• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.436-442
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• 2008

Magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography(MREIT) has been suggested to produce cross-sectional conductivity images of an electrically conducting object such as the human body. In most previous studies, recessed electrodes have been used to inject imaging currents into the object. An MRI scanner was used to capture induced magnetic flux density data inside the object and a conductivity image reconstruction algorithm was applied to the data. This paper reports the performance of a thin and flexible carbon-hydrogel electrode that replaces the bulky and rigid recessed electrode in previous studies. The new carbon-hydrogel electrode produces a negligible amount of artifacts in MR and conductivity images and significantly simplifies the experimental procedure. We can fabricate the electrode in different shapes and sizes. Adding a layer of conductive adhesive, we can easily attach the electrode on an irregular surface with an excellent contact. Using a pair of carbon-hydrogel electrodes with a large contact area, we may inject an imaging current with increased amplitude primarily due to a reduced average current density underneath the electrodes. Before we apply the new electrode to a human subject, we evaluated its performance by conducting MREIT imaging experiments of five swine legs. Reconstructed conductivity images of the swine legs show a good contrast among different muscles and bones. We suggest a future study of human experiments using the carbon-hydrogel electrode following the guideline proposed in this paper.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.114-117
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• 2023

Transparent Photovoltaic (PV) modules have recently been in the spotlight because they can be applied to buildings and vehicles. However, crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar modules, which account for about 90% of the PV module market, have the disadvantage of applying transparent PV modules due to their unique opacity. Recently, a see-through type PV module using a crystalline silicon solar strap has been developed. However, there is a problem due to a decrease in aesthetics due to the metal ribbon in the center of the see-through type PV module and difficulty bonding the metal ribbon due to the low voltage output of the strap. In this study, to solve this problem, we developed a fabrication process of series connected c-Si solar strap cells using the c-Si solar cells. We succeeded in fabricating a series connected strap with a width of 2-10 mm, and we plan to manufacture an aesthetic see-through type c-Si PV module.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2023

The cathode, which is one of the four major components of a lithium secondary battery, is an important component responsible for the energy density of the battery. The mixing process of active material, conductive material, and polymer binder is very essential in the commonly used wet manufacturing process of the cathode. However, in the case of mixing conditions of the cathode, since there is no systematic method, in most cases, differences in performance occur depending on the manufacturer. Therefore, LiMn₂O₄ (LMO) cathodes were prepared using a commonly used THINKY mixer and homogenizer to optimize the mixing method in the cathode slurry preparation step, and their characteristics were compared. Each mixing condition was performed at 2000 RPM and 7 min, and to determine only the difference in the mixing method during the manufacture of the cathode other experiment conditions (mixing time, material input order, etc.) were kept constant. Among the manufactured THINKY mixer LMO (TLMO) and homogenizer LMO (HLMO), HLMO has more uniform particle dispersion than TLMO, and thus shows higher adhesive strength. Also, the result of the electrochemical evaluation reveals that HLMO cathode showed improved performance with a more stable life cycle compared to TLMO. The initial discharge capacity retention rate of HLMO at 69 cycles was 88%, which is about 4.4 times higher than that of TLMO, and in the case of rate capability, HLMO exhibited a better capacity retention even at high C-rates of 10, 15, and 20 C and the capacity recovery at 1 C was higher than that of TLMO. It's postulated that the use of a homogenizer improves the characteristics of the slurry containing the active material, the conductive material, and the polymer binder creating an electrically conductive network formed by uniformly dispersing the conductive material suppressing its strong electrostatic properties thus avoiding aggregation. As a result, surface contact between the active material and the conductive material increases, electrons move more smoothly, changes in lattice volume during charging and discharging are more reversible and contact resistance between the active material and the conductive material is suppressed.

• Composites Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2017

Damage sensing of polymer composite films consisting of poly(dicyclopentadiene) p-DCPD and carbon nanotube (CNT) was studied experimentally. Only up to 1st ring-opening polymerization occurred with the addition of CNT, which made the modified film electrically conductive, while interfering with polymerization. The interfacial adhesion of composite films with varying CNT concentration was evaluated by measuring the wettability using the static contact angle method. 0.5 wt% CNT/p-DCPD was determined to be the optimal condition via electrical dispersion method and tensile test. Dynamic fatigue test was conducted to evaluate the durability of the films by measuring the change in electrical resistance. For the initial three cycles, the change in electrical resistance pattern was similar to the tensile stress-strain curve. The CNT/p-DCPD film was attached to an epoxy matrix to demonstrate its utilization as a sensor for fracture behavior. At the onset of epoxy fracture, electrical resistance showed a drastic increase, which indicated adhesive fracture between sensor and matrix. It leads to prediction of crack and fracture of matrix.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2019

Modules using 6 inch cells have problems with loss due to empty space between cells. To solve this problem made by shingled structure which can generate more power by utilizing empty space by increasing the voltage level than modules made in 6inch cell. Thus, in this paper, the c-Si cutting cells were produced using nanosecond green laser, and then the ECA was sprayed and cured to perform cutting cell bonding. Three types of ECA materials (B1, B2, B3) with Ag as the main component were used, and experimental conditions varied from 5 to 120 seconds of curing time, 130 to $210^{\circ}C$ of curing temperature, and 1 to 3 of curing numbers. As a results of experiments varying curing time, B1 showed efficiency 19.88% in condition of 60 seconds, B2 showed efficiency 20.15% in 90 seconds, and B3 showed efficiency 20.27% in 60 seconds. In addition, experiments with varying curing temperature, It was confirmed highest efficiency that 20.04% in condition of $170^{\circ}C$ with B1, 20.15% in condition of $150^{\circ}C$ with B2, 20.27% in condition of $150^{\circ}C$ with B3. These are because the Ag particles are densely formed on the surface to make the conduction path. After optimizing the conditions of temperature and curing time, the secondary-tertiary curing experiments were carried out. as the structural analysis, conditions of secondary-tertiary curing showed cracks that due to damp heat aging. As a result, it was found that the ECA B3 had the highest efficiency of 20.27% in condition of 60 seconds of curing time, $150^{\circ}C$ of curing temperature, and single number of curing, and that it was suitable for the manufacture of Solar cell of shingled structure rather than ECA B1 and B2 materials.