• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.501-505
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• 2009

$TiO_2$ nano-particle paste was prepared by ethyl cellulose, $\alpha$-terpineol and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (dioxcyl phthalate) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Dispersion and absorbance of $TiO_2$ photoanode films was controlled by adding different amount of ethyl cellulose and $\alpha$-terpineol. The morphology of prepared $TiO_2$ films was studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and the optical properties of $TiO_2$ films were measured by UV/vis spectra. Photovoltaic-current density was observed to determine the electrochemical response of DSSCs. Energy conversion efficiency was obtained about 7.1% at ethyl cellulose and $\alpha$-terpineol at optimal mixed ratio (as ethyl cellulose: 0.1 g; $\alpha$-terpineol: 1.5 ml) under illumination with AM 1.5($100\;Wcm^{-2}$) simulated sunlight.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.703-707
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• 2011

The electrochromic properties of tungsten oxide films grown by RF sputtering were investigated. Among the sputter parameters, first the $Ar:O_2$ ratios were controlled with division into only an $O_2$ environment, 1:1 and 4:1. The structure of each film prepared by these conditions was studied by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. The sputter-deposited tungsten oxide films had an amorphous structure regardless of the $Ar:O_2$ ratios. The chemical compositions, however, were different from each other. The stoichiometric structure and low-density film was obtained at higher $O_2$ contents. Electrochemical tests were performed by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry at 0.05 M $H_2SO_4$ solutions. The current density and charge ratio was estimated during the continuous potential and pulse potential cycling at -0.5 V and 1.8 V, respectively. The film grown in a higher oxygen environment had a higher current density and a reversible charge reaction during intercalation and deintercalation. The in-situ transmittance tests were performed by He-Ne laser (633 nm). At higher oxygen contents, a big transmittance difference was observed but the response speed was too slow. This was likely caused by higher film resistivity. Furthermore, the effect of sputtering pressure was also investigated. The structure and surface morphology of each film was observed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. A rough surface was observed at higher sputtering pressure, and this affected the higher transmittance difference and coloration efficiency.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2021

Through a simple filtration process, followed by carbonization within a reductive environment, coffee waste grounds can be transformed into a non-porous hard carbon for use in multiple contexts. This resulting coffee-waste carbon has been evaluated as an eco-friendly and cost-effective replacement for conventional graphite. When compared with different types of carbon, our study found that the coffee-waste carbon fell into the category of hard carbon, as verified from the galvanostatic charge/discharge profiles. The coffee-waste carbon showed a superior rate capability when compared to that of graphite, while compromising smaller capacity at low C rates. During electrochemical reactions, it was also found that the coffee-waste carbon is well exposed to electrolytes, and its disordered characteristic is advantageous for ionic transport which leads to the low tortuosity of Li ions. Finally, the high irreversible capacity (low initial Coulombic efficiency) of the coffee-waste carbon, which if also often observed in amorphous carbon, can be adequately resolved through a solution-based prelithiation process, thereby proving that the coffee-waste carbon material is quite suitable for commercial use as an anode material for quickly-chargeable electrodes.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.735-742
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• 2019

In this work, the electrokinetic interactions between the undulated structure of an ion-selective membrane and electroconvective instability has been studied using numerical analysis. Using finite element method, electric field-ionic species transport-flow field were analyzed by fully-coupled manner. Through the numerical study, the Dukhin's mode as the mechanism of undulated surface for the electroconvective instability were proven. The Dukhin's mode which competes with Rubinstein's mode has roles of (i) decreasing transition voltage to overlimiting regime and (ii) non-linearly increasing of overlimiting current. Also, (iii) the mixing efficiency is enhanced by removal mechanism of high-frequency Fourier mode of the electroconvective instability. Conclusively, the undulated ion-selective surface would provide energy-efficient mechanism for ion-selective transport systems such as electrodialysis, electrochemical battery, etc.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.652-661
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• 2008

Reduction of NOx in emission gas, improvement of engine efficiency, and extension of warranty period has made demands for developing materials more corrosively resistant to the inner-muffler environments or predicting the lifetime of materials used in muffler more precisely. The corrosion inside muffler has been explained with condensate corrosion mainly though thermal oxidation experiences prior to condensate corrosion. Hence, the aim of this study is to describe how the thermal oxidation affects the corrosion of stainless steel exposed to the inner-muffler environments. Auger electron spectroscopy and electrochemical tests were employed to analyze oxide scale and to evaluate corrosion resistance, respectively. Thermal oxidation has different role of condensate corrosion depending on the temperature: inhibiting condensate corrosion below $380^{\circ}C$ and enhancing condensate corrosion above $380^{\circ}C$. The low temperature oxidation causes to form compact oxide layer functioning a barrier for penetrating condensate into a matrix. Although though thermal oxidation caused chromium-depleted layer between oxide layer and matrix, the enhancement of the condensate corrosion in high temperature oxidation resulted from corrosion-induced crevice formed by oxide scale rather than corrosion in chromium-depleted layer. It was proved by aids of anodic polarization tests and measurements of pitting corrosion potentials. By the study, the role of high temperature oxidation layer affecting the condensate corrosion of stainless steels used as muffler materials was well understood.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.366-371
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• 2022

Recently many efforts have been made to develop a novel class of non-fullerene electron acceptor materials for high-performance organic solar cells. In this work, anthraquinone derivatives, TMAQ and THAQ, were prepared and their availability as electron acceptor materials for organic solar cells were investigated in terms of optical, thermal, electrochemical properties, and solar cell devices. Compared to TMAQ, a significant bathochromic shift of absorption band was observed for THAQ owing to intramolecular hydrogen-bond-assisted CT interactions. Thanks to the fused aromatic ring structure and benzoquinone unit, both TMAQ and THAQ exhibited a high thermal stability and an efficient electron reduction process. In particular, the intramolecular O-H---O=C hydrogen bond of THAQ plays an important role in improving the thermal stability and electron reduction properties. In the P3HT:acceptor solar cell system, THAQ-based devices had more than ca. 6 times higher power conversion efficiency than TMAQ -based devices. These results serve as a guide for developing high-efficient anthraquinone-based electron acceptor materials.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.507-514
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• 2022

There is growing interest in sustainable energy sources that can reduce fossil fuel dependence and environmental pollution while meeting rapidly growing energy demands. Hydrogen have been investigated as one of the ideal alternative energies because it has relatively high efficiency without emitting pollutants. The light-sensitized enzymatic (LSE) system, which uses hydrogenase-enzymes, is one of the methods towards economically feasible system configurations that enhance the rate of hydrogen generation. Hydrogenase is an enzyme that catalyzes a reversible reaction that oxidizes molecular hydrogen or produces molecular hydrogen from protons and electrons. In this paper, utilization of [NiFe]-hydrogenase (from Pyrococcus furiosus) in photoelectrochemical hydrogen production system such as handling, immobilization, physicochemical and electrochemical analysis, process parameters, etc. was introduced.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.1909-1913
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• 2022

This work shows the technical feasibility to obtain uranium tetrafluoride through an electrochemical mercury cell. This technique represents a custom scaling-up methodology from our previous studies to obtain UF₄ using the dropping mercury electrode cell. The UF₄ products were obtained from natural UF₆ gas, which was hydrolyzed to obtain a 50 g/L UO₂F₂ solution. The electrolysis cell was made using a mercury reservoir, to reach UF₄ production rates of 1 Kg UF₄/day. This custom design allowed a stable UF₄ production thanks to the mercury cathode, which do not permit the accumulation of solid products in its surface. The cell was tested using current densities from 5.000 to 17.500 A/m² and temperatures from 25 to 65 ℃. The maximum current efficiency achieved under these conditions was 80%. The UF₄ powders possessed spherical morphology, with diameters between 20 and 80 ㎛. Compared to the SnCl₂ precipitation, this process did not allow preferential growth of the precipitates. This improved the compaction of the UF₄ - Mg powders mixtures, with densities between 3.0 and 3.5 g/cm³. The purity of the UF₄ products was over 98%.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

This work studied the inhibitory effect of the combination of benzoate-intercalated hydrotalcite (HT-BZ) and Ce³⁺-loaded clay (Clay-Ce) on carbon steel (CS). HT-BZ was prepared by the co-precipitation method and Clay-Ce was fabricated by a cation exchange reaction. HT-BZ and Clay-Ce were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) coupled with zeta potential measurement. Electrochemical measurements coupled with scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) were used for studying the inhibitory action of the mixture of HT-BZ and Clay-Ce on steel electrodes immersed in 0.1 M NaCl. For comparison, the inhibitory effect of HT-BZ or Clay-Ce alone was also evaluated. The results showed that HT-BZ combined with Clay-Ce provided synergistic inhibition of the CS substrate. The mixture of 0.5 g/L HT-BZ + 0.5 g/L Clay-Ce provided 93.5% inhibition efficiency. The protective mechanism of the HT-BZ + Clay-Ce mixture consisted of the reaction of released BZ and Ce³⁺ and the deposition of HT-BZ and Clay-Ce structures on the CS substrate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2022.11a
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• pp.73-74
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• 2022

The corrosion inhibitive effect of a new hydrazone-based heterocyclic compound for steel in simulated concrete pore solution with 3.5 wt.% sodium chloride was investigated by experimental and computational techniques. Electrochemical studies, up to 30 days of immersion, and surface analysis (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscope (SEM)) were performed to assess the corrosion protection abilities of investigated compound for steel rebar. Results showed that adding the organic compound to the chloride contaminated concrete pore solution decreased the corrosion rate of the steel rebar thanks to the effective adsorption of inhibitor molecules. After 30 days of immersion of steel rebar in inhibited chloride contaminated synthetic concrete pore solution, the inhibition efficiency exceeded 80% at low concentration of 1 mmol/L. Computational studies by Density Functional based Tight Binding (DFTB) method revealed the formation of covalent bonds between the hydrazone molecule and the iron surface.