• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.57-65
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• 2020

It is crucial to investigate the thermal degradation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) to understand the possible malfunction at high temperature. Herein, we investigated the effects of surface film formation on the thermal degradation of lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO₂, LCO) cathode that is one of representative cathode materials. Cycling test at 60℃ exhibited poorer cycleability compared with the cycling at 25℃. Cathodes after the initial 5 cycles at 60℃ (60-LCO) exhibited higher impedance compared to the cathode after initial 5 cycles at 25℃ (25-LCO), resulting in the lower rate capability upon subsequent cycling at 25℃, although the capacity values were similar at the lowest C-rate of 0.1C. In order to understand degradation of the LCO cathode at the high temperature, we analyzed the cathodes surface using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Among various peaks, intensity of lithium hydroxide (LiOH) increased substantially after the operation at 60℃, and the C-C signal that represents the conductive agent was distinctly lower on 60-LCO compared to 25-LCO. These results pointed to an excessive formation of cathode-electrolyte interphase including LiOH at 60℃, leading to the increase in the resistance and the resultant degradation in the electrochemical performances.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 2010

To understand the effects of acclimation schemes on the formation of anode biofilms, different electrical performances are characterized in this study, with the roles of suspended and attached bacteria in single-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The results show that the generation of current in single-chamber MFCs is significantly affected by the development of a biofilm matrix on the anode surface containing abundant immobilized microorganisms. The long-term operation with suspended microorganisms was demonstrated to form a dense biofilm matrix that was able to reduce the activation loss in MFCs. Also, a Pt-coated anode was not favorable for the initial or long-term bacterial attachment due to its high hydrophobicity (contact angle = $124^{\circ}$), which promotes easy detachment of the biofilm from the anode surface. Maximum power ($655.0\;mW/m^2$) was obtained at a current density of $3,358.8\;mA/m^2$ in the MFCs with longer acclimation periods. It was found that a dense biofilm was able to enhance the charge transfer rates due to the complex development of a biofilm matrix anchoring the electrochemically active microorganisms together on the anode surface. Among the major components of the extracellular polymeric substance, carbohydrates ($85.7\;mg/m^2_{anode}$) and proteins ($81.0\;mg/m^2_{anode}$) in the dense anode biofilm accounted for 17 and 19%, respectively, which are greater than those in the sparse anode biofilm.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.281-284
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• 2006

The resistive V dipole (RVD) is a V antenna with both arms loaded with the continuous Wu-King resistive profile. The RVD has many advantages for surface and subsurface probing, such as the ability to radiate a short pulse in a desired direction. The radiated pulse is simply related to the input pulse, e.g., derivative. In addition, it mostly eliminates the multiple reflections between the surface of the ground and the antenna because of its low radar cross section. The drawbacks of the RVD include the high input impedance and the difficulty in implementation. This paper presents ways to improve the accuracy and easiness of the implementation and to improve the low-frequency performance while maintaining the characteristics of the V antenna that are good for probing applications. The implemented antenna is used to form a bistatic radar to scan targets underground, and the result is imaged.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.237-245
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• 2021

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) enhances the stability of cathode materials via surface modification. Previous studies have demonstrated that an Ni-rich cathode, such as LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂, is a promising candidate owing to its high capacity, but is limited by poor cycle stability. In this study, to enhance the stability of the Ni-rich cathode, synthesized LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ was coated with Al₂O₃ using ALD. Thus, the surface-modified cathode exhibited enhanced stability by protecting the interface from Ni-O formation during the cycling process. The coated LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ exhibited a capacity of 176 mAh g^-1 at 1 C and retained up to 72% of the initial capacity after 100 cycles within a range of 2.8-4.3 V (vs Li/Li⁺. In contrast, pristine LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ presented only 58% of capacity retention after 100 cycles with an initial capacity of 173 mAh g^-1. Improved cyclability may be a result of the ALD coating, which physically protects the electrode by modifying the interface, and prevents degradation by resisting side reactions that result in capacity decay. The electrochemical impedance spectra and structural and morphological analysis performed using electron microscopy and X-ray techniques establish the surface enhancement resulting from the aforementioned strategy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2016.11a
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• pp.199-199
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• 2016

Commercially pure titanium (cp-Ti) and Ti alloys (typically Ti-6Al-4V) display excellent corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. Although the chemical composition and topography are considered important, the mechanical properties of the material and the loading conditions in the host have, conventionally. Ti and its alloys are not bioactive. Therefore, they do not chemically bond to the bone, whereas they physically bond with bone tissue. The electrochemical deposition process provides an effective surface for biocompatibility because large surface area can be served to cell proliferation. Electrochemical deposition method is an attractive technique for the deposition of hydroxyapatite (HAp). However, the adhesions of these coatings to the Ti surface needs to be improved for clinical used. Plasma electrolyte oxidation (PEO) enables control in the chemical com position, porous structure, and thickness of the $TiO_2$ layer on Ti surface. In addition, previous studies h ave concluded that the presence of $Ca^{+2}$ and ${PO_4}^{3-}$ ion coating on porous $TiO_2$ surface induced adhesion strength between HAp and Ti surface during electrochemical deposition. Silicon (Si) in particular has been found to be essential for normal bone and cartilage growth and development. Zinc (Zn) plays very important roles in bone formation and immune system regulation, and is also the most abundant trace element in bone. The objective of this work was to study electrochemical characteristcs of Zn and Si coating on Ti-6Al-4V by PEO treatment. The coating process involves two steps: 1) formation of porous $TiO_2$ on Ti-6Al-4V at high potential. A pulsed DC power supply was employed. 2) Electrochemical tests were carried out using potentiodynamic and AC impedance methoeds. The morphology, the chemical composition, and the micro-structure an alysis of the sample were examined using FE-SEM, EDS, and XRD. The enhancements of the HAp forming ability arise from $Si/Zn-TiO_2$ surface, which has formed the reduction of the Si/Zn ions. The promising results successfully demonstrate the immense potential of $Si/Zn-TiO_2$ coatings in dental and biomaterials applications.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.861-867
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• 2019

$Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ is a promising next-generation anode material for lithium-ion batteries due to excellent cycle life, low irreversible capacity, and little volume expansion during charge-discharge process. However, it has poor charge capacity at high current density due to its low electrical conductivity. To improve this weakness, porous $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ was synthesized by sol-gel method with P123 as chelating agent. The physical characteristics of as-prepared sample was investigated by XRD, SEM, and BET analysis, and electrochemical properties were characterized by cycle performance test, cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ synthesized by 0.01mol ratio of P123/Ti showed most unified particle size, high specific surface area, and relatively high porosity. EIS analysis showed that depressed semicircle size was remarkably reduced, which suggested resistance value in electrode was decreased. Capacity in rate performance showed 178 mAh/g at 0.2C, 170 mAh/g at 0.5C, 110 mA/h at 5C, and 90 mAh/g at 10C. Capacity retention also showed 99% after rate performance.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.139-139
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• 2010

LSM is widely used as a cathode material in SOFC, because of its high electrochemical activity, good stability and compatibility with YSZ electrolyte at high temperature. However, LSM in traditional cathode materials will not generate a satisfactory performance at intermediate temperature. In order to reduce the polarization resistance of cell with the operating temperature of SOFC system, the cathode material of LSCF is one of the most suitable electrode materials because of its high mixed ionic and electronic conductivity. In this report, cathode material, $La_{0.6}Sr_{0.4}Co_{0.2}Fe_{0.8}O_3$ powder for intermediate temperature SOFC was synthesized by Pechini method using the starting materials such as nitrate of La, Sr, Co and Fe including ethylene glycol, etc. As a result, the synthesized powder that calcined above $700^{\circ}C$ exhibits successfully perovskite structure, indicating phase-pure of LSCF. Moreover, the particle size, surface area, crystal structure and morphology of the synthesized oxide powders were characterized by SEM, XRD, and BET, etc. In order to evaluate the electrochemical performance for the synthesized powder, slury mixture using the synthesized cathode material was coated by screen-printing process on the anode-supported electrolyte which was prepared by a tape casting method and co-sintering. Finally, electrochemical studies of the SOFC unit cell, including measurements such as power density and impedance, were performed.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2003

Capacitance of a hybrid capacitor that has characteristics of both electrolyte capacitor and supercapacitor is determined by anode surface covered with oxide layer. In this study, optimal condition processes for anode to fabricate a high voltage hybrid capacitor was investigated. We mixed aluminum powder having mean particle size of $40{\mu}m$ with NaCl powders at weight ratio of 4 : 1 and prepared a disk type electrode after annealing at various temperature. After dissolving NaCl in $50^{\circ}C$ distilled water, heat treatment, eletropolishing, chemical treatment, and the first and the second etching of Al disk were conducted. In each process, capacitances and resistances of the disk measured by ac-impedance analyzer were compared to find its optimum treatment condition. Also, the surface morphology of treated disks were observed and compared by SEM. After the second etching, the Al disk was anodized at 365V to make an anode of hybrid supercapacitor that can be operated at 300V, Capacitance and resistance of the anodized Al disk electrode was compared with those of commercialized conventional aluminum electrolytic capacitor at different frequencies.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.162-169
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• 2009

Pure titanium and its alloys are drastically used in implant materials due to their excellent mechanical properties, high corrosion resistance and good biocompatibility. However, the widely used Ti-6Al-4V is found to release toxic ions (Al and V) into the body, leading to undesirable long-term effects. Ti-6Al-4V has much higher elastic modulus than cortical bone. Therefore, titanium alloys with low elastic modulus have been developed as biomaterials to minimize stress shielding. For this reason, Ti-30Ta-xZr alloy systems have been studied in this study. The Ti-30Ta containing Zr(5, 10 and 15 wt%) were 10 times melted to improve chemical homogeneity by using a vacuum furnace and then homogenized for 24 hrs at $1000^{\circ}C$. The specimens were cut and polished for corrosion test and Ti coating and then coated with TiN, respectively, by using DC magnetron sputtering method. The analyses of coated surface were carried out by field emission scanning electron microscope(FE-SEM). The electrochemical characteristics were examined using potentiodynamic (- 1500 mV~+ 2000 mV) and AC impedance spectroscopy(100 kHz~10 mHz) in 0.9% NaCl solution at $36.5{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. The equiaxed structure was changed to needle-like structure with increasing Zr content. The surface defects and structures were covered with TiN/Ti coated layer. From the polarization behavior in 0.9% NaCl solution, The corrosion current density of Ti-30Ta-xZr alloys decreased as Zr content increased, whereas, the corrosion potential of Ti-30Ta-xZr alloys increased as Zr content increased. The corrosion resistance of TiN/Ti-coated Ti-30Ta-xZr alloys were higher than that of the TiN-coated Ti-30Ta-xZr alloys. From the AC impedance in 0.9% NaCl solution, polarization resistance($R_p$) value of TiN/Ti coated Ti-30Ta-xZr alloys showed higher than that of TiN-coated Ti-30Ta-xZr alloys.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.265-269
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• 2014

Carbon nanofiber electrode has been fabricated for energy storage systems by the electrospinning of SU-8 precursor and subsequent pyrolysis. Various parameters including the applied voltage, the distance between syringe tip and target collector and the flow rate of the polymer affect the diameter of SU-8 electrospun nanofibers. Shrinkage during pyrolysis decreases the fiber diameter. As the pyrolysis temperature increases, the resistivity decreases dramatically. Low resistivity is one of the important characteristics of the electrodes of an energy storage device. Given the advantages of carbon nanofibers having high external surface area, electrical conductivity, and lithium intercalation ability, SU-8 derived carbon nanofibers were applied to the anode of a full lithium ion cell. In this paper, we studied the physical properties of carbon fiber electrode by scanning transmission microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and four-point probe. The electrochemical characteristics of the electrode were investigated by cyclic voltammogram and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy plots.