• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.519-523
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• 2006

$LiFePO_4$ has been received attention as a potential cathode material for the lithium secondary batteries. In our study, $LiFePO_4$ cathode active materials were synthesized by a solid-state reaction. It was modified by coating $TiO_2$ and carbon in order to enhance cyclic performance and electronic conductivity. $TiO_2$ and carbon coatings on $LiFePO_4$ materials enhanced the electronic conductivity and its charge/discharge capacity. For lithium polymer battery applications, $LiFePO_4$/solid polymer electrolyte (SPE)/Li and $LiFePO_{4}-TiO_{2}/SPE/Li$ cells were characterized by a cyclic voltammetry and charge/discharge cycling. The electrode with $LiFePO_{4}-carbon-TiO_{2}$ in PVDF-PC-EC-$LiClO_{4}$ electrolyte showed promising capacity of above 100 mAh/g at 1C rate.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2019

This study was conducted to determine the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) distribution within tree components (i.e., stem, branches, leaves, and roots) of the Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi Carriere) plantation and natural oriental cork oak (Quercus variabilis Blume) stands. Fifteen Japanese larch and 15 oriental cork oak trees were destructively sampled to compare the C and N stocks in the components of the trees from three different regions-Hadong-gun, Hamyang-gun and Sancheong-gun-in Gyeongnam Province, South Korea. Species-specific allometric equations were developed to estimate the C and N contents in the tree components based on the diameter at breast height (DBH). There were differences in mean C and N concentrations between the Japanese larch and the oriental cork oak. The mean C concentrations of the tree componentswere significantly higher in Japanese larch than in oriental cork oak; whereas, the N concentration in the stems was significantly lower in Japanese larch than in oriental cork oak. The allometric equations developed for C and N content were significant (p < 0.05) with a coefficient of determination ($R^2$) of 0.76 to 0.99. The C and N stocks in the tree components do not appear to be affected by the species such as Japanese larch plantations and oriental cork oak stands. This study emphasizes the importance of C and N concentrations to estimate the C and N distribution according to tree components in different tree species.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.285-295
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• 2021

The inverse spinel Cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄, CFO) is considered to be a promising alternative to commercial graphite anodes for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). However, the further development of CFO is limited by its unstable structure during battery cycling and low electrical conductivity. In an effort to address the challenge, we construct three-dimensional hierarchical flower-like CFO nanoclusters (CFO NCs)-decorated carbonized cotton carbon fiber (CFO NCs/CCF) composite. This structure is consisted of microfibers and nanoflower cluster composited of CFO nanoparticle, in which CCF can be used as a long-range conductive matrix, while flower-like CFO NCs can provide abundant active sites, large electrode/electrolyte interface, short lithium ion diffusion path, and alleviated structural stress. As anode materials in LIBs, the flower-like CFO NCs/CCF exhibits excellent electrochemical performance. After 100 cycles at a current density of 0.3 A g^-1, the CFO NCs/CCF delivers a discharge/charge capacity of 1008/990 mAh g^-1. Even at a high current density of 15 A g^-1, it still maintains a charge/discharge capacity of 362/361 mAh g^-1.

• ALGAE
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.265-279
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• 2022

The primary production (PP) by phytoplankton in marine ecosystems is essential for carbon cycling and fueling food webs. Hence, estimating the PP in the territorial sea of each country is a necessary step to achieving carbon neutrality. To estimate the PP in the territorial sea of the Republic of Korea from 2005 to 2021, we analyzed various physiochemical parameters, such as sea surface temperature (SST), Secchi depth, and concentrations of chlorophyll-a and nutrients in the seas of five regions, including the East Sea, West Sea, western South Sea, eastern South Sea, and the waters off Jeju Island. During the 17-year study period, the SST tended to increase, while the nutrient concentrations declined, except in the Jeju area. Overall, the PP did not show a specific temporal trend, but daily PP in the western South Sea was the highest among the five regions. Moreover, the maximum PP in the Korean territorial waters (76,450 km²) was estimated at 11,227 Gg C y^-1, which accounts for 0.03% of the global PP. The results may give insights into a better understanding of the PP, further resource utilization, and environmental sustainability in the studied region.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2022

Fibrous supercapacitors (FSs), owing to their high power density, good safety characteristic, and high flexibility, have recently been in the spotlight as energy storage devices for wearable electronics. However, despite these advantages, FCs face many challenges related to their active material of carbon fiber (CF). CF has low surface area and poor wettability between electrode and electrolyte, which result in low capacitance and poor long-term stability at high current densities. To overcome these limits, fibrous supercapacitors made using surface-activated CF (FS-SACF) are here suggested; these materials have improved specific surface area and better wettability, obtained by introducing porous structure and oxygen-containing functional groups on the CF surface, respectively, through surface engineering. The FS-SACF shows an improved ion diffusion coefficient and better electrochemical performance, including high specific capacity of 223.6 mF cm^-2 at current density of 10 ㎂ cm^-2, high-rate performance of 171.2 mF cm^-2 at current density of 50.0 ㎂ cm^-2, and remarkable, ultrafast cycling stability (96.2 % after 1,000 cycles at current density of 250.0 ㎂ cm^-2). The excellent electrochemical performance is definitely due to the effects of surface functionalization on CF, leading to improved specific surface area and superior ion diffusion capability.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.162-166
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• 2009

The carbon-coated Si/Cu powders were synthesized by mechanical ball-milling and hydrocarbon gas decomposition methods at high temperature. The carbon-coated Si/Cu powder was used as anode for lithium secondary battery and its electrochemical behavior was investigated. In addition, the carbon-coated Si/Cu/graphite composite anode material was prepared using natural graphite powder and their electrochemical characteristics were compared with natural graphite anode. The specific capacity of carbon-coated Si/Cu anode increased to the initial 10 cycles. The carbon-coated Si/Cu/graphite composite anode exhibited the reversible specific capacity of 450mAh/g and the first cycle efficiency of 81.3% at $0.25mA/cm^2$. The cycling performance of the composite anode was similar to that of pure graphite anode except the reversible specific capacity value.

• Electronic Materials Letters
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.755-765
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• 2018

In situ nitrogen doped hard carbon nanotubes (NHCNT) were fabricated by pyrolyzing tubular nitrogen doped conjugated microporous polymer. KOH activated NHCNT (K-NHCNT) were also prepared to improve their porous structure. XRD, SEM, TEM, EDS, XPS, Raman spectra, $N_2$ adsorption-desorption, galvanostatic charging-discharge, cyclic voltammetry and EIS were used to characterize the structure and performance of NHCNT and K-NHCNT. XRD and Raman spectra reveal K-NHCNT own a more disorder carbon. SEM indicate that the diameters of K-NHCNT are smaller than that of NHCNT. TEM and EDS further indicate that K-NHCNT are hollow carbon nanotubes with nitrogen uniformly distributed. $N_2$ adsorption-desorption analysis reveals that K-NHCNT have an ultra high specific surface area of $1787.37m^2g^{-1}$, which is much larger than that of NHCNT ($531.98m^2g^{-1}$). K-NHCNT delivers a high reversible capacity of $918mAh\;g^{-1}$ at $0.6A\;g^{-1}$. Even after 350 times cycling, the capacity of K-NHCNT cycled after 350 cycles at $0.6A\;g^{-1}$ is still as high as $591.6mAh\;g^{-1}$. Such outstanding electrochemical performance of the K-NHCNT are clearly attributed by its superior characters, which have great advantages over those commercial available carbon nanotubes ($200-450mAh\;g^{-1}$) not only for its desired electrochemical performance but also for its easily and scaling-up preparation.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.167-174
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• 2019

To improve the performance of carbon nanofibers as electrode material in electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs), we prepare three types of samples with different pore control by electrospinning. The speciments display different surface structures, melting behavior, and electrochemical performance according to the process. Carbon nanofibers with two complex treatment processes show improved performance over the other samples. The mesoporous carbon nanofibers (sample C), which have the optimal conditions, have a high sepecific surface area of $696m^2g^{-1}$, a high average pore diameter of 6.28 nm, and a high mesopore volume ratio of 87.1%. In addition, the electrochemical properties have a high specific capacitance of $110.1F\;g^{-1}$ at a current density of $0.1A\;g^{-1}$ and an excellent cycling stability of 84.8% after 3,000 cycles at a current density of $0.1A\;g^{-1}$. Thus, we explain the improved electrochemical performance by the higher reaction area due to an increased surface area and a faster diffusion path due to the increased volume fraction of the mesopores. Consequently, the mesoporous carbon nanofibers are demonstrated to be a very promising material for use as electrode materials of high-performance EDLCs.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.260-265
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• 2012

Soil respiration under flooded conditions is considered to be very small compared with aerobic soil respiration of soil organic matter. However, anaerobic decomposition of soil plays a key role in carbon cycling in flooded ecosystems. On the other hand, coal-ash wastes, such as fly ash and bottom ash, are known to function as a soil amendment for mitigating $CO_2$ emission and enhancing carbon sequestration in up land soils. In this study, we investigated bottom ash as a soil amendment for mitigating $CO_2$ emission, and thus enhancing carbon sequestration under anaerobic conditions. We observed that amendment of bottom ash without external organic source led to significant reduction in $CO_2$ emission rate and in total cumulative $CO_2$ emission flux over the incubation period, which was proportional to the amount of bottom ash applied. We also found that soil microbial biomass increased in response to application of bottom ash. These results suggest that bottom ash can be utilized to store $CO_2$ as a stable soil organic carbon in flooded ecosystems, as in aerobic situations.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.323-330
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• 2017

$M_2GeO_4$ (M = Co, Fe and Ni) was synthesized as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries and its electrochemical characteristics were investigated. The $Fe_2GeO_4$ electrode exhibited an initial discharge capacity of $1127.8mAh\;g^{-1}$ and better capacity retention than $Co_2GeO_4$ and $Ni_2GeO_4$. A diffusion coefficient of lithium ion in the $Fe_2GeO_4$ electrode was measured to be $12.7{\times}10^{-8}cm^2s^{-1}$, which was higher than those of the other two electrodes. The electrochemical performance of the $Fe_2GeO_4$ electrode was improved by coating carbon onto the surface of $Fe_2GeO_4$ particles. The carbon-coated $Fe_2GeO_4$ electrode delivered a high initial discharge capacity of $1144.9mAh\;g^{-1}$ with good capacity retention. The enhanced cycling performance was mainly attributed to the carbon-coated layer that accommodates the volume change of the active materials and improves the electronic conductivity. Our results demonstrate that the carbon-coated $Fe_2GeO_4$ can be a promising anode material for achieving high energy density lithium-ion batteries.