• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2011.05a
• /
• pp.8.1-8.1
• /
• 2011

Nanocrystalline titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) materials have been widely used as an electron collector in DSSC. This is required to have an extremely high porosity and surface area such that the dye can be sufficiently adsorbed and be electronically interconnected, resulting in the generation of a high photocurrent within cells. In particular, their geometrical structures and crystalline phase have been extensively investigated as important issues in improving its photovoltaic efficiency. In this study, we present a new strategy to fabricate a photoelectrode having a periodic structured $TiO_2$ film templated from 1D or 3D polystyrene (PS) microspheres array. Monodisperse PS spheres of various radiuses were used for colloidal array on FTO glasses and two types of photoelectrode structures with different $TiO_2$ materials were investigated respectively. One is the igloo-shaped electrode prepared by $TiO_2$ deposition by RF-sputtering onto 2D microsphere-templated substrates. At the interface between the film and substrate, there are voids formed by the decomposition of PS microspheres during the calcination step. These holes might be expected to play the predominant roles as scattering spherical voids to promote a light harvesting effect, a spacious structure for electrolytes with higher viscosity and effective paths for electron transfer. Additionally the nanocrystalline $TiO_2$ phase prepared by the RF-sputtering method was previously reported to improve the electron drift mobility within $TiO_2$ electrodes. This yields solar cells with a cell efficiency of 2.45% or more at AM 1.5 illumination, which is a very remarkable result, considering its $TiO_2$ electrode thickness (<2 ${\mu}m$). This study can be expanded to obtain higher cell efficiency by higher dye loading through the increase of surface area or multi-layered stacking. The other is the inverse opal photonic crystal electrode prepared by titania particles infusion within 3D colloidal arrays. To obtain the enlargement of ordered area and high quality of crystallinity, the synthesis of titania particles coated with a organic thin layer were applied instead of sol-gel process using the $TiO_2$ precursors. They were dispersed so well in most solvents without aggregates and infused successfully within colloidal array structures. This ordered mesoporous structure provides the large surface area leading to the enough adsorption of dye molecules and have an light harvesting effect due to the photonic band gap properties (back-and-forth reflection effects within structures). A major advantage of this colloidal array template method is that the pore size and its distribution within $TiO_2$ photoelectrodes are determined by those of latex beads, which can be controlled easily. These materials may have promising potentials for future applications of membrane, sensor and so on as well as solar cells.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.203-210
• /
• 2007

As a part of basic studies on monitoring of landslides and slope stability using SP measurements, micro-electric potentials of rock samples were measured accompanied with the rock failure by a uniaxial loading test were measured. The measurement system consists of a 8 channel A/D converter with 24 bit resolution, uniaxial loading tester, strain gages and 4 sets of electrode attached to a rock sample. Rock samples of granite, limestone, and sandstone were tested. Also, mortar samples were tested in order to monitor electric-potentials of a uniform sample. Micro-electric potentials were detected in all saturated samples and the strength of them increased as the loading force increased. Sandstone samples showed the largest strength of micro-electric potential and it followed limestone and granite samples, which indicates a positive relationship with porosity of rocks. The mechanism generating these micro-electric potential can be explained in terms of electro-kinetics. In case of dry samples, micro-electric potential could be observed only in sandstone samples, where piezoelectric effect played main role due to high contents of quartz in sandstone samples. We found that biggest micro-electric potentials were observed at the electrodes near the crack surface of rock samples. This is very encouraging result that SP monitoring can be applied to predicting landsliding or to estimate collapsing position combining with monitoring of acoustic emissions.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.338-346
• /
• 2013

The conventional lead acid battery is optimized for cranking performance of engine. Recently electric devices and fuel economy technologies of battery have influenced more deep cycle of dynamic behavior of battery. I also causes to reduce battery life-time. This study proposed that aging battery model is focused for increasing of battery durability. The stress factors of battery aging consist of discharge rate, charging time, full charging time and temperature. This paper considers the electrochemical kinetics, the ionic species conservation, and electrode porosity. For prediction of battery life cycle we consider battery model containing strong impacts, corrosion of positive grid and shedding. Finally, we validated that modeling results were compared with the accelerated thermal measurement data.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.118-122
• /
• 2012

We synthesized porous $Co_3O_4/RuO_2$ composite using the soft template method. Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) was used to make micell as a cation surfactant. The precipitation of cobalt ion and ruthenium ion for making porosity in particles was induced by $OH^-$ ion. The porous $Co_3O_4/RuO_2$ composite was completely synthesiszed after anealing until $250^{\circ}C$ at $3^{\circ}C$/min. From the XRD ananysis, we were able to determine that the porous $Co_3O_4$/RuO2 composite was comprised of nanoparticles with low crystallinity. The shape or structure of the porous $Co_3O_4/RuO_2$ composite was studied by FE-SEM and FE-TEM. The size of the porous $Co_3O_4/RuO_2$ composite was 20~40 nm. From the FE-TEM, we were able to determine that porous cavities were formed in the composite particles. The electrochemical performance of the porous $Co_3O_4/RuO_2$ composite was measured by CV and charge-discharge methods. The specific capacitances, determined through cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurement, were ~51, ~47, ~42, and ~33 F/g at 5, 10, 20, and 50 mV/sec scan rates, respectively. The specific capacitance through charge-discharge measurement was ~63 F/g in the range of 0.0~1.0 V cutoff voltage and 50 mAh/g current density.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.229-234
• /
• 2004

In this study, we proposed new forming process for a porous ceramic body with unique pore structure. h tubular-type porous NiO-YSZ body with radially aligned pore channels was prepared by freeze-drying of aqueous slurry. A NiO-YSZ slurry was poured into the mold, which was designed to control the crystallization direction of the ice, followed by freezing. Thereafter the ice was sublimated at a reduced pressure. SEM observations revealed that the NiO-YSZ porous body showed aligned large pore channels parallel to the ice growth direction, and fine pores are formed around the outer surface of the tube. It was considered that the difference in the ice growth rate during the freezing process resulted in such a characteristic microstructure. Bilayer consisting of dense thin electrolyte film of YSZ onto the tubular type porous body has been successfully fabricated using a slurry-coating process followed by co-firing. It was regarded that the obtained bilayer structure is suitable for constructing electrode-support type electrochemical devices such as solid oxide fuel cells.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2011.11a
• /
• pp.57.2-57.2
• /
• 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 Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.49 no.6
• /
• pp.846-850
• /
• 2011

Nanocomposite anodes for rechargeable lithium battery are prepared by mixing tin and nickel nanoparticles via wet method and their electrochemical properties are examined. The Sn-Ni nanocomposite anode shows a maximum discharge capacity of 700 mAh $g^{-1}$ at the first cycle but very poor cycle performance. This means that the electrode porosity and the Ni component formed by the simple mixing of nanoparticles no longer play the role of buffering the volume expansion/contraction of Sn component during charge-discharge. To solve the cycle performance problem, a novel nanostructured Sn-Ni anode should be designed and tested.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.458-464
• /
• 2008

A successful scaffold should have a highly porous structure and good mechanical stability. High porosity and appropriate pore size provide structural matrix for initial cell attachment and proliferation enabling the exchange of nutrients between the scaffold and environment. In this paper the highly porous scaffold of poly(${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone) electrospun nanofibers could be manufactured with an auxiliary electrode and chemical blowing agent (BA) under several processing conditions, such as the concentration of PCL solution, weight percent of a chemical blowing agent, and decomposition time of a chemical blowing agent. To attain stable electrospinnability and blown nanofiber mats having high microporosity and large pore, a processing condition, 8wt% of PCL solution and 0.5wt% of a chemical blowing agent under $100^{\circ}C$ and decomposition time of $2{\sim}3\;s$, was used. The growth characteristic of human dermal fibroblasts cells cultured in the mats showed the good adhesion and proliferation on the blown mat compared to a normal electrospun mat.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.204-211
• /
• 2021

We report, synthesis of high surface area composite carbon aerogel using additive based polymerization technique by incorporating graphitic porous carbon as additive. This additive was separately prepared using sol-gel polymerization of resorcinol-furfuraldehyde in iso-propyl alcohol medium at much above the routine gelation temperature to yield porous carbon (CA-IPA) having graphitic layered morphology. CA-IPA exhibited a unique combination of meso-pore dominated surface area (~ 700 m²/g) and good conductivity of ~ 300 S/m. The composite carbon aerogel (CCA) was synthesized by traditional aqueous medium based resorcinol-formaldehyde gelation with CA-IPA as additive. The presence of CA-IPA favored enhanced meso-porosity as well as contributed to improvement in bulk conductivity. Based on the surface area characteristics, CCA-8 composition having 8% additive was found to be optimum. It showed specific surface area of ~ 2056 m²/g, mesopore area of 827 m²/g and electrical conductivity of 180 S/m. The electrode formed with CCA-8 showed improved electrochemical behavior, with specific capacitance of 148 F/g & ESR < 1 Ω, making it a better choice as super capacitor for energy storage applications.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.390-397
• /
• 2022

The use of microwaves as the energy source for synthesis and sintering of ceramics offers substantial advantages compared to conventional gas-fired and electric resistance furnaces. Benefits include much shorter processing times and reaching the sintering temperature more quickly, resulting in superior final product quality. Most oxide ceramics poorly interact with microwave irradiation at low temperatures; thus, a more complex setup including a susceptor is needed, which makes the whole process very complicated. This investigation pursued a new approach, which enabled us to use microwave irradiation directly in poorly coupled oxides. In many solid-state electrochemical devices, the support is either metal or can be reduced to metal. Metal powders in the support can act as an internal susceptor and heat the entire cell. Then sufficient interaction of microwave irradiation and ceramic material can occur as the sample temperature increases. This microwave heating and exothermic reaction of oxidation of the support can sinter the ceramic very efficiently without any external susceptor. In this study, yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and a Ni-YSZ cermet support were used as an example. The cermet was used as the support, and a YSZ electrolyte was coated and sintered directly using microwave irradiation without the use of any susceptor. The results were compared to a similar cell prepared using a conventional electric furnace. The leakage test and full cell power measurement results revealed a fully leak-free electrolyte. Scanning electron microscopy and density measurements show that microwave sintered samples have lower open porosity in the electrode support than conventional heat treatment. This technique offers an efficient way to directly use microwave irradiation to sinter thin film ceramics without a susceptor.