• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.214-220
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• 2018

We report on the fabrication and photoelectrochemical(PEC) properties of a $Cu_2O$ thin film/ZnO nanorod array oxide p-n heterojunction structure with ZnO nanorods embedded in $Cu_2O$ thin film as an efficient photoelectrode for solar-driven water splitting. A vertically oriented n-type ZnO nanorod array was first prepared on an indium-tin-oxide-coated glass substrate via a seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method and then a p-type $Cu_2O$ thin film was directly electrodeposited onto the vertically oriented ZnO nanorods array to form an oxide semiconductor heterostructure. The crystalline phases and morphologies of the heterojunction materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy as well as Raman scattering. The PEC properties of the fabricated $Cu_2O/ZnO$ p-n heterojunction photoelectrode were evaluated by photocurrent conversion efficiency measurements under white light illumination. From the observed PEC current density versus voltage (J-V) behavior, the $Cu_2O/ZnO$ photoelectrode was found to exhibit a negligible dark current and high photocurrent density, e.g., $0.77mA/cm^2$ at 0.5 V vs $Hg/HgCl_2$ in a $1mM\;Na_2SO_4$ electrolyte, revealing an effective operation of the oxide heterostructure. In particular, a significant PEC performance was observed even at an applied bias of 0 V vs $Hg/HgCl_2$, which made the device self-powered. The observed PEC performance was attributed to some synergistic effect of the p-n bilayer heterostructure on the formation of a built-in potential, including the light absorption and separation processes of photoinduced charge carriers.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.718-724
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• 2014

In this work, in order to manufacture the photoelectrode of dye-sensitized solar cells, the different anatase $TiO_2$ paste was prepared by simple route using hydrothermal method. In comparison with the traditional preparing process, the hydrothermally synthesized $TiO_2$ gel was used to make paste directly. Thus, the making process was simplified and the solar conversion efficiency was improved. In comparison with 5.34% solar energy efficiency of HP-1 photoelectrode, the 6.23% efficiency of HDP-1 electrode was improved by 16.67%. This is because hydrothermally synthesized $TiO_2$ gel was used to make paste directly, the dispersibility between $TiO_2$ particles was improved and get the smoother network, leading to the charge transport ability of the electron generated in dye molecular was improved. Further, HDP-2 photoelectrode delivered the best results with Voc (open circuit voltage), Jsc (short circuit current density) FF (fill factor) and ${\eta}$(solar conversion efficiency) were 0.695 V, $15.81mA\;cm^{-2}$, 61.48% and 6.80%, respectively. In comparison with 5.34% of HP-1 photoelectrode, it was improved by 27.34%.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.1023-1032
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• 2008

The feasibility study of the application of the photoelectrocatalytic and electrolytic/UV decolorization of Rhodamine B (RhB) was investigated in the photoelectrocatalytic and electrolytic/UV process with $TiO_2$ photoelectrode and DSA (dimensionally stable anode) electrode. Three types of $TiO_2$ photoelectrode were used. Thermal oxidation electrode (Th-$TiO_2$) was made by oxidation of titanium metal sheet; sol-gel electrode (5G-$TiO_2$) and powder electrode (P-$TiO_2$) were made by coating and then heating a layer of titania sol-gel and slurry $TiO_2$ on titanium sheet. DSA electrodes were Ti and Ru/Ti electrode. The relative performance for RhB decolorization of each of the photoelecoodes and DSA electrodes is: Ru/Ti > Ti > SG-$TiO_2$ > Th-$TiO_2$. It was observed that photoelectrocatalytic decolorization of RhB is similar to the sum of the photocatalytic and electrolytic decolorization. Therefore the synergetic effect was not showed in pthotoelectrocatalytic reaction. $Na_{2}SO_{4}$ and NaCl showed different decolorization effect between pthotoelectrocatalytic and electrolytic/UV reaction. In the presence of the NaCl, RhB decolorization of Ru/Ti DSA electrode was higher than that of the other photoelectrode and Ti electrode. Optimum current, NaCl dosage and UV lamp power of the electrolytic/UV process (using Ru/Ti electrode) were 0.75 A, 0.5 g/L and 16 W, respectively.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.110-115
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• 2011

The effect of $TiO_2$ nanotube (TNT) and nanoparticle (TNP) composite photoelectrode and the role of TNT to enhance the photo conversion efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) have investigated in this study. Results demonstrated that the increase of the TNT content (1-15 %) into the electron collecting TNP film increases the open-circuit potential ($V_{oc}$) and short circuit current density ($J_{sc}$). Based on the impedance analysis, the increased $V_{oc}$ was attributed to the suppressed recombination between electrode and electrolyte or dye. Photochemical analysis revealed that the increased Jsc with the increased TNT content was due to the scattering effect and the reduced electron diffusion path of TNT. The highest $J_{sc}$ (12.6 mA/$cm^2$), Voc (711 mV) and conversion efficiency (5.9%) were obtained in the composite photoelectrode with 15% TNT. However, $J_{sc}$ and $V_{oc}$ was decreased for the case of 20% TNT, which results from the significant reduction of adsorbed dye amount and the poor attachment of the film on the fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO). Therefore, application of this composite photoelectrode is expected to be a promising approach to improve the energy conversion efficiency of DSSC.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.213-213
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• 2010

In this thesis, we studied to increased to solar conversion efficiency of DSSC (dye-sensitized solar cell) using nanocrystalline $TiO_2$ semiconductor. We are preparation of $TiO_2$ photoelectrode, assembly the DSSC and put a focus in analyses electrochemical properties of DSSC and using Silica powder in $TiO_2$ photoelectrode for increase light scattering effect and improved conversion efficiency. It attempt to investigate the morphology of the photoelectrode and photovoltaic effects using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and photovoltaic properties under illumination with AM 1.5 simulated sunlight. We got 146 % enhanced power conversion efficiency when the optimal content of quartz glass powder was 5 wt.% than that another content.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.37-44
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• 2014

In this study, the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells with different thickness of the photelectrode film was simulated by using the electron-diffusion differential model. Through this simulation, the relationships between the thickness of the photoelectrode film and the performances (open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, and overall photoelectric-conversion efficiency) of cells were understood and the performances with different thickness of the photoelectrede film were also examined. For considering the refractive index in the liquid electrolyte and exploring the scattering effect of titanium dioxide particles with different sizes using the Mie light-scattering theory, the highest scattering effect of each particles was found out and the optimal size of the titanium dioxide particle was determined for light scattering in the photoelectrode film of dye-sensitized solar cell. Through experiment, the mixed titanium dioxide cell was better than the single titanium dioxide cell and generated a higher overall conversion efficiency because the optimal titanium dioxide particles in the phoelectrode film as light scattering.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.1204-1208
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• 2012

A new photoelectrode composed of $Sb_6O_{13}$ nanoparticles with the size of 20-30 nm has been prepared via thermolysis of a colloidal antimony pentoxide tetrahydrate ($Sb_2O_5{\cdot}4H_2O$) suspension. The $Sb_6O_{13}$ electrode showed good semiconducting properties applicable to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs); the energy band gap was estimated to be $3.05{\pm}0.5$ eV and the position of conduction band edge was close to those of $TiO_2$ and ZnO. The DSSC assembled with the $Sb_6O_{13}$ photoelectrode and a conventional ruthenium-dye (N719) exhibited the overall photo-current conversion efficiency of 0.74% ($V_{oc}$ = 0.76 V, $J_{sc}=1.99\;mAcm{-2}$, fill factor = 0.49) under AM 1.5, $100\;mWcm^{-2}$ illumination.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.354-355
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• 2006

We manufactured photoelectrode of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) by using three methods such as squeeze method, spray method, and combination method (squeeze method first, spray method second). We examined how the morphology of an electrode's surface, the pore between particles, and condensation have an effect on an open-circuit voltage, photocurrent, fill factor, and energy conversion efficiency. Open-circuit voltage of dye-sensitized solar cells manufactured by using three methods is about 0.66V when the photoelectrode of the three DSCs is about $5{\mu}m$ thick. Photocurrent and fill factor and conversion efficiency of DSC manufactured by using squeeze method is 18.5 and 34 and 7.8, respectively. Photocurrent and fill factor and conversion efficiency of DSC manufactured by using spray method is 3.62 and 62 and 2.8, respectively. Photocurrent and fill factor and conversion efficiency of DSC manufactured by using combination method is 10.7 and 46 and 5.9, respectively. In conclusion, we find that the combination method is better than the other two methods in such respects as energy conversion efficiency and fill factor.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2021

GaN has shown good potential owing to its better chemical stability than other materials and tunable bandgap with materials such as InN and AlN. Tunable bandgap allows GaN to make the maximum utilization of the solar spectrum, thus improves the solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency. In addition, GaN band gap contains the oxidation and reduction level of water, so it can split water without external voltage. However, STH efficiency using GaN itself is low and has been actively studied recently to improve it. In this thesis, we have summarized the studies related to the use of GaN as a photoelectrode for photoelectrochemical water splitting.

• 한국전기화학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.41-41
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• 2005