• 한국재료학회지
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.288-294
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• 2011

Simultaneous Ni and C codeposition by electrolysis was investigated with the aim of obtaining better corrosion resistivity and surface conductivity of a metallic bipolar plate for application in fuel cells and redox flow batteries. The carbon content in the Ni-C composite plate fell in a range of 9.2~26.2 at.% as the amount of carbon in the Ni Watt bath and the roughness of the composite were increased. The Ni-C composite with more than 21.6 at.% C content did not show uniformly dispersed carbon. It also displayed micro-sized defects such as cracks and crevices, which result in pitting or crevice corrosion. The corrosion resistance of the Ni-C composite in sulfuric acid is similar with that of pure Ni. Electrochemical test results such as passivation were not satisfactory; however, the Ni-C composite still displayed less than $10^{-4}$ $A/cm^2$ passivation current density. Passivation by an anodizing technique could yield better corrosion resistance in the Ni-C composite, approaching that of pure Ni plating. Surface resistivity of pure Ni after passivation was increased by about 8% compared to pure Ni. On the other hand, the surface resistivity of the Ni-C composite with 13 at.% C content was increased by only 1%. It can be confirmed that the metal plate electrodeposited Ni-C composite can be applied as a bipolar plate for fuel cells and redox flow batteries.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.1-18
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• 2014

Li-air cell is an exotic type of energy storage and conversion device considered to be half battery and half fuel cell. Its successful commercialization highly depends on the timely development of key components. Among these key components, the catalyst (i.e., the core portion of the air electrode) is of critical importance and of the upmost priority. Indeed, it is expected that these catalysts will have a direct and dramatic impact on the Li-air cell's performance by reducing overpotentials, as well as by enhancing the overall capacity and cycle life of Li-air cells. Unfortunately, the technological advancement related to catalysts is sluggish at present. Based on the insights gained from this review, this sluggishness is due to challenges in both the commercialization of the catalyst, and the fundamental studies pertaining to its development. Challenges in the commercialization of the catalyst can be summarized as 1) the identification of superior materials for Li-air cell catalysts, 2) the development of fundamental, material-based assessments for potential catalyst materials, 3) the achievement of a reduction in both cost and time concerning the design of the Li-air cell catalysts. As for the challenges concerning the fundamental studies of Li-air cell catalysts, they are 1) the development of experimental techniques for determining both the nano and micro structure of catalysts, 2) the attainment of both repeatable and verifiable experimental characteristics of catalyst degradation, 3) the development of the predictive capability pertaining to the performance of the catalyst using fundamental material properties. Therefore, under the current circumstances, it is going to be an extremely daunting task to develop appropriate catalysts for the commercialization of Li-air batteries; at least within the foreseeable future. Regardless, nano materials are expected to play a crucial role in this field.

• 전자공학회논문지 IE
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.41-46
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• 2010

무선 센서 네트워크는 다수의 센서들로 구성되며 일단 배치되면 전원의 교환 충전이 어렵기에 한정된 센서의 배터리를 효율적으로 이용하여 전체 네트워크의 수명을 최대한 길게 하는 것이 중요한 문제이다. 네트워크를 계층적으로 분할하여 관리하는 클러스터링 기법으로 대표적인 LEACH 프로토콜은 전체 네트워크의 수명을 연장시키기 위한 좋은 방법 중 하나이며 셋업과 안정 상태로 분할되는 라운드 단위로 구성된다. 본 논문에서는 셋업 단계 자체를 최소화하여 셋업 단계 시 소비하는 에너지를 절약하며 데이터의 특성을 고려할 수 있는 비교 기법을 적용하여 에너지 효율성을 높이는 방법을 제안한다. 본 논문에서 제안한 방식을 적용하여 시뮬레이션 수행한 결과 기존 LEACH에 비해 시간 흐름에 따른 생존 노드 수가 증가하였으며 노드의 평균 에너지 소비량도 감소함을 확인하였다.

• 전기화학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.61-67
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• 2018

새로운 전자 기기들이 등장함에 따라 시판되고 있는 리튬 이온 배터리 (lithium ion battery, LIB)는 다양한 문제에 직면해 있으며, 이와 관련하여 많은 해결 노력들이 시도되어 왔다. 차세대 이차 전지의 개발이라는 관점에서 LIB의 문제들을 해결하기 위해, 우리는 mesoporous carbon based on waste biomass (MCWB) 와 Polypyrrole (PPY) hydrogel과 같은 두 가지 종류의 촉매를 성공적으로 개발하였다. MCWB와 PPY hydrogel 촉매들은 전형적인 H3 타입 BET isotherm을 나타내었으며, 이는 micropore와 mseopore가 존재한다는 증거이다. 특히 PPY hydrogel을 기반으로 하는 해수 전지(seawater battery, SWB)의 경우, galvanostatic charge-discharge 시험에서 voltage efficiency성능은 MCWB를 적용한 battery보다 높았지만 Pt/C를 적용한 battery보다는 낮았다. 더욱 흥미롭게도, PPY hydrogel 기반의 SWB는 20 사이클(480hrs) 동안 우수한 가역적인 충/방전 특성을 나타내었으며, voltage efficiency성능은 70.32%에서 77.35% 범위의 우수한 특성을 나타내었다. 상기 연구 결과는 차세대 이차 전지를 위한 비귀금속 촉매 개발에 기여하는 결과라고 사료된다.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.361-368
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• 2023

In lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, encapsulation of sulfur in activated carbon (AC) materials is a promising strategy for preventing the dissolution of lithium polysulfide into electrolytes and enhancing cycle life, because instead of solid-liquid-solid reactions, quasi-solid-state (QSS) reactions occur in the AC micropores. While a high weight fraction of sulfur in S/AC composites is essential for achieving a high energy density of Li-S cells, the deterioration mechanisms under such conditions are still unclear. In this study, we report the deterioration mechanisms during charge-discharge cycling when the discharge products overflow from the AC. Analysis using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry confirms that the sulfur in the S/AC composites migrates outside the AC as cycling progresses, and it is barely present in the AC after 20 cycles, which corresponds to the capacity decay of the cell. Impedance analysis clearly shows that the electrical resistance of the S/AC composite and the charge-transfer resistance of QSS reactions significantly increase as a result of sulfur migration. On the other hand, the charge-discharge cycling performance under limited-capacity conditions, where the discharge products are encapsulated inside the AC, is extremely stable. These results reveal the degradation mechanism of a Li-S cell with micro-porous carbon and provide crucial insights into the design of a S/AC composite cathode and its operating conditions needed to achieve stable cycling performance.

• 전기화학회지
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.115-120
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• 2000

양극 물질로 산화바나듐 박막, 고체전해질로는 LiPON 박막 그리고 음극 물질로는 리튬 금속 박막을 선택하여 $Li/LiPON/V_2O_5/Pt$ 구조의 전고상 박막 전지를 제작하였고 전지 특성을 평가하였다. 산화바나듐 박막은 여러 산소 분압에서 직류 반응성 스퍼터링으로 증착하여 전기화학적 특성을 분석한 결과 $20\%\;O_2/Ar$비에서 가장 우수한 가역 특성을 나타내었다. 직류 반응성 스퍼터링에 의해 산화바나듐 박막을 제작한 후 진공을 그대로 유지한 상태에서 r.f. 반응성 스퍼터링에 의해 LiPON 고체전해질 박막을 증착하였다. 그 후 dry room내에서 진공 열증착법에 의해 리튬 금속 박막을 증착하여 전고상의 박막 전지를 제작하였다. $Li/LiPON/V_2O_5$ 박막 전지를 전압 범위와 전류 밀도를 변화시켜 충방전 시험을 행한 결과 $7{\mu}A/cm^2$의 전류 밀도와 3.6-2.7 V의 전압범위에서 가장 우수한 가역 특성을 나타내었다. $Li/LiPON/V_2O_5$박막 전지로 초시계를 구동 시켰으며 이는 in-situ공정에 의해 제작된 박막 전지가 소자 에너지원으로의 응용 가능성을 보여 주었다.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.121-130
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• 2015

The micro emulsion method has been successfully used for preparing perovskite LaCoO₃ with uniform, fine-shaped nanoparticles showing high activity as electro catalysts in oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs). They are, therefore, promising candidates for the air-cathode in metal-air rechargeable batteries. Since the activity of a catalyst is highly dependent on its specific surface area, nanoparticles of the perovskite catalyst are desirable for catalyzing both oxygen reduction and evolution reactions. Herein, LaCoO₃ powder was also prepared by sol-gel method for comparison, with a broad particle distribution and high agglomeration. The electro catalytic properties of LaCoO₃ and LaCoO₃-carbon Super P mixture layers toward the ORR were studied comparatively using the rotating disk electrode technique in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte to elucidate the effect of carbon Super P. Koutecky-Levich theory was applied to acquire the overall electron transfer number (n) during the ORR, calculated to be ~3.74 for the LaCoO₃-Super P mixture, quite close to the theoretical value (4.0), and ~2.7 for carbon-free LaCoO₃. A synergistic effect toward the ORR is observed when carbon is present in the LaCoO₃ layer. Carbon is assumed to be more than an additive, enhancing the electronic conductivity of the oxide catalyst. It is suggested that ORRs, catalyzed by the LaCoO₃-Super P mixture, are dominated by a 2+2-electron transfer pathway to form the final, hydroxyl ion product.

• 전기화학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.51-68
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• 2022

리튬금속전지는 높은 에너지 밀도를 구현시킬 수 있음에도 불구하고, 단락, 낮은 쿨롱 효율, 용량 손실, 사이클 성능 감소 등의 문제를 초래하는 덴드라이트 성장을 억제시키는 기술은 아직 학술연구 단계에 머물러 있다. 본 논문에서는 최근까지 발표된 리튬금속전극에서 덴드라이트 성장을 억제시킬 수 있는 방법을 4가지로 분류하여 분석해보았다. 즉, 리튬금속전극의 부피 팽창에 대응할 수 있는 유연한 SEI (solid electrolyte interface) 층, 덴드라이트 성장을 물리적으로 억제시킬 수 있는 SEI 지지층, 균일한 리튬 확산을 유도하여 리튬 성장을 조절하는 SHES (self-healing electrostatic shield) 메커니즘, 그리고 리튬의 균일한 전착을 유도하는 마이크로패터닝 등에 대해 연구된 사례들의 장단점을 분석하여, 리튬금속전극의 실용화 연구에 도움을 주고자 한다.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2016년도 제50회 동계 정기학술대회 초록집
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• pp.423.1-423.1
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• 2016

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) has drawn much attention due to its many advantages. PVDF shows high mechanical strength and flexibility, thermal stability, and good piezoelectricity enabling its application to various fields such as sensors, actuators, and energy transducers. Further studies have been conducted on PVDF in the form of thin films. The thin films exhibit different ionic conductivity according to the number of pores within the film, letting these films to be applied as electrolytes or separators of batteries. Porous PVDF membranes are also easily processed, usually made by using electrospinning. However, a large portion of researches were conducted using PVDF membranes produced by far field electrospinning, which is not a well-controlled experimental method. In this paper, we use near field electrospinning (NFES) process for more controlled, small-scaled, mesh type PVDF structures of nano to micro fibers fabricated by controlling process parameters and investigate the properties of such membranous structures. These membranes vary according to geometrical shape, pore density, and fiber thickness. We then measured the mechanical strength and piezoelectric characteristic of the structures. With various geometries in the fiber structures and various scales in the fibers, these types of structures can potentially lead to broader applications for stretchable electronics and dielectric electro active polymers.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.135-142
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• 2012

Over the past few years, $LiFePO_4$ has been actively studied as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries because of its advantageous properties such as high theoretical capacity, good cycle life, and high thermal stability. However, it does not have a very good power capability owing to the low lithium-ion diffusivity and poor electronic conductivity. Reduction in particle size of $LiFePO_4$ to the scale of nanometers has been found to dramatically enhance the above properties, according to many earlier reports. However, because of the intrinsically low tap density of nanomaterials, it is difficult to commercialize this method. Many studies are being carried out to improve the volumetric energy density of this material and many methods have been reported so far. This paper provides a brief summary of the synthesis methods and electrochemical performances of micro-spherical $LiFePO_4$ having high volumetric energy density.