• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.565-571
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• 2014

Nitrogen-doped ZnO nanoparticle-carbon nanofiber composites were prepared using electrospinning. As the relative amounts of N-doped ZnO nanoparticles in the composites were controlled to levels of 3.4, 9.6, and 13.8 wt%, the morphological, structural, and chemical properties of the composites were characterized by means of field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In particular, the carbon nanofiber composites containing 13.8 wt% N-doped ZnO nanoparticles exhibited superior catalytic properties, making them suitable for use as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This result can be attributed to the enhanced surface roughness of the composites, which offers sites for $I_3{^-}$ ion reductions and the formation of Zn3N2 phases that facilitate electron transfer. Therefore, DSSCs fabricated with 13.8 wt% N-doped ZnO nanoparticle-carbon nanofiber composites showed high current density ($16.3mA/cm^2$), high fill factor (57.8%), and excellent power-conversion efficiency (6.69%); at the same time, these DSSCs displayed power-conversion efficiency almost identical to that of DSSCs fabricated with a pure Pt counter electrode (6.57%).

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2016

A new nano-composite carbon ink for the development of disposable dopamine (DA) biosensors based on screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) is introduced. The method developed uses SPCEs coupled with a tyrosinase modified nano-composite carbon ink. The ink was prepared by an “in-house” procedure with reduced graphene oxide (rGO), Pt nanoparticles (PtNP), and carbon materials such as carbon black and graphite. The rGO-PtNP carbon composite ink was used to print the working electrodes of the SPCEs and the reference counter electrodes were printed by using a commercial Ag/AgCl ink. After the construction of nano-composite SPCEs, tyrosinase was immobilized onto the working electrodes by using a biocompatible matrix, chitosan. The composite of nano-materials was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and the performance characteristics of the sensors were evaluated by using voltammetric and amperometric techniques. The cyclic voltammetry results indicated that the sensors prepared with the rGO-PtNP-carbon composite ink revealed a significant improvement in electro-catalytic activity to DA compared with the results obtained from bare or only PtNP embedded carbon inks. Optimum experimental parameters such as pH and operating potential were evaluated and calibration curves for dopamine were constructed with the results obtained from a series of amperometric detections at −0.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The limit of detection was found to be 14 nM in a linear range of 10 nM to 100 µM of DA, and the sensor’s sensitivity was calculated to be 0.4 µAµM⁻¹cm⁻².

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.308-313
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• 2014

The effect of electrochemical characteristics of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) upon employing multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) on both working electrode and counter electrode were examined with using EIS, J-V curves and UV-Vis absorption spectrometry. When 0.1 wt% of MWCNT was employed in the $TiO_2$-MWCNT composit on working electrode, the energy conversion efficiency increased about 12.5% compared to the $TiO_2$ only working electrode. The higher light conversion efficiency may attribut to the high electrical conductivity of MWCNT in $TiO_2$-MWCNT composite which improves the electron transport in the working electrode. However, higher amount of MWCNT than 0.1 wt% in the $TiO_2$-MWCNT composite decreases the light conversion efficiency, which is mainly ascribed to the decreased transmittance of light by MWCNT and to the decreased adsorption of dye onto $TiO_2$. The MWCNT employed counter electrode exhibited much lower light conversion efficiency of DSSC than the Pt-counter electrode, while the MWCNT-Pt counter electrode showed similar in light conversion efficiency to that of Pt-counter electrode.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.445-447
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• 2008

본 연구에서는 다중벽 탄소나노튜브용 표면개질제를 리빙라디칼중합법을 통하여 제조하고, 이를 이용하여 표면개질되고 분산제어된 다중벽탄소나노튜브를 제조하고 염료감응형 태양전지의 대전극 재료로 사용하였다. 우선 리빙라디칼중합법 중 nitroxide mediated polymerization (NMP) 기술을 이용하여 poly(maleic anhydride-co-p-acetoxystyrene)-block-poly(p-acetoxystyrene)를 합성하고, 공중합체중의 maleic anhydride기에 이미드화 반응을 통하여 pyrene기를 도입하였다. 공중합체 중의 p-acetoxystyrene 반복단위들은 가수분해 반응을 통하여 p-hydroxystyrene 반복단위로 변환하였으며, 제조된 공중합체의 구조와 열 특성 등을 GPC, GC, $^1H$-NMR, TGA을 통하여 분석하였다. 제조된 공중합체를 이용하여 다중벽 탄소나노튜브의 표면을 polymer wrapping법으로 처리하였고, 표면개질된 탄소나노튜브의 분산성을 다양한 용매에서 비교분석하였다. 표면이 개질되고 페이스트 내에의 분산성이 향상된 다중벽탄소나노튜브를 염료감응태양전지의 대전극 제조에 응용하였으며, 표면처리 및 분산제어 여부에 따른 제작 특성 및 동작특성 등을 평가하였다.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.910-914
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• 2007

Recently, a study on the energy conversion efficiency and up sizing' technology of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) which is focused in considering a new alternative solar cell has been executed. But consideration for the cell characteristics about an internal electronic flow on a large-scaled DSC has not been carried out yet. In this study, we have chosen a solar cell width as a variable of a large-scaled DSCs and confirmed electric characteristics of an individual cell. First, Pt counter electrode surface of DSC is deposited by RF sputtering methode and the electrochemical properties of Pt electrodes was investigated by cyclic -voltammetry. With the Pt electrode, we fabricated DSC samples of different width. As a result, the higher the internal resistance of DSC becomes, the wider the width gets. Internal resistance makes it difficult to collect photoelectron generated from dye. Ultimately up sizing DSC causes the increase of internal resistance and then has a bad effect on the cell characteristics.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.687-690
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• 2004

Fabrication and characterization of dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cells(DSSC) consisting of spray-coated TiO2 electrode, an electrolyte containing I-/I3- redox couple, and a Pt-coated counter electrode carried out, using mainly FE-SEM and solar simulator. Also, effect of rapid thermal annealing(RTA) temperatue on I-V curves of DSSCS consisting of approximately 10m thickness and $5{\times}5mm2$ active area. No significant difference in the apparent size of TiO2 clusters was observed with increasing RTA temperature. Also, an open circuit voltage(Voc) of approximately 0.70V and a short-circuit photocurrent(Jsc) of 8 to 12mA/cm2 were observed in the TiO2 solar cell. With increasing RTA temperature upto 550oC, photocurrent density of dye-sensitized solar cells was enhanced, leading to enhancing the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells having Pt-electroplated counter electrode.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 2017

Dinickel-silicide $(Ni_2Si)/glass$ was employed as a counter electrode for a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) device. $Ni_2Si$ was formed by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) at $700^{\circ}C$ for 15 seconds of a 50 nm-Ni/50 nm-Si/glass structure. For comparison, $Ni_2Si$ on quartz was also prepared through conventional electric furnace annealing (CEA) at $800^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes. XRD, XPS, and EDS line scanning of TEM were used to confirm the formation of $Ni_2Si$. TEM and CV were employed to confirm the microstructure and catalytic activity. Photovoltaic properties were examined using a solar simulator and potentiostat. XRD, XPS, and EDS line scanning results showed that both CEA and RTA successfully led to tne formation of nano $thick-Ni_2Si$ phase. The catalytic activity of $CEA-Ni_2Si$ and $RTA-Ni_2Si$ with respect to Pt were 68 % and 56 %. Energy conversion efficiencies (ECEs) of DSSCs with $CEA-Ni_2Si$ and $RTA-Ni_2Si$catalysts were 3.66 % and 3.16 %, respectively. Our results imply that nano-thick $Ni_2Si$ may be used to replace Pt as a reduction catalytic layer for a DSSCs. Moreover, we show that nano-thick $Ni_2Si$ can be made available on a low-cost glass substrate via the RTA process.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.159-163
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• 2012

A TCO-less ruthenium (Ru) catalytic layer on glass substrate instead of conventional Ru/TCO/ glass substrate was assessed as counter electrode (CE) material in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by examining the effect of the Ru thickness on the DSSC performance. Ru films with different thicknesses (34, 46, 69, and 90 nm) were deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on glass substrates to replace both existing catalyst and electrode layer. In order to make our comparison, we also prepared an Ru catalytic layer by a similar method on FTO/glass substrate. Finally, we prepared the $0.45cm^2$ DSSC device the properties of the DSSCs were examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV), impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and current-voltage (I-V) method. CV measurements revealed an increase in catalytic activity with increasing film thickness. The charge transfer resistance at the interface between the electrolyte and Rudecreased with increasing Ru thickness. I-V results showed that the energy conversion efficiency increased up to 1.96%. Our results imply that TCO-less Ru/glass might perform as both catalyst and electrode layer when it is used in counter electrodes in DSSCs.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.502-507
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• 2011

A voltammetric assay of phenol ions was investigated using three electrode systems of graphite pencil working, reference and counter electrodes. Under optimum analytical parameters, square wave stripping working ranges were attained at a mili range of 10~80 mg/L and a micro range of 20~90 ug/L using seawater electrolyte. The developed sensor was applied to tap water and the human body system of a smoker. It was found that the methods can be applied to in vivo fluid or medicinal diagnosis.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.08a
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• pp.917-920
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• 2006

In an attempt to reduce processing cost and to improve resolution of PDPs, micro mold transfer processing route for barrier ribs of plasma display panel was developed. In this study, the parameters that may cause defects during the process were identified, which include the shrinkage during UV curing process, stress due to evaporation of organic components, and sintering shrinkage. Considering such parameters, UV curable paste was developed and barrier ribs of PDPs were successfully processed via the process. In addition, the process was successfully applied for the processing of barrier ribs with embedded counter electrodes.