• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.470-477
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• 2021

Energy storage systems should address issues such as power fluctuations and rapid charge-discharge; to meet this requirement, CoFe₂O₄ (CFO) spinel nanoparticles with a suitable electrical conductivity and various redox states are synthesized and used as electrode materials for supercapacitors. In particular, CFO electrodes combined with carbon nanofibers (CNFs) can provide long-term cycling stability by fabricating binder-free three-dimensional electrodes. In this study, CFO-decorated CNFs are prepared by electrospinning and a low-cost hydrothermal method. The effects of heat treatment, such as the activation of CNFs (ACNFs) and calcination of CFO-decorated CNFs (C-CFO/ACNFs), are investigated. The C-CFO/ACNF electrode exhibits a high specific capacitance of 142.9 F/g at a scan rate of 5 mV/s and superior rate capability of 77.6% capacitance retention at a high scan rate of 500 mV/s. This electrode also achieves the lowest charge transfer resistance of 0.0063 Ω and excellent cycling stability (93.5% retention after 5,000 cycles) because of the improved ion conductivity by pathway formation and structural stability. The results of our work are expected to open a new route for manufacturing hybrid capacitor electrodes containing the C-CFO/ACNF electrode that can be easily prepared with a low-cost and simple process with enhanced electrochemical performance.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.152-161
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• 2023

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) have been considered one of promising power sources for large scale energy storage systems (ESS) because of their excellent cycle performance and good safety. However, VRFBs still have a few challenging issues, such as poor Coulombic efficiency due to vanadium crossover between catholyte and anolyte, although recent efforts have shown promise in electrochemical performance. Herein, the vanadium complexes with various glyme ligands have been examined as active materials to suppress vanadium crossover between catholyte and anolyte, thus improving the Coulombic efficiency of VRFBs. The conventional Nafion membrane has a channel size of ca. 10 Å, whereas vanadium cation species are small compared to the Nafion membrane channel. For this reason, vanadium cations can permeate through the Nafion membrane, resulting in significant vanadium crossover during cycling, although the Nafion membrane is a kind of ion-selective membrane. In this regard, various glyme additives, such as 1,2-dimethoxyethane (monoglyme), diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (diglyme), and tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (tetraglyme) have been examined as complexing agents for vanadium cations to increase the size of vanadium-ligand complexes in electrolytes. Since the size of vanadium-glyme complexes is proportional to the chain length of glymes, the vanadium permeability of the Nafion membrane decreases with increasing the chain length of glymes. As a result, the vanadium complexes with tetraglyme shows the excellent electrochemical performance of VRFBs, such as stable capacity retention (90.4% after 100 cycles) and high Coulombic efficiency (98.2% over 100 cycles).

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.348-355
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• 2023

Magnesium secondary batteries are attracting much attention due to their potential to replace conventionally used lithium ion batteries. Magnesium secondary battery cathode material Mo₆S₈ were synthesized by molten salt synthesis method and PVC as a carbon materials were added to improve electrochemical properties. Crystal structure, size and surface of the synthesized anode materials were measured through XRD and SEM. Charge-discharge profiles and rate capabilities were measured by battery test system. 2.81 wt% PVC coated sample showed the best rate capabilities of 85.8 mAh/g at 0.125 C-rate, 69.2 mAh/g at 0.5 C-rate, and 60.5 mAh/g at 1 C-rate.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2024

Lithium-ion batteries (LIB) are widely used in various sectors, such as transportation (e.g., electric vehicles (EV)) and energy (e.g., energy storage facilities) due to their high energy density, broad operating temperature (-20 ℃ ~ 60 ℃), and high capacities. LIBs are powerful but fragile on external factors, including pressure, physical damage, overheating, and overcharging, that cause thermal runaway causing fires and explosions. During a LIB fire, a large amount of oxygen is generated from the decomposition of ionogenic materials. A water fire extinguisher that helps with cooling and suffocating must be essentially required at the same time. In fact, however, it is difficult to suppress LIB fires in the case of EVs because a LIB is installed with a battery pack housing that interrupts direct extinguishing by water. Thus, this study aims to investigate effective fire extinguishing measurements for LIB fires by using an EV. Relevant documents, including research articles and reports, were reviewed to identify effective ways of LIBs fire extinguishing. A real-scale fire experiment generating thermal runaway was carried out to figure out the combustion characteristics of EVs. This study revealed that the most effective fire extinguishing measurements for LIB fires are applying fire blankets and water tanks. However, there is still a lack of adequate regulation and guidelines for LIB fire extinguishment. Taking this into account, developing functional fire extinguishment measurements and available regulatory instruments is an urgent issue to secure the safety of firefighters and citizens.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.53-60
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• 2024

We developed a coin cell battery using high-strength carbon fiber and glass fiber, taking a preliminary step toward creating a battery that supports structural loads and stores energy, with potential applications in satellite structures. High-strength fiber-based electrodes and electrolytes were fabricated and applied to coin cells to evaluate their electrochemical performance. Consequently, the discharge capacities under continuous charge/discharge cycles and high discharge rates of 2 C-rate were determined to be 122.9 and 103.5 mAh/g, respectively, indicating that high-strength fibers can replace conventional battery components. Although current performance is lower than that of commercial batteries, this research has demonstrated significant potential as foundational work for multi-functional energy storage devices and is expected to contribute to the development of structural batteries for satellite applications.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2015

Recently, carbon capture and storage (CCS) techniques have been globally studied. This study was conducted to use waste cement powder as an efficient raw material of mineral carbonation for $CO_2$ sequestration. Direct aqueous carbonation experiment was conducted with injecting pure $CO_2$ gas (99.9%) to a reactor containing $200m{\ell}$ reacting solution and the pulverized cement paste (W:C = 6:4) having particle size less than 0.15 mm. The effects of two additives (NaCl, $MgCl_2$) in carbonation were analyzed. The characteristics of carbonate minerals and carbonation process according to the type of additives and pH change were carefully evaluated. pH of reacting solution was gradually decreased with injecting $CO_2$ gas. $Ca^{2+}$ ion concentration in $MgCl_2$ containing solution was continuously decreased. In none $MgCl_2$ solution, however, $Ca^{2+}$ ion concentration was increased again as pH decreased. This is probably due to the dissolution of newly formed carbonate mineral in low pH solution. XRD analysis indicates that calcite is dominant carbonate mineral in none $MgCl_2$ solution whereas aragonite is dominant in $MgCl_2$ containing solution. Unstable vaterite formed in early stage of experiment was transformed to well crystallized calcite with decreasing pH in the absence of $MgCl_2$ additives. In the presence of $MgCl_2$ additives, the content of aragonite was increased with decreasing pH whereas the content of calite was decreased.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2002

The forming conditions of X-ray storage phosrhors $BaFBr_{1-x}I_x:Eu^{2+}$, $Na^+$ have been investigated, and measured the PSL emission spectra and its intensity, fading characteristics and does dependence of the prepared phosphors. These characteristics were compared with those of commercial image plate (ST-III) obtained from Fuji Photo Film Co. The optimal preparing conditions of $BaFBr_{1-x}I_x:Eu^{2+}$, $Na^+$ Phosphor were 0.5 mol% of $EuF_3$, 4.0 mol% of NaF and composition ratio x=0.3, and the sintering temperature were $950^{\circ}C$ in $H_2$ atmosphere. When the composition ratio x was equal to 0, the spectral range of the luminescence of $BaFBr_{1-x}I_x:Eu^{2+}$, $Na^+$ phosphor was $365{\sim}420\;nm$, and its maximum luminescence intensity appeared at 390 nm. When composition ratio x was not equal to 0, the wavelength ranges and peak of the spectra were shifted to the longer wavelength with the growth of composition ratio x. A good linearity was shown between the PSL intensity and X-ray irradiation dose. The phosphor sample with x=0.3 exhibited better fading characteristics than that of other $BaFBr_{1-x}I_x:Eu^{2+}$ phosphor samples, and the fading characteristics of the PSL intensity at room temperature were shown poorer with increasing $I^-$ ion concentration. The lattice constant of the phosphor becomes larger with increasing the $I^-$ ion concentration.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.321-329
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• 2013

Recently, the medium-low level radioactive waste from nuclear power plant must be transported from temporary storage to the final repository. Medium-low level radioactive waste, which is composed mainly of the liquid ion exchange resin, has been consolidated with cementitious material in the plastic or iron container. Since cementitious material is brittle, it would generate cracks by impact load during transportation, signifying leakage of radioactive ray. In order to design the safety transporting equipment, there is a need to check the compressive strength of the current waste. However, because it is impossible to measure strength by direct method due to leakage of radioactive ray, we will estimate the strength indirectly by the dynamic modulus of elasticity. Therefore, it must be identified the relationship between of strength and dynamic modulus of elasticity. According to the waste acceptance criteria, the compressive strength of cement based solid is defined as more than 3.44 MPa (500 psi). Compressive strength of the present solid is likely to be significantly higher than this baseline because of continuous hydration of cement during long period. On this background, we have tried to produce the specimens of the 28 day's compressive strength of 3 to 30 MPa having the same material composition as the solid product for the medium-low level radioactive waste, and analyze the relationship between the strength and the dynamic modulus of elasticity. By controling the addition rates of AE agent, we made the mixture containing the ion exchange resin and showing the target compressive strength (3~30 MPa). The dynamic modulus of elasticity of this mixtures is 4.1~10.2 GPa, about 20 GPa lower in the equivalent compressive strength level than that of ordinary concrete, and increasing the discrepancy according to increase strength. The compressive strength and the dynamic modulus of elasticity show the liner relationship.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.69-75
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• 2006

Improper disposal of petroleum and spills from underground storage tanks have created large areas with highly toxic contamination of the soil and groundwater. Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is widely used as a fuel additive because of its advantageous properties of increasing the octane value and reducing carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon exhausts. However, MTBE is categorized as a possible human carcinogen. This research investigated the Modified Photo-Fenton system which is based on the Modified Fenton reaction and UV light irradiation. The Modified Fenton reaction is effective for MTBE degradation near a neutral pH, using the ferric ion complex composed of a ferric ion and environmentally friendly organic chelating agents. This research was intended to treat high concentrations of MTBE; thus, 1,000 mg/L MTBE was chosen. The objectives of this research are to find the optimal reaction conditions and to elucidate the kinetic and mechanism of MTBE degradation by the Modified Photo-Fenton reaction. Based on the results of experiments, citrate was chosen among eight chelating agents as the candidate for the Modified Photo-Fenton reaction because it has a relatively higher final pH and MTBE removal efficiency than the others, and it has a relatively low toxicity and is rapidly biodegradable. MTBE degradation was found to follow pseudo-first-order kinetics. Under the optimum conditions, [$Fe^{3+}$] : [Citrate] = 1 mM: 4 mM, 3% $H_2O_2$, 17.4 kWh/L UV dose, and initial pH 6.0, the 1000 ppm MTBE was degraded by 86.75% within 6 hours and 99.99% within 16 hours. The final pH value was 6.02. The degradation mechanism of MTBE by the Modified Photo-Fenton Reaction included two diverse pathways and tert-butyl formate (TBF) was identified to be the major degradation intermediate. Attributed to the high solubility, stability, and reactivity of the ferric-citrate complexes in the near neutral condition, this Modified Photo-Fenton reaction is a promising treatment process for high concentrations of MTBE under or near a neutral pH.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2019

A macroporous Sn thick film as a high capacity negative electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery was prepared by using a chemical etching method using nitric acid for a Sn film having a thickness of $52{\mu}m$. The porous Sn thick film greatly reduced the over-voltage for the alloying reaction with lithium by the increased reaction area. At the same time. The porous structure of active Sn film plays a part in the buffer and reduces the damage by the volume change during cycles. Since the porous Sn thick film electrode does not require the use of the binder and the conductive carbon black, it has substantially larger energy density. As the concentration of nitric acid in etching solution increased, the degree of the etching increased. The etching of the Sn film effectively proceeded with nitric acid of 3 M concentration or more. The porous Sn film could not be recovered because the most of Sn was eluted within 60 seconds by the rapid etching rate in the 5 M nitric acid. In the case of etching with 4 M nitric acid for 60 seconds, the appropriate porous Sn film was formed with 48.9% of weight loss and 40.3% of thickness change during chemical acid etching process. As the degree of etching of Sn film increased, the electrochemical activity and the reversible capacity for the lithium storage of the Sn film electrode were increased. The highest reversible specific capacity of 650 mAh/g was achieved at the etching condition with 4 M nitric acid. The porous Sn film electrode showed better cycle performance than the conventional electrode using a Sn powder.