• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.478.2-478.2
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• 2014

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) provides self-limiting processes based on chemisorption-based reactions. Such unique features allow for superior step coverage, atomic-scale control in thickness, and surface-dependent reaction controls. Furthermore, the surface-limited deposition enables the artificial deposition of oxide and/or metallic materials onto the porous systems as long as the supply is guaranteed in terms of time in providing reactant species and removing the byproducts and redundant reactants. The unique feature of atomic layer deposition is applied to solid oxide fuel cells whose incorporates two porous cathode and anode compartments in addition to the ionic electrolyte. Specific materials are deposited to the surface sites of porous electrodes, with the aim to controlling the triple phase boundaries crucial for the optimized SOFC performances. The effect of ALD on the SOFC performance is characterized using current-voltage characteristics in addition to frequency-dependent impedance spectroscopy. The pros and cons of ALD-controlled SOFCs are discussed toward high-performance SOFC systems.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.260-275
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• 2018

The corrosion inhibition of cast iron in 1 M HCl by Phenanthroline (Phen) was investigated using potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), surface analysis and theoretical calculations. It is found that Phen exhibits high inhibition activity towards the corrosive action of HCl and its adsorption obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. The results showed that inhibition efficiency increases with Phen concentration up to a maximum value of 96% at 1.4 mM, and decreases slightly with the increase in temperature. The free adsorption energy value indicates that Phen adsorbs on cast iron surface in 1 M HCl via a simultaneous physisorption and chemisorption mechanism. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and FTIR analysis confirmed the formation of a protective film on cast iron surface, resulting in the improvement of its corrosion resistance in the studied aggressive solution. Quantum chemical calculations at the DFT level were achieved to correlate electronic structure parameters of Phen molecules with their adsorption mode.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.265-272
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• 2023

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is one of the promising methods for hydrogen production by solar energy. Iron oxide has been effectively investigated as a photoelectrode material for PEC water splitting due to its intrinsic property such as short minority carrier diffusion length. However, iron oxide has a low PEC efficiency owing to a high recombination rate between photoexcited electrons and holes. In this study, we synthesized nanoporous structured iron oxide by anodization to overcome the drawbacks and to increase surface area. The anodized iron oxide was annealed in Ar atmosphere with different purging times. In conclusion, the highest current density of 0.032 mA/cm² at 1.23 V vs. RHE was obtained with 60 s of pursing for iron oxide(Fe-60), which was 3 times higher in photocurrent density compared to iron oxide annealed with 600 s of pursing(Fe-600). The resistances and donor densities were also evaluated for all the anodized iron oxide by electrochemical impedance spectra and Mott-Schottky plot analysis.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.373-383
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• 2021

The effect of Cr addition to high Mn steel on flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC) behavior in a neutral aqueous environment was evaluated. For comparison, two types of conventional ferritic steels (API X70 steel and 9% Ni steel) were used. A range of experiments (electrochemical polarization and impedance tests, weight loss measurement, and metallographic observation of corrosion scale) were conducted. This study showed that high Mn steel with 3% Cr exhibited the highest resistance to FAC presumably due to the formation of a bi-layer scale structure composed of an inner Cr enriched Fe oxide and an outer Mn substituted partially with Fe oxide on the surface. Although the high Mn steels had the lowest corrosion resistance at the initial corrosion stage due to rapid dissolution kinetics of Mn elements on their surface, the kinetics of inner scale (i.e. Cr enriched Fe oxide) formation on Cr-bearing high Mn steel was faster in dynamic flowing condition compared to stagnant condition. On the other hand, the corrosion scales formed on API X70 and 9% Ni steels did not provide sufficient anti-corrosion function during the prolonged exposure to dynamic flowing conditions.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.10 no.9
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• pp.593-600
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• 2000

This paper investigated the conduction path and conduction mechanism in undoped polycrystalline diamond thin films deposited by microwave chemical vapor deposition. The resistances measured by ac impedance spectroscopy with different directions can not be explained by the previously-known surface conduction model. The electrodeposition of Cu and electroetching of Ag experiments showed that the conduction path is the grain boundaries within the diamond films. The electodeposition of Cu with an insulating surface layer further proved that the main conduction path in polycrystalline films in the grain boundaries. The film with high electrical conductivity has low activation energy of 45meV and higher dangling bond density. By considering the results and surface C chemical bonds, the H-C-C-H bonds at surface and in grain boundaries might be the origin of high conductivity in undoped diamond films.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.3553-3558
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• 2014

The reduced graphene oxide(rGO)/aluminum phosphate($AlPO_4$)-coated $LiMn_{1.5}Ni_{0.5}O_4$ (LMNO) cathode material has been developed by hydroxide precursor method for LMNO and by a facile solution based process for the coating with GO/$AlPO_4$ on the surface of LMNO, followed by annealing process. The amount of $AlPO_4$ has been varied from 0.5 wt % to 1.0 wt %, while the amount of rGO is maintained at 1.0 wt %. The samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The rGO/$AlPO_4$-coated LMNO electrodes exhibit better cyclic performance compared to that of pristine LMNO electrode. Specifically, rGO(1%)/$AlPO_4$(0.5%)- and rGO(1%)/$AlPO_4$(1%)-coated electrodes deliver a discharge capacity of, respectively, $123mAhg^{-1}$ and $122mAhg^{-1}$ at C/6 rate, with a capacity retention of, respectively, 96% and 98% at 100 cycles. Furthermore, the surface-modified LMNO electrodes demonstrate higher-rate capability. The rGO(1%)/$AlPO_4$(0.5%)-coated LMNO electrode shows the highest rate performance demonstrating a capacity retention of 91% at 10 C rate. The enhanced electrochemical performance can be attributed to (1) the suppression of the direct contact of electrode surface with the electrolyte, resulting in side reactions with the electrolyte due to the high cut-off voltage, and (2) smaller surface resistance and charge transfer resistance, which is confirmed by total polarization resistance and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.606-610
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• 2019

In this study, we demonstrated that the nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on the flexible carbon fiber bundle electrode with BDD nanocomposites (CF-BDD electrode). As a nano seeding method for the deposition of BDD on flexible carbon fiber, electrostatic self-assembly technique was employed. Surface morphology of BDD coated carbon fiber electrode was observed by scanning electron microscopy. And the electrochemical characteristics were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry. This CF-BDD electrode exhibited a large surface area, a direct electron transfer between the redox species and the electrode surface and a high catalytic activity, resulting in a wider linear range (3.75~50 mM), a faster response time (within 3 s) and a higher sensitivity (388.8 nA/mM) in comparison to a bare CF electrode. As a durable and flexible electrochemical sensing electrode, this brand new CF-BDD scheme has promising advantages on various electrochemical and wearable sensor applications.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.268-275
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• 2021

The three factors that determine the strength of concrete are the strength of cement paste, aggregate and ITZ(Interfacial Transition Zone) between aggregate and cement paste. Out of these, the strength of ITZ is the most vulnerable. ITZ is formed in 10~50㎛, the ratio of calcium hydroxide is high, and CSH appears low ratio. A high calcium hydroxide ratio causes a decrease in the bond strength of ITZ. ITZ is due to further weak area. The problem of ITZ appears as a more disadvantageous factor when it used lightweight aggregate. The previous study of ITZ properties have measured interfacial toughness, identified influencing factors ITZ, and it progressed SEM and XRD analysis on cement matrix without using coarse aggregates. also it was identified microstructure using EMPA-BSE equipment. However, in previous studies, it is difficult to understand the microstructure and mechanical properties. Therefore, in this study, a method of measuring electrical resistance using EIS(Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) measuring equipment was adopted to identify the ITZ between natural aggregate and lightweight aggregate, and it was tested the change of ITZ by surface coating of lightweight aggregate with ground granulated blast furnace slag. As a result, the compressive strength of natural aggregate and lightweight aggregate appear high strength of natural aggregate with high density, surface coating lightweight aggregate appear strength higher than natural aggregate. The electrical resistivity of ITZ according to the aggregate appeared difference.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.150.2-150.2
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• 2017

This research was conducted to investigate in detail the effect of $PO_4{^{3-}}$, $CO_3{^{2-}}$ and $F^-$ anions on the electrochemical properties of the thin air-formed oxide film-covered AZ31 Mg alloy. In this work, native air-formed oxide films on AZ31 Mg alloy samples were prepared by knife-abrading method and the changes in the electrochemical properties of the air-formed oxide film were investigated in electrolytes containing 0.01 M, 0.05 M and 0.1 M of $PO_4{^{3-}}$, $CO_3{^{2-}}$ and $F^-$ anions. It was observed that the trend of open circuit potential (OCP) transients changed only in the solution containing $PO_4{^{3-}}$ ions. The Nyquist plots obtained from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed that the resistance of the new surface films formed in fluoride ion containing bath increased with the increase in concentration of fluoride ions but the resistance of surface films formed in carbonate ion containing bath decreased with the increase in concentration of carbonate ions. The potentiodynamic polarization curves illustrated that under anodic polarization, there was growth of porous passive layer only in fluoride ion containing solution while the surface layer formed in phosphate and carbonate ion containing solutions lost its passivity at high anodic potential of $2.5V_{Ag/AgCl}$.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.42.2-42.2
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• 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 ($450^{\circ}C$).