• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.346-355
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• 2012

Recent in the world environmental issues and energy depletion problems have been received attention. One way to solve these problems is to use hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Therefore, the interest in HEV technology is higher than ever before. Viable candidates for the energy-storage systems in HEV applications may be absorbent glass mat (AGM) lead-acid, nickel-metal-hydride (Ni-MH) and rechargeable lithium batteries. The AGM battery has advantages in terms of relatively low cost, high charge efficiency, low self-discharge, low maintenance requirements and safety as compared to the other batteries. In order to implement HEV system in required more electric power commercial vehicles AGM batteries was connected to 2 series-2 parallels (2S2P). In this study, a one-dimensional modeling is carried-out to predict the behaviors of 2S2P AGM batteries system during charge and discharge. The model accounts for electrochemical reaction rates, charge conservation and mass transport. In order to validate the model, modeling results are compared with the experimentally measured data in various conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.279-285
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• 2008

CNC (Carbon Nano Colloid) was used as an additive to the positive electrode to improve the discharge performance of sealed lead-acid batteries, The cathode active material ($PbO_2$) has a relatively low utility of less than 60 % compared with other kind of batteries, such as Ni-MH and Lithium ion, In this study, to overcome the above-mentioned problem we investigated the effects of CNC addition on the enhancement of electrical connection with not-utilized $PbO_2$ and resultantly electrical conductivity of electrode, We examined low rate discharge capacities, high rate discharge capacities and internal resistances of the batteries containing various amounts of CNC. From these results, we found out that the addition of CNC into the positive electrode made a significant improvement in high rate discharge capacity, We also suggested the optimum content of CNC material in positive electrode.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.72-72
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• 2012

Lithium rechargeable batteries have been widely used as key power sources for portable devices for the last couple of decades. Their high energy density and power have allowed the proliferation of ever more complex portable devices such as cellular phones, laptops and PDA's. For larger scale applications, such as batteries in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) or power tools, higher standards of the battery, especially in term of the rate (power) capability and energy density, are required. In PHEV, the materials in the rechargeable battery must be able to charge and discharge (power capability) with sufficient speed to take advantage of regenerative braking and give the desirable power to accelerate the car. The driving mileage of the electric car is simply a function of the energy density of the batteries. Since the successful launch of recent Ni-MH (Nickel Metal Hydride)-based HEVs (Hybrid Electric Vehicles) in the market, there has been intense demand for the high power-capable Li battery with higher energy density and reduced cost to make HEV vehicles more efficient and reduce emissions. However, current Li rechargeable battery technology has to improve significantly to meet the requirements for HEV applications not to mention PHEV. In an effort to design and develop an advanced electrode material with high power and energy for Li rechargeable batteries, we approached to this in two different length scales - Atomic and Nano engineering of materials. In the atomic design of electrode materials, we have combined theoretical investigation using ab initio calculations with experimental realization. Based on fundamental understanding on Li diffusion, polaronic conduction, operating potential, electronic structure and atomic bonding nature of electrode materials by theoretical calculations, we could identify and define the problems of existing electrode materials, suggest possible strategy and experimentally improve the electrochemical property. This approach often leads to a design of completely new compounds with new crystal structures. In this seminar, I will talk about two examples of electrode material study under this approach; $LiNi_{0.5}Mn_{0.5}O_2$ based layered materials and olivine based multi-component systems. In the other scale of approach; nano engineering; the morphology of electrode materials are controlled in nano scales to explore new electrochemical properties arising from the limited length scales and nano scale electrode architecture. Power, energy and cycle stability are demonstrated to be sensitively affected by electrode architecture in nano scales. This part of story will be only given summarized in the talk.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.145-149
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• 2007

Electrochemical studies were performed for a single particle of nickel hydroxide for the cathode of Ni-MH batteries. A carbon fiber microelectrode was manipulated to make electrical contact with an alloy particle, and electrochemical experiments were performed. As a result of cyclic voltammetry, the oxidation/reduction and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are clearly separated for a single particle. The total cathodic charge (Qred) is practically constant for the scan rate investigated, indicating that the whole particle has reacted. The total anodic charge(Qox) was larger than that of reduction reaction, and the magnitude of oxygen evolution taking place as a side reaction was enhanced at lower scan rates. As a result of galvanostatic charge and discharge measurement, the discharge capacity of single particle was found to be 250 mAh/g, value being very close to the theoretical capacity (289 mAh/g). The apparent proton diffusion coefficient(Dapp) using potential step method inside the nickel hydroxide was found to range within $3{\sim}4{\times}10^{-9}\;cm^2/s$.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 1998

[ $AB_2-type$ ] alloy, one kind of hydrogen storage alloys used as an anode of Ni-MH batteries, has large discharge capacity but has remaining problems regarding initial activation, cycle life and self-discharge. This study investigates the effects of Cr-addition and fluorination after La-addition on $Zr_{0.7}Ti_{0.3}V_{0.4}Mn_{0.4}Ni_{1.2}$, composition $AB_2-type$ alloy. EPMA and SEM surface analysis techniques were used and the crystal structure was characterized by XRD analysis. In addition, electrodes were fabricated out of the alloys and characterized by constant current cycling test, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization. Cr-addition was found to be effective to cycle life and self-discharge but ineffective to initial activation due to formation of stable oxide film on surface. Fluorination after La-addition to the alloys improved initial activation remarkably due to formation of highly reactive particles on surface.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 1994

To develop high capacity hydrogen storage alloys for secondary Ni/MH batteries, electrochemical charge/discharge characteristics of $Zr_{1-x}Ti_xMn_{1-y}V_yNi_{1-z}M_z$ (M=Al,Co,Fe) alloys were investigated, in which $0.2{\leq}x{\leq}0.6$, $0.2{\leq}y{\leq}0.8$, $0.2{\leq}z{\leq}0.4$. With increasing Ti content(x) and/or decreasing V content(y), lattice constants and maximum theoretical capacities of the alloys were decreased and equilibrium pressure of hydrogen absorption were increased. Electrochemical discharge capacities were increased with increasing Ti content(x). Especially, the alloys of x= 0.4~0.6 showed better charge/discharge efficiencies than those of x<0.4. Discharge capacities of $Zr_{0.4}Ti_{0.6}Mn_{0.4}V_{0.6}Ni_{0.8}Fe_{0.2}$, $Zr_{0.4}Ti_{0.6}Mn_{0.4}V_{0.6}Ni_{0.8}Al_{0.2}$ and $Zr_{0.5}Ti_{0.5}Mn_{0.4}V_{0.6}Ni_{0.6}Co_{0.4}$ were 385, 328 and 333mAh/g, respectively. These alloys were fully activated within five charge/discharge cycles and had a good charge and discharge rate capabilities and temperature characteristics.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.1192-1197
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• 2011

Recent developments of small-size unmanned or manned mobile systems such as autonomous robots, exoskeleton or armored suits, micro air vehicles, and unmanned armored vehicles require long-lasting independent power sources of high energy and power density to support the systems' operation for up to 72 hours in the fields. Chemical batteries such as Ni-MH, Li-Ion, the current primary power sources for mobile devices, however, are not capable of providing enough power and energy density for the next generation high power mobile machines. For this reason, KIMM along with KERI and KIMS has been carrying out a 500W MTG development project under the DAPA's "Next generation military power source R&D program" since 2009. In this paper, a design process for a 500W MTG system currently being developed at KIMM is briefly described and the technical issues related to its development are addressed.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.156-165
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• 2017

This study quantitatively assessed the environmental impacts of fuel cell (FC) systems by performing life cycle assessment (LCA) and analyzed their energy efficiencies based on energy return on investment (EROI) and electrical energy stored on investment (ESOI). Molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) system and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system were selected as the fuel cell systems. Five different paths to produce hydrogen ($H_2$) as fuel such as natural gas steam reforming (NGSR), centralized naptha SR (NSR(C)), NSR station (NSR(S)), liquified petroleum gas SR (LPGSR), water electrolysis (WE) were each applied to the FCs. The environmental impacts and the energy efficiencies of the FCs were compared with rechargeable batteries such as $LiFePO_4$ (LFP) and Nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH). The LCA results show that MCFC_NSR(C) and PEMFC_NSR(C) have the lowest global warming potential (GWP) with 6.23E-02 kg $CO_2$ eq./MJ electricity and 6.84E-02 kg $CO_2$ eq./MJ electricity, respectively. For the impact category of abiotic resource depletion potential (ADP), MCFC_NGSR(S) and PEMFC_NGSR(S) show the lowest impacts of 7.42E-01 g Sb eq./MJ electricity and 7.19E-01 g Sb eq./MJ electricity, respectively. And, the energy efficiencies of the FCs are higher than those of the rechargeable batteries except for the case of hydrogen produced by WE.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.1-2
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• 1999

시간과 공간의 구애를 받지 않는 양질의 음성, 화상, 문자정보의 교환을 위한 노력으로 디지털 휴대폰과 휴대용 컴퓨터가 등장하면서 음성과 문자정보의 교환분야에 커다란 진보를 이룩하였다. 그러나 현재는 휴대폰이 음성정보에 문자정보교환이 추가된 상황이기 때문에, 아직도 관련 정보교환기술 및 기기개발이 진행되고 있다. 앞으로 휴대폰과 휴대용 컴퓨터의 기능을 통합하고 화상정보까지 결합된 휴대용 정보기기를 위해서는 전자회로의 집적화 및 통신속도 증대가 필수적이다. 또한 이들 휴대용 정보기기를 구동시키기 위한 전력도 증가될 것으로 예측되기 때문에, 현재 전원으로 사용되는 2차전지보다 에너지 밀도가 더욱 증패된 전지가 요구될 것으로 예상된다. 그리고 내연기관의 배기에 의해 발생되는 환정오염문제를 해결하기 위한 방법중의 일환으로 전기자동차 개발이 진행되고 있으며, 이들 전기자동차에 2차전지를 장착하기 위해서 경제성이 있고, 고속충전이 가능하고, 안전성이 높은 고에너지 밀도의 2차 전지 개발이 요구되고 있다. 현재 2차전지는 음극재료나 양극재료에 따라 낚축전지, 니켈/카드륨(Ni/Cd) 전지, 니켈/수소(Ni/MH) 전지, 라륨 2 차전지등이 있으며, 전극재료의 고유특성에 의해 전위와 애너지 밀도가 결정된다. 특히 리튬 2차전지는 리튬의 낮은 산화환원전위와 분자량으로 인해 에너지 밀도가 높기 때문에 앞에서 언급한 휴대용 전자기기의 구동전원으로 많이 사용되고 있다. 리튬 2차전지는 음극 재료가 금속리튬인 경우는 리튬금속으로, 탄소재료인 경우는 리튬이온이라 하며, 한편으로 전해질이 고체 고분자이거나 혹은 역체 유기용매와 리튬염을 고분자와 혼성시킨 겔(gel)인 경우는 고분자로, 전해짙이 리튬염이 전리되어 있는 유동성 액체일 경우는 고분자를 생략하여 구분하고 있다. 즉 리튬금속 2 차전지(LB), 리튬이온 2 차전지(LIB), 리튬금속 고분자 2차전지(LPB), 리튬 이온 고분자 2차전지(LIPB)로 크게 구분된다. 금속리듐을 음극으로 사용하고 전해질로는 리튬염이 전리되어 있는 액체유기용매 를 사용한 리튬금속 2차전지는, 금속리튬전극이 충방전 과정을 반복하면서, 전리된 리튬이 균일하게 산화환원되지 못하고 표변에서 양극방향으로 성장하는 수지상 (dendrite) 현상으로 인해 안전성 확보에 문게가 있었다. 리튬과 알루미늄 합금형태로 음극에 사용한 동전형 전지는 상용화 되었지만, 이러한 단점을 개선하기 위해 리튬이온이 금속으로 석활되는 환원반응전위보다 높은 전위에서 전극재료가 충전되면서 리튬이온이 저장되고, 방전되면서 배출되는 탄소를 음극재료로, 그리고 리튬이온이 충방 전시 가역적으로 삼입 탈리되는 층상의 리튬금속산화물을 양극으로 구성하고, 엑체 전해질과 다공성 고분자 분리막을 사용한 것이 LIB이다. LIB에서 리튬이온의 이동이 가능한 액체전해질의 가능을 고분자 전해질이 대신함으로서 보다 높은 안정성을 확보 한 전지가 LIPB 이다. 또한 고분자 전해질을 사용한 경우 금속리튬상에서의 수지상 성장이 저하되는 현상이 관찰됨으로서, 이론용량이 3,860mAh/g 에 달하는 리튬금속 혹은 합금을 고분자 전지에서 음극으로 사용하고자 하는 2 차전지가 LPB 이다. 리튬 2차전지는 비록 1989년 액체전해질을 사용한 금속리튬 2차전지의 실패전력을 안고있지만 궁극적으로는 이론적으로 최대의 에너지밀도를 가지고 있는 LPB를 지 향할 것으로 예상되지만 가까운 장래에 실현되기는 어려울 것이다. 따라서 향후의 라튬 2차전지의 전개방향은 현재의 LIB를 고분자 전해질을 채용하는 LIPB로 진행시커면서 저가의 전극재료개발을 지속적으로 추진할 것으로 예상된다. 현재 리튬 2차전지는 소형전지에 국한되고 있지만 전기자동차나 전력저장용으로 이를 대형화시커기 위해서는 열적특성이 우수하고 저가인 전극재료개발이 선행되야하기 때문에, 저가의 탄소재료와 코발트산화물을 대신할 수 있는 철, 망칸 또는 니켈산 화물의 개발이 필요하다.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.211-216
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• 2018

The recovery of rare earth elements (REE) including La, Nd and Ce from spent batteries is important issues to reuse scarce resources. Herein, we present a simple recovery process to obtain lanthanum oxide ($La_2O_3$) from spent Ni-MH batteries, and demonstrate the conversion mechanism from $NaLa(SO_4)_2{\cdot}H_2O$ to $La_2O_3$. This strategy requires the initial preparation of $NaLa(SO_4)_2{\cdot}H_2O$ and subsequent metathesis reaction with $Na_2CO_3$ at $70^{\circ}C$. This metathesis reaction resulted in the crystalline lanthanum carbonate hydrate ($La_2(CO_3)_3{\cdot}xH_2O$) powder with plate-like morphology. On the basis of TGA result, the $La_2(CO_3)_3{\cdot}xH_2O$ powder was calcined in air at three different temperatures, that is, $300^{\circ}C$, $500^{\circ}C$, and $1000^{\circ}C$. As the calcination temperature increased, the morphology of powder was changed; prism-like ($NaLa(SO_4)_2{\cdot}H_2O$) ${\rightarrow}$ platelike ($La_2(CO_3)_3{\cdot}xH_2O$) ${\rightarrow}$ aggregated irregular shape ($La_2O_3$). Futhermore, XRD results indicated that the crystalline $La_2O_3$ could be synthesized after the metathesis reaction with $Na_2CO_3$, followed by heat-treatment at $1000^{\circ}C$, along with a change of crystallographic structures; $NaLa(SO_4)_2{\cdot}H_2O$ ${\rightarrow}$ $La_2(CO_3)_3{\cdot}xH_2O$ ${\rightarrow}$ $La_2O_3$.