• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.100-100
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• 2011

Nanomaterial architecture with highly ordered, vertically oriented $TiO_2$ nanotube arrays shows a good promise for diverse technological applications. As inspired from the literature reports that Nickel modification can improve the photocatalytic activity of $TiO_2$, it was planned to coat Ni into the $TiO_2$ matrix. In this study, first $TiO_2$ nanotubes(TiNTs) were prepared by anodization (60V,3min) in HF-free aqueous electrolyte on ultrasonically cleaned polished titanium sheet substrates ($1{\times}7cm^2$). The typical thickness of the sintered TiNT ($500^{\circ}C$for10min) was ~1 micronas confirmed from the FESEM study. In the next part, as-anodized and sintered TiNT/Ti photoanodes were used to coat Ni by AC electrodeposition from aqueous 0.1M nickel sulphate solution. During AC electrodeposition, conditions such as 1V DC offset voltage, 9V amplitude (peak-to-peak) and 750 Hz frequency were fixed constant and the deposition time was varied as 0.5 min, 1 min, 2 min and 10 min. The photoelectrochemical performance of pristine and Ni modified TiNT/Ti photoanodes was measured in 1N NaOH electrolyte under 1 SUN illumination in the potential range of -1V and 1.2V versus Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The photocurrent performance of TiNT/Ti photoanode decreased upon Ni modification and the results were confirmed after repeated experiments. This suggests us that Ni modification inhibits the photoelectrochemical performance of $TiO_2$ nanotubes.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.418-424
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• 2019

In this study, $TiO_2$ nanotubes with different morphologies were prepared in the electrolyte consisting of ethylene glycol, ammonium fluoride($NH_4F$), and deionized water($H_2O$) by controlling the voltage and time in the anodization method. Thicknesses and pore sizes of these $TiO_2$ nanotubes were measured to interpret the relationship between anodization conditions and $TiO_2$ nanotube morphologies. Element contents in the $TiO_2$ nanotubes were detected for further analysis of $TiO_2$ nanotube characteristics. Photoelectrolyticdecolorization efficiencies of the $TiO_2$ nanotube plates with various morphologies were tested to clarify the morphology that a highly active $TiO_2$ nanotube plate should have. Influences of applied voltage in photoelectrolysis processes and sodium sulfate($Na_2SO_4$) concentration in wastewater on the decolorization efficiency were also studied. To save the equipment investment cost in photoelectrolysis methods, a two-photoelectrode system that uses the $TiO_2$ nanotube plates as photoanode and photocathode instead of adding other counter electrodes was studied. Compared with single-photoelectrode system that uses the $TiO_2$ nanotube plate as photoanode and titanium plate as cathode on the view of the treatment of dye wastewater containing different amounts of salt. As a result, a considerably suitable voltage was strictly needed for enhancing the photoelectrolyticdecolorization effect of the two-photoelectrode system but if salts exist in wastewater, an excellent increase in the decolorization efficiency can be obtained.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.99-102
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• 2009

$TiO_2$ nanotube arraysdecorated with ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ were prepared by forming a nanotube-like $TiO_2$ film on a Ti sheet using an anodization process, followed by electrochemical deposition treatment to decorate hematite (${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$) nanoparticles on the $TiO_2$ nanotube arrays. The SEM and XRD results revealed that the ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ nanoparticles were homogeneously embedded on the surface of the $TiO_2$ nanotube arrays. The activity of hydrogen production by photocatalytic water decomposition for the ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3/TiO_2$ nanotube array composite was examined under visible light irradiation.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.43-58
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• 2013

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a unique semiconductor material that exhibits numerous useful properties for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and other applications. Various thin-film growth techniques have been used to produce nanowires, nanorods, nanotubes, nanotips, nanosheets, nanobelts and terapods of ZnO. These unique nanostructures unambiguously demonstrate that ZnO probably has the richest family of nanostructures among all materials, both in structures and in properties. The nanostructures could have novel applications in solar cells, optoelectronics, sensors, transducers and biomedical sciences. This article reviews the various nanostructures of ZnO grown by various techniques and their application in DSSCs. The application of ZnO nanowires, nanorods in DSSCs became outstanding, providing a direct pathway to the anode for photo-generated electrons thereby suppressing carrier recombination. This is a novel characteristic which increases the efficiency of ZnO based dye-sensitized solar cells.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.264-268
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• 2018

Vertically-aligned $TiO_2$ nanotube electrodes have attracted considerable attention for applications in solar cells, catalysts, and sensors, because of their ideal structure for electron transport and electrolyte diffusion. Here, we prepare vertically-aligned $TiO_2$ nanotube electrodes using a two-step anodization process. The prepared $TiO_2$ nanotube electrodes exhibit uniform pore structures with an inner diameter of ~80-90 nm and wall thickness of ~20-25 nm. In addition, they exhibit an anatase crystal phase after a high-temperature annealing. The annealed $TiO_2$ nanotube electrodes are applied in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as photoanodes. The fabricated DSSC exhibits conversion efficiencies of 3.46 and 2.15% with liquid- and gel-type electrolytes, respectively.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.69-74
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• 2010

Methodologies to improve photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) are reviewed. DSSC is usually composed of a dye-adsorbed $TiO_2$ photoanode, a tri-iodide/iodide redox electrolyte and a Pt counter electrode. Among the photovoltaic parameters of short-circuit photocurrent density, open-circuit voltage and fill factor, short-circuit photocurrent density is the collective measure of light harvesting, charge separation and charge collection efficiencies. Internal quantum efficiency is known to reach almost 100%, which indicates that charge separation occurs without loss by recombination. Thus, light harvesting efficiency plays an important role in improvement of photocurrent. In this paper, technologies to improve light harvesting efficiency, including surface area improvement by nano-dispersion, size-dependent light scattering efficiency, bi-functional nano material, panchromatic absorption by selective positioning of three different dyes and transparent conductive oxide (TCO)-less DSSC, are introduced.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2023

Flexible dye sensitized photovoltaics (f-DSPVs) based on plastic substrates have attracted significant interest due to their light-weight, flexibility, and compatibility with roll-to-roll processing, as well as their potential application to ubiquitous power sources. However, f-DSPVs exhibit inferior power conversion efficiencies (PCE) compared to conventional DSPVs since the fabrication process must be conducted at a low-temperature (≤ 150℃) to prevent thermal damage of the plastic substrates, which generally results in poor interconnection between the TiO₂ nanoparticles. Numerous novel low-temperature manufacturing approaches for flexible photoanode and counter electrode have been developed. In this review, current progress on low temperature strategies for f-DSPVs technology are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.458-464
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• 2014

Light scattering enhancement is widely used to enhance the optical absorption efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. In this work, we systematically analyzed the effects of spherical voids distributed as light-scattering centers in photoanode films made of an assembly of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Spherical voids in electrode films were formed using a sacrificial template of polystyrene (PS) spheres. The diameter and volume concentration of these spheres was varied to optimize the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. The effects of film thickness on this efficiency was also examined. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was performed to study electron transport in the electrodes. The highest power conversion efficiency of 4.07 % was observed with $12{\mu}m$ film thickness. This relatively low optimum thickness of the electrode film is due to the enhanced light absorption caused by the light scattering centers of voids distributed in the film.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.227.2-227.2
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• 2010

본 연구에서는 양극산화된 $TiO_2$ 전극(anodized tubular $TiO_2$ electrode, ATTE)을 수소제조용 PEC(Photoelectrochemical)시스템에서 광어노드와 기존의 백금전극을 대체하고 $H^+$ 환원능을 향상시키기 위하여 엔자임(Pyrococcus furiosus, Pfu)을 고정화한 후 캐소드로 동시에 활용하였으며, 엔자임 고정을 위한 crosslinker 종류 및 금속담지 여부, ATTE 길이를 통한 수소발생양에 미치는 영향을 연구하였다. ATTE 표면과 엔자임의 amine group의 연결을 위하여 heterobifunctional crosslinker로써 사슬 길이가 상대적으로 짧은 Sulfo-SDA가 유리하였으며, 금속담지의 경우 짧은 튜브의 경우 1% 내에서 효과가 증진되었으나 긴 튜브의 경우는 오히려 광전류 및 궁극적으로 수소발생속도에 불리하게 작용하였다. 또한, 튜브 길이가 긴 ATTE가 짧은 ATTE 보다 수소발생양에서 더욱 효율적임을 알 수 있었다. 텅스텐산화물 담지의 가시광감응에의 담지 효과는 예비 실험 결과로 나타나지 않아, 추가적인 연구가 필요한 것으로 판단된다.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2014

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), developed two decades ago, are considered to be an attractive technology among various photovoltaic devices because of their low cost, accessible dye chemistry, ease of fabrication, high power conversion efficiency, and environmentally friendly nature. A typical DSSCs consists of a dye-coated $TiO_2$ photoanode, a redox electrolyte, and a platinum (Pt)-coated fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) counter electrode. Among them, redox electrolytes have proven to be extremely important in improving the performance of DSSCs. Due to many drawbacks of iodide electrolytes, many research groups have paid more attention to seeking other alternative electrolyte systems. With regard to this, one-electron outer sphere redox shuttles based on cobalt complexes have shown promising results: In 2014, porphyrin dye (SM315) with the cobalt (II/III) redox couple exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 13% in DSSCs. In this review, we will provide an overview and perspectives of cobalt redox electrolytes in DSSCs.