• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.303-308
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• 2018

Silicon/Carbon (Si/C) composite as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries was synthesized to find the effect of binders and an electrolyte additive. Si/C composites were prepared by two step method, including magnesiothermic reduction of SBA-15 (Santa Barbara Amorphous material No. 15) and carbonization of phenol resin. The electrochemical performances of Si/C composites were investigated by charge/discharge, cyclic voltammetry and impedance tests. The anode electrode of Si/C composite with PAA binder appeared better capacity (1,899 mAh/g) and the capacity retention ratio (92%) than that of other composition coin cells during 40 cycles. Then, Vinylene carbonate (VC) was tested as an electrolyte additive. The influence of this additive on the behavior of Si/C anodes was very positive (3,049 mAh/g), since the VC additive is formed passivation films on Si/C surfaces and suppresses irreversible changes.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.459-464
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• 2016

In this study, the electrochemical characteristics of porous silicon/carbon composite anode were investigated to improve the cycle stability and rate performance in lithium ion batteries. In this study, the effect of TEOS and $NH_3$ concentration, mixing speed and temperature on particle size of nano silica was investigated using $St{\ddot{o}}ber$ method. Nano porous Si/C composites were prepared by the fabrication processes including the synthesis of nano $SiO_2$, magnesiothermic reduction of nano $SiO_2$ to obtain nano porous Si by HCl etching, and carbonization of phenolic resin. Also the electrochemical performances of nano porous Si/C composites as the anode were performed by constant current charge/discharge test, cyclic voltammetry and impedance tests in the electrolyte of $LiPF_6$ dissolved inorganic solvents (EC:DMC:EMC=1:1:1vol%). It is found that the coin cell using nano porous Si/C composite has the capacity of 2,006 mAh/g and the capacity retention ratio was 55.4% after 40 cycle.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.136-142
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• 2016

As precursors of cathode materials for lithium ion batteries, $Ni_{1/3}Co_{1/3}Mn_{1/3}(OH)_2$ powders are prepared in a continuously stirred tank reactor via a co-precipitation reaction between aqueous metal sulfates and NaOH in the presence of $NH_4OH$ in air or nitrogen ambient. Calcination of the precursors with $Li_2CO_3$ for 8 h at $1,000^{\circ}C$ in air produces dense spherical cathode materials. The precursors and final powders are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, particle size analysis, tap density measurement, and thermal gravimetric analysis. The precursor powders obtained in air or nitrogen ambient show XRD patterns identified as $Ni_{1/3}Co_{1/3}Mn_{1/3}(OH)_2$. Regardless of the atmosphere, the final powders exhibit the XRD patterns of $LiNi_{1/3}Co_{1/3}Mn_{1/3}O_2$ (NCM). The precursor powders obtained in air have larger particle size and lower tap density than those obtained in nitrogen ambient. NCM powders show similar tendencies in terms of particle size and tap density. Electrochemical characterization is performed after fabricating a coin cell using NCM as the cathode and Li metal as the anode. The NCM powders from the precursors obtained in air and those from the precursors obtained in nitrogen have similar initial charge/discharge capacities and cycle life. In conclusion, the powders co-precipitated in air can be utilized as precursor materials, replacing those synthesized in the presence of nitrogen injection, which is the usual industrial practice.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.384-388
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• 2013

Fluorine-doping on the $Li_{1+x}Mn_{1.9-x}Al_{0.1}O_4$ spinel cathode materials is found to alter crystal shape, and enhance initial interfacial reactivity and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation, leading to improved initial coulombic efficiency in the voltage region of 3.3-4.3 V vs. Li/$Li^+$ in the room temperature electrolyte of 1 M $LiPF_6$/EC:EMC. SEM imaging reveals that the facetting on higher surface energy plane of (101) is additionally developed at the edges of an octahedron that is predominantly grown with the most thermodynamically stable (111) plane, which enhances interfacial reactivity. Fluorine-doping also increases the amount of interfacially reactive $Mn^{3+}$ on both bulk and surface for charge neutrality. Enhanced interfacial reactivity by fluorine-doping attributes instant formation of a stable SEI layer and improved initial cyclic efficiency. The data contribute to a basic understanding of the impacts of composition on material properties and cycling behavior of spinel-based cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2013

The structural and electrochemical properties of $Li_{0.99}Ni_{0.46}Mn_{1.56}O_4$ ($Fd{\bar{3}}m$, disordered spinel) cathode material were studied and compared with stoichiometric $LiNi_{0.5}Mn_{1.5}O_4$ ($P4_332$, ordered spinel). First cycle discharge capacity of $Li_{0.99}Ni_{0.46}Mn_{1.56}O_4$ was similar to that of $LiNi_{0.5}Mn_{1.5}O_4$ at C/3 and 1C rate, but cycling performance of $Li_{0.99}Ni_{0.46}Mn_{1.56}O_4$ was better than that of $LiNi_{0.5}Mn_{1.5}O_4$ especially at high rate of 1C. This can be explained by performing synchrotron based in-situ XRD and results of GITT measurements. It is considered that faster lithium ion diffusion in the $Li_{0.99}Ni_{0.46}Mn_{1.56}O_4$ cathode results in the improvement of the rate capability. To study structural changes during cycling, synchrotron in-situ XRD patterns of both the samples were recorded at C/3 and 1C rate. Compared to stoichiometric $LiNi_{0.5}Mn_{1.5}O_4$, disordered $Li_{0.99}Ni_{0.46}Mn_{1.56}O_4$ spinel sample has pseudo one phase behavior and one step phase transition between two cubic phases. So, $LiNi_{0.5}Mn_{1.5}O_4$ would experience a much greater strain and stress, originating from the two phase transitions between three cubic phases and suffer from capacity loss during cycling especially at high rate.

• Electronic Materials Letters
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.755-765
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• 2018

In situ nitrogen doped hard carbon nanotubes (NHCNT) were fabricated by pyrolyzing tubular nitrogen doped conjugated microporous polymer. KOH activated NHCNT (K-NHCNT) were also prepared to improve their porous structure. XRD, SEM, TEM, EDS, XPS, Raman spectra, $N_2$ adsorption-desorption, galvanostatic charging-discharge, cyclic voltammetry and EIS were used to characterize the structure and performance of NHCNT and K-NHCNT. XRD and Raman spectra reveal K-NHCNT own a more disorder carbon. SEM indicate that the diameters of K-NHCNT are smaller than that of NHCNT. TEM and EDS further indicate that K-NHCNT are hollow carbon nanotubes with nitrogen uniformly distributed. $N_2$ adsorption-desorption analysis reveals that K-NHCNT have an ultra high specific surface area of $1787.37m^2g^{-1}$, which is much larger than that of NHCNT ($531.98m^2g^{-1}$). K-NHCNT delivers a high reversible capacity of $918mAh\;g^{-1}$ at $0.6A\;g^{-1}$. Even after 350 times cycling, the capacity of K-NHCNT cycled after 350 cycles at $0.6A\;g^{-1}$ is still as high as $591.6mAh\;g^{-1}$. Such outstanding electrochemical performance of the K-NHCNT are clearly attributed by its superior characters, which have great advantages over those commercial available carbon nanotubes ($200-450mAh\;g^{-1}$) not only for its desired electrochemical performance but also for its easily and scaling-up preparation.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.59-66
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• 2022

To investigate the rate-determining step of nickel, cobalt and copper electrowinning, experiments were conducted by varying the electrolyte temperature and agitation speed using a rotating disc electrode. Analyzing the rate-determining step by calculating the activation energy in the electrowinning process, it was found that nickel electrowinning is controlled by a mixed mechanism (partly by chemical reaction and partly by mass transport), cobalt is controlled by chemical reaction, and copper is controlled by mass transfer. Electrowinning of nickel, cobalt and copper was performed by varying the electrolyte temperature and agitation speed, and the comparison of the current efficiencies was used the determine the rate-determining step.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.445-450
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• 2024

The expansion of lithium-ion battery usage beyond portable electronic devices to electric vehicles and energy storage systems is driven by their high energy density and favorable cycle characteristics. Enhancing the stability and performance of these batteries involves exploring solid electrolytes as alternatives to liquid ones. While sulfide-based solid electrolytes have received significant attention for commercialization, research on amorphous-phase glass solid electrolytes in oxide-based systems remains limited. Here, we investigate the glass transition temperatures and sintering behaviors by changing the molecular ratio of Li₂O/B₂O₃ in borate glass comprising Li₂O-B₂O₃-Al₂O₃ system. The glass transition temperature is decreasing as increasing the amount of Li₂O. When we sintered at 450℃, just above the glass transition temperature, the samples did not consolidate well, while the proper sintered samples could be obtained under the higher temperature. We successfully obtained the borate glass ceramics phases by melt-quenching method, and the sintering characteristics are investigated. Future studies could explore optimizing ion conductivity through refining processing conditions, adjusting the glass former-to-modifier ratio, and incorporating additional Li salt to enhance the ionic conductivity.

• Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Fire Science and Engineering Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.513-517
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• 2008

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.177-180
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• 2012

In this study, we prepared $LiFePO_4$- poly (sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) composite by the hydrothermal method and ball-milling process. Different wt% PSS were added to $LiFePO_4$. The cathode electrodes were made from mixtures of $LiFePO_4$-PSS: SP-270: PVDF in a weighting ratio of 70%: 25%: 5%. $LiFePO_4$-PSS powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical properties of $LiFePO_4$-PSS/Li batteries were analyzed by cyclic voltammetry, charge/discharge tests, and AC impedance spectroscopy. A Li/$LiFePO_4$-PSS battery with 4.75 wt% PSS shows the best electrochemical properties, with a discharge capacity of 128 mAh/g.