• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2011.08a
• /
• pp.71-71
• /
• 2011

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have drawn great academic attention due to their potential as low-cost renewable energy sources. DSCs contain a nanostructured TiO2 photoanode, which is a key-component for high conversion efficiency. Particularly, one-dimensional (1-D) nanostructured photoanodes can enhance the electron transport for the efficient collection to the conducting substrate in competition with the recombination processes. This is because photoelectron colletion is determined by trapping/detrapping events along the site of the electron traps (defects, surface states, grain boundaries, and self-trapping). Therefore, 1-D nanostructured photoanodes are advantageous for the fast electron transport due to their desirable features of greatly reduced intercrystalline contacts with specified directionality. In particular, anodic TiO2 nanotube (NT) electrodes recently have been intensively explored owing to their ideal structure for application in DSCs. Besides the enhanced electron transport properties resulted from the 1-D structure, highly ordered and vertically oriented nanostructure of anodic TiO2 NT can contribute additional merits, such as enhanced electrolyte diffusion, better interfacial contact with viscous electrolytes. First, to confirm the advantages of 1-D nanostructured material for the photoelectron collection, we compared the electron transport and charge recombination characteristics between nanoparticle (NP)- and nanorod (NR)-based photoanodes in DSCs by the stepped light-induced transient measurements of photocurrent and voltage (SLIM-PCV). We confirmed that the electron lifetime of the NR-based photoanode was much longer than that of the NP-based photoanode. In addition, highly ordered and vertically oriented TiO2 NT photoanodes were prepared by electrochemical anodization method. We compared the photovoltaic properties of DSCs utilizing TiO2 NT photoanodes prepared by one-step anodization and two-step anodization. And, to reduce the charge recombination rate, energy barrier layer (ZnO, Al2O3)-coated TiO2 NTs also applied in DSC. Furthermore, we applied the TiO2 NT photoanode in DSCs using a viscous electrolyte, i.e., cobalt bipyridyl redox electrolyte, and confirmed that the pore structure of NT array can enhance the performances of this viscous electrolyte.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.407-412
• /
• 2008

As an activation procedure, in this study, the oxidation treatment of needle cokes with a dilute nitric acid and sodium chlorate $(NaClO_3)$, combined with heat treatment, was attempted. The structures of acid-treated and pyrolyzed coke were examined with XRD, FESEM, elemental analyzer, BET, and Raman spectroscopy. The behavior of double layer capacitance was investigated with the analysis of charge and discharge. The structure of needle coke treated with acid was revealed to a single phase of (001) diffraction peak after 24 h. On the other hand, thecoke oxidized by heat treatment was reduced to a graphite structure of (002) at $300^{\circ}C$. The distorted graphene layer structure, derived from the process of oxidation and reduction of the inter-layer, makes the pores by the electric field activation at the first charge, and generates the double layer capacitance from the second charge. The cell using pyrolyzed coke with 24 h acid treatment and $300^{\circ}C$ heat treatment exhibited the maximum capacitance per weight and volume of 33 F/g and 30 F/mL at the two-electrode system in the potential range of 0~2.5 V.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.530-537
• /
• 2015

Photovoltaic (PV) modules are environmentally energy conversion devices to generate electricity via photovoltaic effect of semiconductors from solar energy. One of key elements in PV modules is "Backsheet," a multilayered barrier film, which determines their lifetime and energy conversion efficiency. The representative Backsheet is composed of chemically resistant poly(vinyl fluoride) (PVF) and cheap poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films used as core and skin materials, respectively. PVF film is too expensive to satisfy the market requirements to Backsheet materials with production cost as low as possible. The promising alternatives to PVF-based Backsheet are hydrocarbon Backsheets employing semi-crystalline PET films instead of PVF film. It is, however, necessary to provide improved barrier property to water vapor to the PET films, since PET films are suffering from hydrolytic decomposition. In this study, a polyurethane adhesive with reduced water vapor permeation behavior is developed via a homogeneous distribution of hydrophobic silica nanoparticles. The modified adhesive is expected to retard the hydrolysis of PET films located in the core and inner skin. To clarify the efficacy of the proposed concept, the mechanical properties and electrochemical PV performances of the Backsheet are compared with those of a Backsheet employing the polyurethane adhesive without the silica nanoparticles, after the exposure under standard temperature and humidity conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2010.08a
• /
• pp.302-303
• /
• 2010

Generally, the high energy lithium ion batteries depend intimately on the high capacity of electrode materials. For anode materials, the capacity of commercial graphite is unlike to increase much further due to its lower theoretical capacity of 372 mAhg-1. To improve upon graphite-based negative electrode materials for Li-ion rechargeable batteries, alternative anode materials with higher capacity are needed. Therefore, some metal anodes with high theoretic capacity, such as Si, Sn, Ge, Al, and Sb have been studied extensively. This work focuses on ternary Si-M1-M2 composite system, where M1 is Ge that alloys with Li, which has good cyclability and high specific capacity and M2 is Mo that does not alloy with Li. The Si shows the highest gravimetric capacity (up to 4000mAhg-1 for Li21Si5). Although Si is the most promising of the next generation anodes, it undergoes a large volume change during lithium insertion and extraction. It results in pulverization of the Si and loss of electrical contact between the Si and the current collector during the lithiation and delithiation. Thus, its capacity fades rapidly during cycling. Si thin film is more resistant to fracture than bulk Si because the film is firmly attached to the substrate. Thus, Si film could achieve good cycleability as well as high capacity. To improve the cycle performance of Si, Suzuki et al. prepared two components active (Si)-active(Sn, like Ge) elements film by vacuum deposition, where Sn particles dispersed homogeneously in the Si matrix. This film showed excellent rate capability than pure Si thin film. In this work, second element, Ge shows also high capacity (about 2500mAhg-1 for Li21Ge5) and has good cyclability although it undergoes a large volume change likewise Si. But only Ge does not use the anode due to its costs. Therefore, the electrode should be consisted of moderately Ge contents. Third element, Mo is an element that does not alloys with Li such as Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, V, Zr. In our previous research work, we have fabricated Si-Mo (active-inactive elements) composite negative electrodes by using RF/DC magnetron sputtering method. The electrodes showed excellent cycle characteristics. The Mo-silicide (inert matrix) dispersed homogeneously in the Si matrix and prevents the active material from aggregating. However, the thicker film than $3\;{\mu}m$ with high Mo contents showed poor cycling performance, which was attributed to the internal stress related to thickness. In order to deal with the large volume expansion of Si anode, great efforts were paid on material design. One of the effective ways is to find suitably three-elements (Si-Ge-Mo) contents. In this study, the Si based composites of 45~65 Si at.% and 23~43 Ge at.%, and 12~32 Mo at.% are evaluated the electrochemical characteristics and cycle performances as an anode. Results from six different compositions of Si-Ge-Mo are presented compared to only the Si and Ge negative electrodes.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.181-190
• /
• 2023

Wastewater purification is one of the most important techniques for controlling environmental pollution and fulfilling the demand for freshwater supply. Various technologies, such as different types of distillations and reverse osmosis processes, need higher energy input. Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an alternative method in which power consumption is deficient and works on the supercapacitor principle. Research is going on to improve the electrode materials to improve the efficiency of the process. A reverse electrodialysis (RED) is the most commonly used desalination technology and osmotic power generator. Among many studies conducted to enhance the efficiency of RED, MXene, as an ion exchange membrane (IEM) and 2D nanofluidic channels in IEM, is rising as a promising way to improve the physical and electrochemical properties of RED. It is used alone and other polymeric materials are mixed with MXene to enhance the performance of the membrane further. The maximum desalination performances of MXene with preconditioning, Ti₃C₂T_x, Nafion, and hetero-structures were respectively measured, proving the potential of MXene for a promising material in the desalination industry. In terms of osmotic power generating via RED, adopting MXene as asymmetric nanofluidic ion channels in IEM significantly improved the maximum osmotic output power density, most of them surpassing the commercialization benchmark, 5 Wm^-2. By connecting the number of unit cells, the output voltage reaches the point where it can directly power the electronic devices without any intermediate aid. The studies around MXene have significantly increased in recent years, yet there is more to be revealed about the application of MXene in the membrane and osmotic power-generating industry. This review discusses the electrodialysis process based on MXene composite membrane.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.137-144
• /
• 2020

Metal-impregnated activated carbons were prepared via ultrasonic-assisted impregnation method for regeneration and low ammonia concentration. Magnesium and copper were selected as metals, while chloride (Cl^-) and nitrate (NO₃^-) precursors were used to impregnate the surface of activated carbon. The physical and chemical properties of the prepared adsorbents were characterized by TGA, BET, and NH₃-TPD. The ammonia breakthrough test was carried out using a fixed bed and flowing ammonia gas (1000 mg L^-1 NH₃, balanced N₂) at 100 mL min^-1, under conditions of temperature swing adsorption (TSA) and pressure swing adsorption (PSA, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 Mpa). The adsorption and desorption performance of ammonia were in the order of AC-Mg(Cl) > AC-Cu(Cl) > AC-Mg(N) > AC-Cu(N) > AC through NH₃-TPD and TSA and PSA processes. AC-Mg(Cl) using MgCl₂ showed the average adsorption amount of 2.138 mmol/g at TSA process. Also, AC-Mg(Cl) showed the highest initial adsorption amount of 3.848 mmol/g at PSA 0.9 Mpa. When metal impregnated the surface of the activated carbon, it was confirmed that not only physical adsorption, but also chemical adsorption increased, making enhancement in adsorption and desorption performances possible. Also, the prepared adsorbents showed stable adsorption and desorption performances despite repeated processes, confirming their applicability in the TSA and PSA processes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.249-255
• /
• 2009

The performance of microbial fuel cell (MFC) can be affected by many factors including the rate of organic matter oxidation, the electron transfer to electrode by electrochemical bacteria, proton diffusion, the concentration of electron acceptor, the rate of electron acceptor reduction and internal resistance. the performance of MFC using oxygen as electron acceptor can be influenced by oxygen concentration as limit factors in cathode compartment. Many studies have been performed to enhance electricity production from MFC. The series or parallel stacked MFC connected several MFC units can use to increase voltages and currents produced from MFCs. In this study, a single MFC (S-MFC) and a stacked MFC (ST-MFC) using acetate as electron donor and oxygen as electron acceptor were used to investigate the influence of dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in cathode compartment on MFC performance. The power density (W/$m^3$) of S-MFC was in order DO 5 > 3 > 7 > 9 mg/L, the maximum power density (W/$m^3$) of S-MFC was 42 W/$m^3$ at DO 5 mg/L. The power density (W/$m^3$) of ST-MFC was in order DO 5 > 7 > 9 > 3 mg/L and the maximum power density (W/$m^3$) of STMFC was 20 W/$m^3$ at DO 5 mg/L. These results suggest that the DO concentration of cathode chamber should be considered as important limit factor of MFC operation and design for stacked MFC as well as single MFC. The results of ST-MFC operation showed the voltage decrease of some MFC units by salt formation on the surface of anode, resulting in decrease total voltage of ST-MFC. Therefore, connecting MFC units in parallel might be more appropriate way than series connections to enhance power production of stacked MFC.