiency of the cell with scattering layer is higher than that of a layer with the base electrode about 19%. Because the light scattering layer enhances the efficiency of the transmission wavelength and has long electron transfer path. Therefore, the value of the short circuit current increases approximately 10% and IPCE in the maximum peak also increases about 12%.

• 한국태양에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2012.03a
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• pp.267-273
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• 2012

Solar reforming of methane with CO2 was successfully tested with a direct irradiated absorber on a parabolic dish capable of 5kWth solar power. And the new type of double-layer absorber-the front layer, porous metal foam which absorbs the radiation and transfers the heat from material to gas, and the back layer, catalytically-activated metal foam-was prepared, and its activity was tested by using electric furnace. Ni was applied as the active metal on the gamma-Al2O3 coated Ni metal foam for the preparation of the catalytically-activated metal foam layer. Compared to conventional direct irradiation of the catalytically activated metal foam absorber, this new type of double layer absorber is found to exhibit a superior reaction and thermal storage performance at the fluctuating incident solar radiation. In addition, unlike direct irradiation of the foam absorber, double layer absorber has better thermal resistance, which prevents the emergence of cracks caused by mechanical or thermal shock. The total solar power absorbed reached up to 3.25kW and the maximum CH4 conversion was almost 59%.

• 한국태양에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2012.03a
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• pp.243-247
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• 2012

The paper focuses on an anti-reflection (AR) coating deposited by PECVD in silicon solar cell fabrication. AR coating is effective to reduce the reflection of the light on the silicon wafer surface and then increase substantially the solar cell conversion efficiency. In this work, we carried out experiments to optimize double AR coating layer with silicon nitride and silicon oxide for the silicon solar cells. The p-type mono crystalline silicon wafers with $156{\times}156mm^2$ area, 0.5-3 ${\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ resistivity, and $200{\mu}m$ thickness were used. All wafers were textured in KOH solution, doped with $POCl_3$ and removed PSG before ARC process. The optimized thickness of each ARC layer was calculated by theoretical equation. For the double layer of AR coating, silicon nitride layer was deposited first using $SiH_4$ and $NH_3$, and then silicon oxide using $SiH_4$ and $N_2O$. As a result, reflectance of $SiO_2/SiN_x$ layer was lower than single $SiN_x$ and then it resulted in increase of short-circuit current and conversion efficiency. It indicates that the double AR coating layer is necessary to obtain the high efficiency solar cell with PECVD already used in commercial line.