• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.530-536
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• 2023

The theoretical capacity of silicon-based anode materials is more than 10 times higher than the capacity of graphite, so silicon can be used as an alternative to graphite anode materials. However, silicon has a much higher contraction and expansion rate due to lithiation of the anode material during the charge and discharge processes, compared to graphite anode materials, resulting in the pulverization of silicon particles during repeated charge and discharge. To compensate for the above issues, there is a growing interest in SiO_x materials with a silica or carbon coating to minimize the expansion of the silicon. In this study, spherical silica (SiO₂) was synthesized using TEOS as a starting material for the fabrication of such SiO_x through heating in a reduction atmosphere. SiO_x powder was produced by adding PVA as a carbon source and inducing the reduction of silica by the carbothermal reduction method. The ratio of TEOS to distilled water, the stirring time, and the amount of PVA added were adjusted to induce size and morphology, resulting in uniform nanosized spherical silica particles. For the reduction of the spherical monodisperse silica particles, a nitrogen gas atmosphere mixed with 5 % hydrogen was applied, and oxygen atoms in the silica were selectively removed by the carbothermal reduction method. The produced SiO_x powder was characterized by FE-SEM to examine the morphology and size changes of the particles, and XPS and FT-IR were used to examine the x value (O/Si ratio) of the synthesized SiO_x.

• 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 the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.222-228
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• 2014

Ni-rich system $Li[Ni_{1-x-y}Co_xMn_y]O_2$ of lithium secondary battery cathode material keep a high discharge capacity. However, by the Ni content increases, there is a problem that the electrochemical properties and stability of the structure are reduced. In order to solve these problems, research for positive ion doping is performed. The one of the cathode material, barium-doped $Li[Ni_{0.6-x}Ba_xCo_{0.1}Mn_{0.3}]O_2$ (x=0.01), was synthesized by the precursor, $Ni_{0.6}Co_{0.1}Mn_{0.3}(OH)_2$, from the co-precipitation method. The barium doped materials have studied the structural and electrochemical properties. The analysis of structural properties, results of X-ray diffraction analysis, and those results confirmed the change of the lattice from the binding energy in the structure by barium doping. Increased stability of the layered structure was observed by $I_{(006)}+I_{(102)}/I_{(101)}$(R-factor) ratio decrease. we expected that the electrochemical characteristics are improved. 23 mAh/g discharge capacity of barium-doped $Li[Ni_{0.6-x}Ba_xCo_{0.1}Mn_{0.3}]O_2$ (x=0.01) electrode is higher than discharge capacity of $Li[Ni_{0.6}Co_{0.1}Mn_{0.3}]O_2$ due to decrease overvoltage. And, through the structural stability was confirmed that improved the cycle characteristics. We caused a reduction in charge transfer resistance between the electrolyte and the electrode was confirmed that the C-rate characteristics are improved.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.4205-4209
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• 2011

The $Li_2Mn_{0.5}Fe_{0.5}SiO_4$ silicate was prepared by blending of $Li_2MnSiO_4$ and $Li_2FeSiO_4$ precursors with same molar ratio. The one of the silicates of $Li_2FeSiO_4$ is known as high capacitive up to ~330 mAh/g due to 2 mole electron exchange, and the other of $Li_2FeSiO_4$ has identical structure with $Li_2MnSiO_4$ and shows stable cycle with less capacity of ~170 mAh/g. The major drawback of silicate family is low electronic conductivity (3 orders of magnitude lower than $LiFePO_4$). To overcome this disadvantage, carbon composite of the silicate compound was prepared by sucrose mixing with silicate precursors and heat-treated in reducing atmosphere. The crystal structure and physical morphology of $Li_2Mn_{0.5}Fe_{0.5}SiO_4$ was investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The $Li_2Mn_{0.5}Fe_{0.5}SiO_4$/C nanocomposite has a maximum discharge capacity of 200 mAh/g, and 63% of its discharge capacity is retained after the tenth cycles. We have realized that more than 1 mole of electrons are exchanged in $Li_2Mn_{0.5}Fe_{0.5}SiO_4$. We have observed that $Li_2Mn_{0.5}Fe_{0.5}SiO_4$ is unstable structure upon first delithiation with structural collapse. High temperature cell performance result shows high capacity of discharge capacity (244 mAh/g) but it had poor capacity retention (50%) due to the accelerated structural degradation and related reaction.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.219-225
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• 2000

The spinel structured $LiMn_2O_4$was obtained by two consecutive heat treatment on xerogel; the first heat treatment was at $150^{\circ}C$ and the second at $350^{\circ}C$ was obtained by sol-gel process using an aqueous solution of lithium hydroxide and manganese acetate. The synthesized $LiMn_2O_4$ by the sol-gel process showed a discharge capacity of 88~56 mAh/g after 15 cycles in Li/lM $LiClO_4$(in PC)/$LiMn_2O_4$at a current density of 0.25 mA/$\textrm{cm}^2$ and the voltage ranged 3.5 V to 4.3 V. For the second heat treatment above $350^{\circ}C$, $Mn_2O_3$was formed as a by-product during the synthesis of $LiMn_2O_4$. The heat treatment at $500^{\circ}C$, for example, showed a lower discharge capacity 81~47 mAh/g, after the 15 charge/discharge cycles. The lower capacity was due to the increment of $Mn^{3+}$ ion and this phenomenon was in agreement with the Jahn-Teller distortion.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 2009

$\beta-Ga_{2}O_{3}$ nanorods were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition method using nickel-oxide nanoparticle as a catalyst and gallium metal powder as a source material. The average diameter of nanorods was around 160 nm and the average length was $4{\mu}m$. Also, we confirmed that the synthesis of nanorods follows the vapor-solid growth mechanism. From the results of X-ray diffraction and HR-TEM observation, it can be found that the synthesized nanorods consisted of a typical core-shell structure with single-crystalline $\beta-Ga_{2}O_{3}$ core with a monoclinic crystal structure and an outer amorphous gallium oxide layer. Li/$\beta-Ga_{2}O_{3}$ nanorods cell delivered capacity of 867 mAh/g-$\beta-Ga_{2}O_{3}$ at first discharge. Although the Li/$\beta-Ga_{2}O_{3}$ nanorods cell showed low coulombic efficiency at first cycle, the cell exhibited stable cycle life property after fifth cycle.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.229-236
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• 2014

In this study, the method to improve the electrochemical performance of $LiFePO_4$ by carbon coating and morphology control into porous structure was studied. The synthesis of $LiFePO_4$ was done by coprecipitation method by two step procedure. In the first step $FePO_4$ precursor was synthesized by coprecipitation method, followed by impregnation of lithium into the precursor at $750^{\circ}C$. The carbon coating was done by both physical and chemical coating processes. Using the physical coating process, the amount of coating layer was 6% and the capacity achieved was 125 mAh/g. In case of chemical coating process, the active material delivered 130~140 mAh/g, which is about 40% improvement of delivered capacity compared to uncoated $LiFePO_4$. For the morphology control into porous structure, we added nano particles of $Al_2O_3$ or $SiO_2$ into the active materials and formed the nanocomposite of ($Al_2O_3$ or $SiO_2$)/$LiFePO_4$. Between them, $SiO_2/LiFePO_4$ porous nanocomposite showed larger capacity of 132 mAh/g.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.259-259
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• 2007

층상구조의 전이금속 산화물($LiMO_2$, M=Co, Ni, Mn)은 리튬이차전지용 양극재료로 활발한 연구가 진행되고 있다. 차세대 리튬이차전지 시스템의 개발 및 고성능화를 위해서는 전지의 용량을 결정하는 핵심 부품인 양극재료의 고용량화 및 고안정화는 필수 불가결하다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 상업적으로 큰 장점이 있는 고상반응 공정을 이용하여 리튬이차전지용 양극소재를 제조하고, 소재의 전기화학적, 구조적인 특성을 평가하였으며, 다음과 같은 주제를 가지고 연구를 진행하였다. $LiCoO_2$ 양극재료는 리튬이온전지로 널리 사용되고 있다. 높은 에너지 밀도의 리튬이온전지를 얻기 위해서는 $LiCoO_2$ 양극재료가 고용량화 및 고밀도화를 가져야 한다. 여기서 $LiCoO_2$ 분말이 irregular particle morphology를 가지면 tap density가 $2.2-2.4gcm^{-3}$로 에너지 밀도가 낮으나, 구형 $LiCoO_2$의 정극재료는 tap density가 $2.6-2.8gcm^{-3}$로 상대적으로 energy density가 높아지는 효과가 있다. 구형 $LiCoO_2$ 양극재료를 합성하기 위해서는 chelating agent를 이용한 "controlled crystallization" 침전법을 사용하여 합성한 구형 코발트 수화물을 사용하고 있다. "controlled crystallization" 침전법에서 사용되는 chelating agent로는 주로 ammonia가 이용되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 chelating agent로 ethylene diamine을 사용하여 sodium hydroxides를 precipitation으로 침전 반응하여 구형 코발트 수화물을 합성하였다. 상기 방법으로 합성된 코발트 수화물과 리튬 수화물($LiOH{\cdot}H_2O$-고순도화학(高殉道化學))을 사용하여 고상법을 통하여 $LiCoO_2$를 합성하였다. 제조된 분말의 결정구조와 전기화학적 특성분석은 X-선 회절분석 및 리트벨트 구조정산, 그리고 충/방전 싸이클링을 수행하였으며, 분말의 미세구조 변화를 SEM을 이용하여 분석하였다.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.45-50
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• 2015

In the present work, to increase the chemical stability of the lithium-ion-conducting ceramic electrolyte ($Li_{1+x+y}Al_xTi_{2-x}Si_yP_{3-y}O_{12}$, LATP) in the strong alkaline solution, the surface of LATP was modified by the nitridation process. The surface and structural properties of nitride LATP solid electrolyte were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectrometer and scanning electron microscopy and ac-impedance spectroscopy, which were correlated to the chemical stability and electrochemical performance of LATP. The nitrided LATP immersed in the alkaline solution for 30 days exhibits the enhanced chemical stability than the pristine LATP. Moreover, a rechargeable hybrid Li-air battery constructed with the nitrided LATP solid electrolyte shows considerably reduced discharge-charge voltage gaps (enhanced the round-trip efficiency) in comparison to the cell constructed with pristine LATP, which indicate that the surface nitridation process can be the efficient way to improve the chemical stability of solid electrolyte in alkaline media.