• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.2-8
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• 2012

In this study, in order to develop renewable bio-based nanocomposites, multi-functional nanocomposites from soybean resins (AESO, MAESO) and nanoclay were prepared. Photoelectrodes for environmental friendly dye-sensitized solar cell using soybean resin were also prepared. Organo-modified nanoclay was directly dispersed in functionalized soybean resins after mixing with styrene as a comonomer and radical initiator was used to copolymerize the nanocomposites. The observed morphology was a mixture of intercalated/exfoliated structure and the physical properties were improved by adding nanoclay. A nanocomposite using MAESO, which added COOH functional group to the soybean resin, showed better dispersibility than AESO composites. Ultrasonic treatment of the nanocomposites also improved the physical properties. Nanoporous $TiO_2$ photoelectrode was also prepared using soybean resins as a binder, after acid-treatment of $TiO_2$ surface using nitric acid. Dye-sensitized solar cells were prepared after adsorbing dye molecules on it. The $TiO_2$ photoelectrode prepared using soybean binder had high current density because of increased surface area by improved dispersibility. The photoelectrochemical properties and conversion efficiency of the solar cell were significantly improved using the soybean binder.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.75.1-75.1
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• 2010

Dye sensitized solar cells(DSSCs) have been extensively studied due to their various advantages such as low production cost, colorful design, and eco-friendly process. Long optical path length is one of the most effective method to improve light harvest efficiency for DSSCs. Multi-layered $TiO_2$ nano-structured film with scattering layer has been studied to generate scattering effect by many researchers. It was expected that the difference of refractive index between $TiO_2$ particles and glass frit would generate the light scattering effect and provide the long optical path length. Therefore, to enhance the scattering effect, the frits of $Bi_2O_3-B_2O_3$-ZnO glass system that has the different refractive index were added to $TiO_2$ pastes in this study. First of all, the absorbance and haze factor of $TiO_2$ electrode with dyes and the refractive index of glass frit and $TiO_2$ were measured, respectively. To study the effect of frits, the efficiencies of DSSCs added glass frit and without glass frit were compared. Our results showed slightly higher efficiency with the different absorbance and haze factor of $TiO_2$ and glass frit. It was considered that the light scattering effect would be improved with adding frits to $TiO_2$ paste. Our preliminary studies will be useful for increasing efficiency of DSSCs.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2010

Using poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as a polymer host, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as a plasticizer, potassium iodide and iodine as sources of $I^-/{I_3}^-$ PEO-PEG-KI/$I_2$ polymer gel electrolytes were prepared. Based on the polymer gel electrolytes, solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell(DSSC)s were fabricated. The content of PEG in the electrolyte was changed from 0 to 85%. The electrolyte showed self-supporting form through whole range of the PEG content. As the PEG content increased, the ionic conductivity and ${I_3}^-$ diffusivity increased and the light-to electrical energy conversion efficiency increased under irradiation of 100 $mWcm^{-2}$ simulated sunlight.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.51-51
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• 2011

1991년 스위스연방기술원(EPFL) 화학과 교수 Michae Gratzel이 발명한 염료감응 태양전지 (DSSC)는 값싼 원료와 저가공비 면에서 가장 경쟁력 있는 기술의 하나로 큰 기대를 받고 있다. 염료감응 태양전지의 특징은 전극기판의 재료나 염료를 바꿈으로서 형상이나 색체에 다양성을 갖도록 할 수 있다. 일반적인 염료감응 태양전지의 원리는 태양광이 염료 분자에 흡수, 염료는 여기상태가 되어 전자를 n형 반도체인 $TiO_2$의 전도대로 흘리고, 전자는 TCO전극으로 이동하여 외부 부하에 전기 에너지를 전달하고 상대전극으로 이동, 염료는 $TiO_2$에 전달한 전자 수만큼 전해질로부터 전자를 공급 받아 원래의 상태로 돌아가게 되는 원리에 의하여 발전된다. 전해질로는 $I^-/I_3^-$와 같이 산화-환원 종으로 구성되어 있으며, $I^-$ 이온의 source로는 LiI, NaI,이미다졸리움 요오드 등이 사용되며, $I_3^-$는 이온은 $I_2$를 용매에 녹여 생성시킨다. 전해질 매질은 acetonitrile과 같은 액체 또는 PVdF와 같은 고분자가 사용될 수 있다. 액체형의 경우 산화-환원 이온 종이 매질 내에서 신속하게 움직여 염료의 재생을 원활하게 도와주기 때문에 높은 에너지 변환 효율이 가능하지만, 전극 간의 접합이 완벽하지 못할 경우 누액의 문제를 가지고 있다. 반면, 고분자를 매질로 채택할 경우에는 누액의 염료는 없지만 산화-환원 종의 움직임이 둔화되어 에너지 변환 효율에 나쁜 영향을 줄 수 있다. 따라서 고분자 전해질을 사용할 경우에는 산화-환원 이온 종이 매질 내에서 신속하게 전달 될 수 있도록 설계하는 것이 필요하다. 본 연구는 염료감응 태양전지에서 가장 큰 문제가 되고 있는 고체 전해질의 산화-환원 이온 종이 매질 내에서 신속하게 전달 될 수 있도록 dimethylsulfoxide solvent 에 녹말 일정량을 녹여 Starch-$I_2$ complex 를 시켜주므로, 광 전압{\cdot}{\cdot}$전가 증가되었으며, 전지의 안정성이 향상되었다.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.57.2-57.2
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• 2011

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) have recently been developed as a cost-effective photovoltaic system due to their low-cost materials and facile processing. The production of DSSC involves chemical and thermal processes but no vacuum is involved. Therefore, DSSC can be fabricated without using expensive equipment. The use of dyes and nanocrystalline $TiO_2$ is one of the most promising approaches to realize both high performance and low cost. The efficiency of the DSSC changes consequently in the particle size, morphology, crystallization and surface state of the $TiO_2$. Nanocrystalline $TiO_2$ materials have been widely used as a photo catalyst and an electron collector in DSSC. Front electrode in DSSC are required to have an extremely high porosity and surface area such that the dyes can be sufficiently adsorbed and be electronically interconnected, resulting in the efficient generation of photocurrent within cells. In this study, DSSC were fabricated by an screen printing for the $TiO_2$ thin film. $TiO_2$ nanoparticles characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) and scanning auger microscopy (SAM) and zeta potential and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS).In addition, DSSC module was modeled and simulated using the SILVACO TCAD software program. Improve the efficiency of DSSC, the effect of $TiO_2$ thin film thickness and $TiO_2$ nanoparticle size was investigated by SILVACO TCAD software program.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.50-53
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• 2009

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were synthesized on different substrates (bare Si and $SiO_2$/Si substrate) to investigate dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications as counter electrode materials. The synthesis of MWNTs samples used identical conditions of a Fe catalyst created by thermal chemical vapor deposition at $900^{\circ}C$. It was found that the diameter of the MWNTs on the Si substrate sample is approximately $5{\sim}10nm$ larger than that of a $SiO_2$/Si substrate sample. Moreover, MWNTs on a Si substrate sample were well-crystallized in terms of their Raman spectrum. In addition, the MWNTs on Si substrate sample show an enhanced redox reaction, as observed through a smaller interface resistance and faster reaction rates in the EIS spectrum. The results show that DSSCs with a MWNT counter electrode on a bare Si substrate sample demonstrate energy conversion efficiency in excess of 1.4 %.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.189-191
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• 2005

태양전지 분야에서 최근 크게 주목받고 있는 염료감응형 태양전지(DSC)의 효율 및 대면적화에 대한 연구는 지속적으로 이루어지고 있다. 그러나 염료감응형 태양전지의 대면적화로 인한 셀 내부의 전자 흐름에 관한 셀 특성의 고찰은 이루어지고 있지 않다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 염료감응형 태양전지의 대면적화에 앞서 염료감응형 태양전지의 대면적화에 따른 셀 특성을 알아보았다. 본 실험에서는 대면적화의 하나의 변수로서 셀의 가로 폭을 선택하였고, 가로 폭의 변화에 따른 각 샘플 셀의 전기특성을 확인하였다. 그 결과 셀의 폭이 증가할수록 표면저항이 커져 염료에서 발생된 광전자가 표면저항으로 인해 포집이 잘 이루어지지 않게 되어 전자의 흐름이 원활하지 않게 됨을 알 수 있었다. 궁극적으로 셀의 대면적화는 표면저항의 증가로 이어져 셀 특성에 나쁜 영향을 미치게 됨을 확인 할 수 있었다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.433-434
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• 2008

Until now, many studies have been carried out on $TiO_2$ electrode, counter electrode, sensitizer and electrolyte to improve dye-sensitized solar cell(DSSC)'s performance. It was known that surface area of the $TiO_2$ are of paramount importance in determining the cell efficiency. In this experiment, $TiO_2$ working electrodes were sintered at four different temperatures (400, 450, 500 and $550^{\circ}C$) for 55 minutes in ambient atmosphere. Also these electrodes were sintered at four different times (40, 55, 70, 85minutes) in temperature where shows the highest efficiency. I-V characteristics of DSSC made up of different working electrodes were studied using solar simulator.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.309-311
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• 2007

Supramolecules containing double hydrogen bonding sites at their both chain ends were self-polymerized to become solid state polymer and were utilized to improve the efficiency of solid state DSSCs. Hydrogen bonding sites were attached at the chain ends of PEG of Mw=2000, such as pyrimethamine and glutaric acid. The solar cell with the solid state supramolecular polymer electrolyte resulted in the overall energy conversion efficiency of 4.63 % with a short circuit current density $(J_{sc})$ of 10.41 $mAcm^{-2}$, an open circuit voltage $V_{oc}$, of 0.71 V and a fill factor (FF) of 0.62 at one sun condition ([oligomer]:[1-methyl-3-propyl imidazolium iodide (MPII)]:$[I_2]$ = 20 : 1 : 0.19, active area = 0.16 $cm^2$, $TiO_2$ layer thickness = 10 ${\mu}m$). The ionic conductivity of the sol id state electrolyte was $5.11{\times}10^{-4}$ (S/cm). The cell performance was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and ionic conductivity.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.67-72
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• 2011

The aim of this study is to evaluate how much would the building energy consumption be saved by applying DSSC BIPV window which is possible to control the transmittance and express the color in the office building. For this, physical characteristics such as transmittance and reflectance, U-factor of DSSC areanalyzed and an annual energy consumption that is connected to dimming control is calculated when DSSC BIPV window is applied by alternate clear window system. As a result, It is possible to reduce the anannual energy consumption as much as4.1% by just change the clear double window system to DSSC BIPV double window system because the major factor to reduce energy consumption in the office that has much cooling load than other building is SHGC. When the thermal insulation properties of DSSC BIPV window with low-e coating and making triple window are improved, energy saving ratio is about 9%. Plus, energy saving ratio of 25~28% in lighting energy consumption is possible when the dimming control system with DSSC BIPV window is adopt.