• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.772-776
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• 2008

The Korea Electric Power Research Institute (KEPRI) has been developing planar solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and power systems for combined heat and power (CHP) units. The R&D work includes solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) materials investigation, design and fabrication of single cells and stacks, and kW class SOFC CHP system development. Anode supported cells composed of Ni-YSZ/FL/YSZ/LSCF were enlarged up to $15{\times}15\;cm^2$ and stacks were manufactured using $10{\times}10\;cm^2$ cells and metallic interconnects such as ferritic stainless steel. The first-generation system had a 37-cell stack and an autothermal reformer for use with city gas. The system showed maximum stack power of about $1.3\;kW_{e,DC}$ and was able to recover heat of $0.57{\sim}1.2\;kW_{th}$ depending on loaded current by making hot water. The second-generation system was composed of an improved 48-cell stack and a prereformer (or steam reformer). The thermal management subsystem design including heat exchangers and insulators was also improved. The second-generation system was successfully operated without any external heat source. Under self-sustainable operation conditions, the stack power was about $1.3\;kW_{e,DC}$ with hydrogen and $1.2\;kW_{e,DC}$ with city. The system also recuperated heat of about $1.1\;kW_{th}$ by making hot water. Recently KEPRI manufactured a 2kW class SOFC stack and a system by scaling up the second-generation 1kW system and will develop a 5kW class CHP system by 2010.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.43 no.2 s.285
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• pp.85-91
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• 2006

Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposition (EB-PVD) was applied to fabricate a thin film YSZ electrolyte with large area on the porous NiO-YSZ anode substrate. Microstructural and thermal stability of the as-deposited electrolyte film was investigated via SEM and XRD analysis. In order to obtain an optimized YSZ film with high stability, both temperature and surface roughness of substrate were varied. A structurally homogeneous YSZ film with large area of $12\times12\;cm^2$ and high thermal stability up to $900^{\circ}C$ was fabricated at the substrate temperature of $T_s/T_m$ higher than 0.4. The smoother surface was proved to give the better film quality. Precise control of heating and cooling rate of the anode substrate was necessary to obtain a very dense YSZ electrolyte with high thermal stability, which affords to survive after post heat treatment for fabrication a cathode layer on it as well as after long time operation of solid oxide fuel cell at high temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.246-250
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• 2011

Effects on sintering and electrical properties of $La_{0.7}Ca_{0.3}Cr_{0.9}Co_{0.1}O_{3-{\delta}}$ system, a interconnect material for cylindrical and flat tubular solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), have been investigated by Ca-source when using $CaCO_3$ and $CaF_2$. When using $CaCO_3$ and $CaF_2$ was mixing as Ca-source, single phased perovskite solid solution was observed for each sample. The sintering temperature was decreased by $CaF_2$ contents was increased. When using 0.1 mole $CaF_2$ was densely sintered at $1400^{\circ}C$ and relative density was 93.8%. Also, electrical conductivity in oxidation and reducing atmosphere was 47, 4.3 S/cm, respectively, due to $F^-$ ion enhance the electrical conductivity in reducing atmosphere.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.55.1-55.1
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• 2011

Dye-sensitized solar cell(DSSC) have been considered one of the promising alternatives to conventional solar cells, because of their low cost, easy fabrication and relatively high energy conversion efficiency. However, although the cell offers reasonable efficiency at least 11%, the use of a liquid electrolyte placed technological challenges for achieving the desired durability and operational stability of the cell. In order to prevent or reduce electrolyte leakage considerable efforts have been made, such as p-type semiconductor or organic hole-transport material that better mechanical properties and simple fabrication processes. In this work, we synthesized solid-state electrolyte containing LiI and KI metal salt with starting materials of poly ethylene oxide to substitute liquid electrolyte enhance the ionic conductivity and solar conversion efficiency. Li+ leads to faster diffusion and higher efficiency and K+ leading to higher ionic conductivity. The efficiency of poly ethylene oxide/LiI system electrolyte is 1.47% and poly ethylene oxide/potassium electrolyte is 1.21%. An efficiency of 3.24% is achieved using solid-state electrolyte containing LiI and KI concentrations. The increased solar conversion efficiency is attributed to decreased crystallinity in the polymer that leads to enhanced charge transfer.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.637-642
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• 2018

The impact of the sintering process, especially in terms of sintering temperature and sintering aid concentration, on the ohmic transport and electrode performance of $(La_{0.80}Sr_{0.20})_{0.95}CoO_{3-{\delta}}$-gadolinia-doped ceria (LSCF-GDC) cathodes is studied. The ohmic and charge-transfer kinetics exhibit a highly coupled $Co_3O_4$ concentration dependency, showing the best performances at an optimum range of 4-5 wt%. This is ascribed to small grain sizes and improved connection between particles. The addition of $Co_3O_4$ was also found to have a dominant impact on charge-transfer kinetics in the LSCF-GDC composite layer and a moderate impact on the electronic transport in the current-collecting LSCF layer. Care should be taken to avoid a formation of excessive thermal stresses between layers when adding $Co_3O_4$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.463-463
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• 2014

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have generated a strong interest in the development of solid-state devices owing to their low cost and simple preparation procedures. Effort has been devoted to the study of electrolytes that allow light-to-electrical power conversion for DSSC applications. Several attempts have been made to substitute the liquid electrolyte in the original solar cells by using (2,2',7,7'-tetrakis (N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9-9'-spirobi-fluorene (spiro-OMeTAD) that act as hole conductor [1]. Although efficiencies above 3% have been reached by several groups, here the major challenging is limited photoelectrode thickness ($2{\mu}m$), which is very low due to electron diffusion length (Ln) for spiro-OMeTAD ($4.4{\mu}m$) [2]. In principle, the $TiO_2$ layer can be thicker than had been thought previously. This has important implications for the design of high-efficiency solid-state DSSCs. In the present study, we have fabricated 3-D Transparent Conducting Oxide (TCO) by growing tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) nanowire (NWs) arrays via a vapor transport method [3] and mesoporous $TiO_2$ nanoparticle (NP)-based photoelectrodes were prepared using doctor blade method. Finally optimized light-harvesting solid-state DSSCs is made using 3-D TCO where electron life time is controlled the recombination rate through fast charge collection and also ITO NWs length can be controlled in the range of over $2{\mu}m$ and has been characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Structural analyses by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) results reveal that the ITO NWs formed single crystal oriented [100] direction. Also to compare the charge collection properties of conventional NPs based solid-state DSSCs with ITO NWs based solid-state DSSCs, we have studied intensity modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS), intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS) and transient open circuit voltages. As a result, above $4{\mu}m$ thick ITO NWs based photoelectrodes with Z907 dye shown the best performing device, exhibiting a short-circuit current density of 7.21 mA cm-2 under simulated solar emission of 100 mW cm-2 associated with an overall power conversion efficiency of 2.80 %. Finally, we achieved the efficiency of 7.5% by applying a CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite sensitizer.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 2009

Nanoparticles are small-scale substances (<100 nm) with unique properties, complex exposure and health risk implications. Aluminum oxide ($Al_2O_3$) nanoparticles (NP) have been widely used as abrasives, wear-resistant coatings on propeller shafts of ships, to increase the specific impulse per weight of composite propellants used in solid rocket fuel and as drug delivery systems to increase solubility. However, recent studies have shown that nano-sized aluminum (10 nm in diameter) can generate adverse effects, such as pulmonary response. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of $Al_2O_3$ NP were investigated using the dye exclusion assay, the comet assay, and the mouse lymphoma thymidine kinase (tk$^{+/-}$) gene mutation assay (MLA). IC$_{20}$ values of $Al_2O_3$ NP in BEAS-2B cells were determined the concentration of 273.44 $\mu$g/mL and 390.63 $\mu$g/mL with and without S-9. However IC$_{20}$ values of $Al_2O_3$ NP were found nontoxic in L5178Y cells both of with and without S-9 fraction. In the comet assay, L5178Y cells and BEAS-2B cells were treated with $Al_2O_3$ NP which significantly increased 2-fold tail moment with and without S-9. Also, the mutant frequencies in the $Al_2O_3$ NP treated L5178Y cells were increased compared to the vehicle controls with S-9. The results of this study indicate that $Al_2O_3$ NP can cause primary DNA damage and cytotoxicity but not mutagenicity in cultured mammalian cells.

• Electrical & Electronic Materials
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 1997

L $a_{0.7}$S $r_{0.3}$Mn $O_{3}$ powders were prepared by both GNP(Glycine-Nitrate Process) and solid state reaction method in various of calcination temperature(800-1000.deg. C) and time in air. Also, L $a_{0.7}$S $r_{0.3}$Mn $O_{3}$ cathode contacts on YSZ(Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia) substrate were prepared by screen printing and sintering method as a function of sintering temperature(1100-1450.deg. C) in air. Sintering behaviors have been investigated by SEM(Scanning Electron Microscope) and porosity measurement. Compositional and structural characterization were carried out by X-ray diffractometer and ICP AES(Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry) analysis. Electrical characterization was carried out by the electrical conductivity with linear 4 point probe method. As the calcination period increased in solid state reaction method, L $a_{0.7}$S $r_{0.3}$Mn $O_{3}$ phase increased. Although L $a_{0.7}$S $r_{0.3}$Mn $O_{3}$ single phase was obtained only for 48hrs at 1000.deg. C, in GNP method it was easy to get single and ultra-fine L $a_{0.7}$S $r_{0.3}$Mn $O_{3}$ powders with submicron particle size at 650.deg. C for 30min. The particle size and thickness of L $a_{0.7}$S $r_{0.3}$Mn $O_{3}$ cathode contact by solid state reaction method did not change during the heat treatment, while those by GNP method showed good sintering characteristics because initial powder size fabricated from GNP method is smaller than that fabricated from solid state reaction method. Based on enthalpy change from thermodynamic data and ICP-AES analysis, it was suggested to make cathode contact in composition of (L $a_{0.7}$S $r_{0.3}$)$_{0.91}$ Mn $O_{3}$ which have little second phase (L $a_{2}$Z $r_{2}$ $O_{7}$) for high efficient solid oxide fuel cells applications. As (L $a_{0.7}$S $r_{0.3}$)$_{0.91}$Mn $O_{3}$ cathode contact on YSZ substrate was sintering at 1250.deg. C the temperature that liquid phase sintering did not occur. It was possible to obtain proper cathode contacts with electrical conductivity of 150(S/cm) and porosity content of 30-40%.m) and porosity content of 30-40%.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.82-85
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• 2010

Recently, thin film processes for oxides and metal deposition, such as physical vapor deposition (PVD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD), have been widely adapted to fabricate solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). In this paper, we presented two research area of the use of such techniques. Gadolinium doped ceria (GDC) showed high ionic conductivity and could guarantee operation at low temperature. But the electron conductivity at low oxygen partial pressure and the weak mechanical property have been significant problems. To solve these issues, we coated GDC electrolyte with a nano scale yittria-doped stabilized zirconium (YSZ) layer via atomic layer deposition (ALD). We expected that the thin YSZ layer could have functions of electron blocking and preventing ceria from the reduction atmosphere. Yittria-doped barium zirconium (BYZ) has several orders higher proton conductivity than oxide ion conductor as YSZ and also has relatively high chemical stability. The fabrication processes of BYZ is very sophisticated, especially the synthesis of thin-film BYZ. We discussed the detailed fabrication processes of BYZ as well as the deposition of electrode. This paper discusses possible cell structure and process flow to accommodate such films.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.132-139
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• 2020

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are among one of the promising technologies for efficient and clean energy. SOFCs offer several advantages over other types of fuel cells under relatively high temperatures (600℃ to 800℃). However, the thermal behavior of SOFC stacks at high operating temperatures is a serious issue in SOFC development because it can be associated with detrimental thermal stresses on the life span of the stacks. The thermal behavior of SOFC stacks can be influenced by operating or material properties. Therefore, this work aims to investigate the effects of the thermal conductivity of each component (anode, cathode, and electrolyte) on the thermal behavior of samarium-doped ceria-based SOFCs at intermediate temperatures. Computational fluid dynamics is used to simulate SOFC operation at 600℃. The temperature distributions and gradients of a single cell at 0.7 V under different thermal conductivity values are analyzed and discussed to determine their relationship. Simulations reveal that the influence of thermal conductivity is more remarkable for the anode and electrolyte than for the cathode. Increasing the thermal conductivity of the anode by 50% results in a 23% drop in the maximum thermal gradients. The results for the electrolyte are subtle, with a ~67% reduction in thermal conductivity that only results in an 8% reduction in the maximum temperature gradient. The effect of thermal conductivity on temperature gradient is important because it can be used to predict thermal stress generation.