• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.250-257
• /
• 2016

Octahedral $Co_3O_4$/carbon nanofiber (CNF) composites are fabricated using electrospinning and hydrothermal methods. Their morphological characteristics, chemical bonding states, and electrochemical properties are used to demonstrate the improved photovoltaic properties of the samples. Octahedral $Co_3O_4$ grown on CNFs is based on metallic Co nanoparticles acting as seeds in the CNFs, which seeds are directly related to the high performance of DSSCs. The octahedral $Co_3O_4$/CNFs composites exhibit high photocurrent density ($12.73mA/m^2$), superb fill factor (62.1 %), and excellent power conversion efficiency (5.61 %) compared to those characteristics of commercial $Co_3O_4$, conventional CNFs, and metallic Co-seed/CNFs. These results can be described as stemmnig from the synergistic effect of the porous and graphitized matrix formed by catalytic graphitization using the metal cobalt catalyst on CNFs, which leads to an increase in the catalytic activity for the reduction of triiodide ions. Therefore, octahedral $Co_3O_4$/CNFs composites can be used as a counter electrode for Pt-free dye-sensitized solar cells.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.297-303
• /
• 2010

The effect of solution acidity and organic additives, polyethylene glycol (PEG), on the trivalent chromium electroplating was systematically investigated in the view point of electroreduction of trivalent chromium ions and solution stability. It was found that solution acidity controlled at pH 2.5 showed the widest current range for bright electrodeposits in the presence of PEG additives, which reduced the local current intensification at high current densities. Through complex interaction between PEG additives and hydrogen ion, that is, solution acidity, electrode potential was moved in the negative direction in the bulk solution, while it shifted in the positive when electric potential was scanned. In conjunction with electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM), it was found that PEG additives had a role in promoting the electron transfer to trivalent chromium ion complexes in bulk solution and their adsorption at the electrode surface as well as interfering with hydrogen ion reduction process below pH 2.5. The PEG additives developed the nodular morphology during electroreduction of trivalent chromium ions with the increase of solution acidity and enhanced its current efficiency by maintaining the consumption of complexant, formic acid, at low speed.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.122-128
• /
• 2010

The corrosion of the flexible tube in the automobile exhaust system is caused by the ambient water and chloride ions. Since welding is one of the key processes for the flexible tube manufacturing, it is required to select a proper welding method to prevent the flexible tube corrosion and to increase its lifetime. There are many studies about the efficiency of the welding method, but no systematic study is performed for the effect of welding method on the corrosion property of the austenitic stainless weldment. The aim of the present study is to provide information on the effect of two different welding methods of TIGW (tungsten inert gas welding) and PAW (plasma arc welding) on the corrosion property of austenitic stainless steel weldment. Materials used in this study were two types of the commercial austenitic stainless steel, STS321 and XM15J1, which were used for flexible tube material for the automotive exhaust system. Microstructure was observed by using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To evaluate the corrosion behavior, potentiodynamic and potentiostatic tests were performed. The chemical state of the passive film was analyzed in terms of XPS depth profile. Metallurgical analysis show that the ferrite content in fusion zone of both STS321 and XM15J1 is higher when welded by PAW than by TIGW. The potentiodynamic and potentiostatic test results show that both STS321 and XM15J1 have higher transpassive potential and lower passive current density when welded by PAW than by TIGW. XPS analysis indicates that the stable $Cr_2O_3$ layer at the outermost layer of the passive film is formed when welded by PAW. The result recommends that PAW is more desirable than TIGW to secure corrosion resistance of the flex tube which is usually made of austenitic stainless steel.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.141-147
• /
• 2011

The cation exchange membrane using TPA (tungstophosphoric acid) and the block co-polymer of polysulfone and polyphenylenesulfidesulfone was prepared for a separator of all-vanadium redox flow battery. The membrane resistance of the prepared cation exchange membrane in 1mol/L $H_2SO_4$ aqueous solution was measured. The membrane resistance of the prepared Psf-PPSS and Psf-TPA-PPSS cation exchange membrane was about $0.94{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$. Electrochemical property of all-vanadium redox flow battery using the prepared cation exchange membrane was measured. The measured charge-discharge cell resistance of V-RFB at 4 A decreased in the order; Nafion117 < Psf-TPA-PPSS < Psf-PPSS. The durability of membrane was earried out by soaking it in $VO_2{^+}$ solution and evaluated by measuring the charge-discharge cell resistance of V-RFB with an increase of soaking time. The prepared Psf-PPSS cation exchange membrane had high durability and Psf-TPA-PPSS cation exchange membrane had almost same durability compared with Nafion117.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2013.02a
• /
• pp.688-688
• /
• 2013

Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films have attracted a lot of attention as a cheap transparent conducting oxide (TCO) material that can replace the expensive Sn-doped In2O3. In particular, AZO thin films are widely used as a window layer of chalcogenide-based thin film solar cells such as Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS). Mostly important requirements for the window layer material of the thin film solar cells are the high transparency and the low sheet resistance, because they influence the light absorption by the activelayer and the electron collection from the active layer, respectively. In this study, we prepared the AZO thin films by RF magnetron sputtering using a ZnO/Al2O3 (98：2wt%) ceramic target, and the effect of the sputtering condition such as the working pressure, RF power, and the working distance on the optical, electrical, and crystallographic properties of the AZO thin films was investigated. The AZO thin films with optimized properties were used as a window layer of CZTS thin film solar cells. The CZTS active layers were prepared by the electrochemical deposition and the subsequent sulfurization process, which is also one of the cost-effective synthetic approaches. In addition, the solar cell properties of the CZTS thin film solar cells, such as the photocurrent density-voltage (J-V) characteristics and the external quantum efficiency (EQE) were investigated.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2011.05a
• /
• pp.42.2-42.2
• /
• 2011

$TiO_2$ films were modified by adding a glass frit as a light scattering particle and applied to an anode electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to enhance the adhesion between $TiO_2$ and fluorine doped transparent oxide (FTO). Low melting point glass frits at contents of (3 to 7wt%) were added to the nano crystalline $TiO_2$ films. The light scattering properties, photovoltaic properties and microstructures of the photo electrodes were examined to determine the role of the low glass transition temperature ($T_g$) glass frit. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method and scratch test were conducted to support the results. The DSSC with the $TiO_2$ film containing 3wt% low Tg glass frit showed optimal performance (5.1%, energy conversion efficiency) compared to the $TiO_2$-based one. The photocurrent density slightly decreased by adding 3wt% of the frit due to its large size and non conductivity. However, the decrease of current density followed by the decrease of electron transfer due to the large frit in $TiO_2$ electrode was compensated by the scattering effect, high surface area and reduced the electron transfer impedance at the electrolyte-dye-$TiO_2$ interface. The stability of the photo electrodes was improved by the frit, which chemically promoted the sintering of $TiO_2$ at relatively low temperature ($450^{\circ}C$).

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.17 no.12
• /
• pp.1032-1038
• /
• 2009

A polypyrrole (PPy)/alumina composite filler prepared via in-situ polymerization of pyrrole on alumina particles was incorporated into $Nafion^{(R)}$ to improve the performance of ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) actuators. The IPMCs with the pristine PPy without alumina support did not show bending displacements superior to that of the bare Nafion-based IPMC, except at a high PPy content of 4 wt%. This result was attributed to the low redox efficiency of the PPy alone in the IPMC and may have also been related to the modulus of the IPMC. However, at the optimized filler contents, the cyclic displacement of the IPMCs bearing the PPy/alumina filler was 2.2 times larger than that of the bare Nafion-based IPMC under an applied AC potential of 3 Vat 1 Hz. Even under a low AC potential of 1.5 V at 1 Hz, the displacement of the PPy/alumina-based IPMCs was a viable level of performance for actuator applications and was 2.7 times higher than that of the conventional Nafion-based IPMC. The generated blocking force was also improved with the PPy/aiumina composite filler. The greatly enhanced performance and the low-voltage-operational characteristic of the IPMCs bearing the PPy/alumina filler were attributed to the synergic effects of the neighboring alumina moiety near the PPy moiety involving electrochemical redox reactions.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.11-18
• /
• 1996

The Laves phase alloy hydrides have some promising properties as electrode materials in reversible metal hydride batteries. In this work, the hydrogen storage performance, crystallographic parameters, surface morphology, surface area and electrochemical characteristics of the non-stoichiometric $ZrMn_{0.3}V_{0.7}Ni_{1.4+{\alpha}}$, $ZrMn_{0.5}V_{0.5}Ni_{1.4+{\alpha}}$($\alpha$ =0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6) alloys were examined. These as-cast alloys were found to have mainly a cubic C15-type Laves phase structure by X -ray diffraction analysis. The equilibrium pressure of the alloy were increased as $\alpha$ increased in both two types alloy. In case of $ZrMn_{0.5}V_{0.5}Ni_{1.4+{\alpha}}$ alloys, discharge efficiency and the rate capability of the alloy were decreased as $\alpha$ increased but, these values were increased in case of $ZrMn_{0.3}V_{0.7}Ni_{1.4+{\alpha}}$ alloys. The differences of these electrode properties observed were dependent on the reaction surface area and the catalytic activity of unit area of the each electrode.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.61-72
• /
• 2009

Fabrication and oxidants production of 3 or 4 components metal oxide electrode, which is known to be so effective to destruct non-biodegradable organics in wastewater, were studied. Five electrode materials (Ru as main component and Pt, Sn, Sb and Gd as minor components) were used for the 3 or 4 components electrode. The metal oxide electrode was prepared by coating the electrode material on the surface of the titanium mesh and then thermal oxidation at $500^{\circ}C$ for 1h. The removed RhB per 2 min and unit W of 3 components electrode was in the order: Ru:Sn:Sb=9:1:1 > Ru:Pt:Gd=5:5:1 > Ru:Sn=9:1 > Ru:Sn:Gd=9:1:1 > Ru:Sb:Gd=9:1:1. Although RhB decolorization of Ru:Sn:Sb:Gd electrode was the highest among the 4 components electrode, the RhB decolorization and oxidants formation of the Ru:Sn:Sb=9:1:1 electrode was higher than that of the 3 and 4 components electrode. Electrogenerated oxidants (free Cl and $ClO_2$) of chlorine type in 3 and 4 components electrode were higher than other oxidants such as $H_2O_2\;and\;O_3$. It was assumed that electrode with high RhB decolorization showed high oxidant generation and COD removal efficiency. OH radical which is electrogenerated by the direct electrolysis was not generated the entire 3 and 4 components electrode, therefore main mechanism of RhB degradation by metal oxide electrode based Ru was considered indirect electrolysis using electrogenerated oxidants.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.247-252
• /
• 2013

Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) with a certain degree of sulfonation were synthesized by reacting PEEK and sulfuric acid at different reaction time. Then ion-selective composite carbon electrodes (ISCCE) were fabricated by coating the prepared SPEEK on the surface of carbon electrodes. The specific capacitance and resistance of the ISCCE were analyzed by electrical impedance spectroscopy. The ion exchange capacities (IEC) of the SPEEKs were measured in the range of 1.60~2.57 meq/g depending on the sulfonation time. The SPEEK more than 2.5 meq/g of IEC was considered unsuitable for fabricating the ISCCE because it was dissolved in water. The specific capacitance of the prepared ISCCE increased with increasing the IEC of coated SPEEKs and the capacitance was improved up to about 20% compared to that of uncoated carbon electrode. In addition, the electrical resistance of coating layer decreased significantly with increasing the IEC of coated SPEEKs. It is expected that the desalination efficiency of conventional capacitive deionization process can be improved by using the prepared ISCCE coated with SPEEK.