• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.694-694
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• 2013

With the growing need of more effective energy harvesting, solar energy has been sought as one of the prominent candidates among the eco-friendly methods. Although many types of solar cells have been developed, the electronic conversion efficiency is limited by the material's physical properties: solar cells can only harvest solar energy from limited range in solar energy spectrum. To overcome this physical limit, we approached by using the down conversion effect, transforming the high energy photons to low energy photons, to the range the designated solar cell can convert to electronic energy. In our study, we have fabricated GaAs single junction solar cells and applied CdSe quantum dots for down-conversion. We examine the effects of such application on the solar cell efficiancy, fill-factor, JSC, VOC, etc.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.229-230
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• 2012

Platinum (Pt) has been commonly used as a counter electrode material in dye-sensitized solar cells, because it has high catalytic activity and electric conductivity as well as chemical inertness with iodide electrolyte. However, Pt is too expensive to be commercialized. Therefore, in the present study, carbon black counter electrode with Pt and carbon nano tube (CNT) was investigated. The power conversion efficiency with Pt added carbon black electrode was lower than hat of pure Pt electrode which was 6.47 %. By adding 3 wt% Pt to the carbon black counter electrode, the power conversion efficiency was maximized at 5.88 %. On them, additional adding of 1 wt % CNT, the power conversion efficiency (${\eta}$)wasincreasedupto6.21%. The reason of power conversion efficiency improvement with a proper amount of Pt and CNT was examined by comparing the impedance properties measured using EIS.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.301-306
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• 2017

Wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) process was evaluated to slice Silicon (Si) for various applications. Specifically, various Si workpieces with various resistances, such as single and multi crystalline Si bricks and wafers were used. As conventional slicing processes, such as slurry-on or diamond-on wire slicing, are based on mechanical abrasions between Si and abrasive, there is a limitation to decrease the wafer thickness as well as kerf-loss. Especially, when the wafer thickness is less than $150{\mu}m$, wafer breakage increases dramatically during the slicing process. Single crystalline P-type Si bricks and wafers were successively sliced with considerable slicing speed regardless of its growth direction. Also, typical defects, such as microcracks, craters, microholes, and debris, were introduced when Si was sliced by electrical discharge. Also, it was found that defect type is also dependent on resistance of Si. Consequently, this study confirmed the feasibility of slicing single crystalline Si by WEDM.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.323-328
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• 2004

Down-conversion of Eu$^{3+}$ doped LiGdF$_4$ (LGF) for increasing the cell efficiency on dye-sensitized Ti $O_2$ solar cells has been studied. The dye sensitized solar cell (DSC) consisting of mesoporous Ti $O_2$ electrode deposited on transparent substrate, an electrolyte containing I$^{[-10]}$ /I$_3$$^{[-10]}$ redox couple, and Pt counter electrode is a promising alternative to the inorganic solar cell. The structure of DSC is basically a sandwich type, viz., FTO glass/Ru-red dye-absorbed Ti $O_2$/iodine electrolyte/sputtered Pt/FTO glass. The cell without down converter had open circuit potential of approximately 0.66 Volt, the short circuit photocurrent density of 1.632 mA/$\textrm{cm}^2$, and fill factor of about 50 ％ at the excitation wavelength of 550 nm. In addition, 5.6 mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ incident light intensity beam was used as a light source. From this result, the calculated monochromatic efficiency at the wavelength of 550 nm of this cell was about 9.62 ％. The incident photon to current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of N3 used as a dye in this work is about 80 ％ at around 590 nm and 610 nm, which is the emission spectrum of Eu$^{3+}$ doped LGF, results in efficiency increasing of DSC.C.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.78-85
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• 2019

The effect of various lithium sources such as LiCl, LiOH, and Li-metal on the microstructure and electrochemical properties of granulated $SiO_x$ powders were investigated. Various lithium sources were metallurgically added for a passive pre-lithiation of $SiO_x$ to improve its low initial coulombic efficiency. In spite of using the same amount of Li in various sources, as well as the same process conditions, different lithium silicates were obtained. Moreover, irreversible phases were formed without reduction of $SiO_x$, which might be from additional oxygen incorporation during the process. Accordingly, there were no noticeable electrochemical enhancements. Nevertheless, the $Li_4SiO_4$ phase changes the initial electrochemical reaction, and consequently the relationship between the microstructure and electrochemical properties of metallurgically pre-lithiated $SiO_x$ could provide a guideline for the optimization of the performance of lithium ion batteries.

• Clean Technology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.250-257
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• 2016

As an attempt to replacing petroleum-based chemicals with bio-based ones, synthesis of furfural from biomass-derived xylose attracts much attention in recent days. Conventionally, furfural from xylose has been produced via the utilization of highly corrosive, toxic, and environmentally unfriendly mineral acids such as sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid. In this study, microwave-assisted biphasic reaction process in the presence of novel bio-based heterogeneous acid catalysts was developed for the eco-benign and effective synthesis of furfural from xylose. The microwave was irradiated for reaction acceleration and a biphasic system consisting of $H_2O$ : MIBK (1 : 2) was designed for continuous extraction of furfural into the organic phase in order to reduce the undesired side products formed by decomposition/condensation/oligomerization in the acidic aqueous phase. Moreover, sulfonated amorphous carbonaceous materials were prepared from wood powder, the most abundant lignocellulosic biomass. The prepared catalysts were characterized by FT-IR, XPS, BET, elemental analysis and they were used as bio-based heterogeneous acid catalysts for the dehydration of xylose into furfural more effectively. For further optimization, the effect of temperature, reaction time, water/organic solvent ratio, and substrate/catalyst ratio on the xylose conversion and furfural yield were investigated and 100% conversion of xylose and 74% yield of furfural was achieved within 5 h at $180^{\circ}C$. The bio-based heterogeneous acid catalysts could be used three times without any significant loss of activity. This greener protocol provides highly selective conversion of xylose to furfural as well as facile isolation of product and bio-based heterogeneous acid catalysts can alternate the environmentally-burdened mineral acids.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.427-431
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• 2011

Hybrid $SiO_2-TiO_2$ photoelectrode with different type of layers was investigated in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). Use of a thin layer of nanocrystalline $TiO_2$ would imply reduction in the amount of dye coverage, however, lower amount of dye in the thin films would imply fewer electron generation upon illumination. So, thus, it becomes necessary to include a $SiO_2-TiO_2$ layer for increase light harvesting effect such that the lower photon conversion due to thin layer could be compensated. In this paper reports the use of transparent high surface area $TiO_2$ layer and an additional $SiO_2-TiO_2$ layer, thus ensuring adequate light harvesting in these devices. The best solar conversion efficiency 6.6% under AM 1.5 was attained with a multi-layer structure using $TiO_2$ layer/$SiO_2-TiO_2$ layer/$TiO_2$ layer for the light harvesting and this had resulted to about 44% increase in photocurrent density of dye-sensitized solar cells.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 2012

We use UV(ultraviolet)-$O_3$ treatment to increase the surface area and porosity of $TiO_2$ films in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). After the UV-$O_3$ treatment, surface area and porosity of the $TiO_2$ films were increased, the increased porosity lead to amount of dye loading and solar conversion efficiency was improved. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images clearly showed that the nanocrystalline porosity of films were increased by UV-$O_3$ treatment. The Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller surface area of the $TiO_2$ films were increased from $0.71cm^2/g$ to $1.31cm^2/g$ by using UV-$O_3$ treatment for 20 min. Also, UV-$O_3$ treatment of $TiO_2$ films significantly enhanced their solar conversion efficiency. The efficiency of the films without treatment was 4.9%, and was increased to 5.6% by UV-$O_3$ treatment for 20 min. Therefore the process enhanced the solar conversion efficiency of DSSCs, and can be used to develop high sensitivity DSSCs.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 2002

Both UV Photolysis and Phtocatalytic Oxidation Processing are an emerging technology for the abatemant of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in atmospheric -pressure air streams. However, each process has some drawbacks of their own. The former is little known as an application for air pollution treatment, so it has been a rare choice in the field. Therefore we have to do more experiment and study for its application for treatment of VOCs. Although the latter has been used in the industrial fields, it still has a difficulty in decomposing high concentrations of VOCs. To solute these problems, we have been studying simultaneous application of those two technologies. We have studied the effects of background gas composition and gas temperature on the decomposition chemistry. It has shown that concentration of TCE and B.T.X., diameter of reactor, and wavelength of lamp have effects on decomposition efficiency. When using Photolysis Process only, the rates of fractional conversion of each material are found at TCE 79%, Benzene 65%, Toluene 68%, Xylene 76%. In case of Photocatalytic Oxidation Process only, the rates of fractional conversion decreased drastically above 30 ppm. When there two methods were combined, the rates of fractional conversion of each material are enhanced such as TCE 93%, Benzene 75%, Toluene 81%, Xylene 90%. Therefore, we conclude that the combination of Photolysis-Photocatalytic Oxidation process is more efficient than each individual process.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.317-323
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• 2006

Electric conductive material should be homogeneously mixed with sulfur in sulfur electrode fabrication of lithium/sulfur battery, because sulfur is electric insulator. In this paper electrochemical properties of Li/S battery was studied with various compositions of sulfur electrodes. When content of sulfur changed from 40 wt.% to 80 wt.%, the 60 wt.% sulfur electrode showed the maximum capacity of 1489 mAh/g-sulfur. Electrochemical properties of Li/S battery using 60 wt.% sulfur was also investigated with various carbon contents. The discharge capacity changed as a function of carbon contents. The optimum composition was 25 wt.% carbon for 60 wt.% sulfur electrode.