• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.37-44
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• 2014

The $Li-O_2$ battery has been attracting much attention recently, due to its very high theoretical capacity compared with Li-ion chemistries. Nevertheless, several studies within the last few years revealed that Li-ion derived electrolytes based on alkyl carbonate solvents, which have been commonly used in the last 27 years, are irreversibly consumed at the $O_2$ electrode. Accordingly, more stable electrolytes are required capable to operate with both the Li metal anode and the $O_2$ cathode. Thus, due to their favorable properties such as non volatility, chemical inertia, and favorable behavior toward the Li metal electrode, ionic liquid-based electrolytes have gathered increasing attention from the scientific community for its application in $Li-O_2$ batteries. However, the scale-up of Li-$O_2$ technology to real application requires solving the mass transport limitation, especially for supplying oxygen to the cathode. Hence, the 'LABOHR' project proposes the introduction of a flooded cathode configuration and the circulation of the electrolyte, which is then used as an oxygen carrier from an external $O_2$ harvesting device to the cathode for freeing the system from diffusion limitation.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.803-807
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• 2008

A making process of DSC(dye sensitized solar cell) was presented. In general, Photo electrodes of DSC was made by using colloid paste of nano $TiO_2$ and processing of Doctor-blade printing and high temperature sintering for porous structure. These methods lead to cracks on $TiO_2$ surface and ununiform of $TiO_2$ thickness. This phenomenon is one factor that makes low efficiency to cells. After $TiO_2$ printing on TCO glass, a physical vibration was adapted for reducing ununiform of $TiO_2$ thickness. And a thermal treatment at low temperature(under $75^{\circ}C$) was adapted for reducing cracks on $TiO_2$ surface. In this paper, we have designed and manufactured an ultrasonic circuit (100W, frequency and duty variable) and a thermal equipment. Then, we have optimized forcing time, frequency and duty of ultrasonic irradiation and thermal heating for surface treatment of photo-electrode of DSC. In I-V characteristic test of DSC, ultrasonic and thermal treated DSC shows 19% improved its efficiency against monolithic DSC. And it shows stability of light-harvesting from drastically change of light irradiation test.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.12-21
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• 2023

Governments and global companies are working towards using renewable sources of energy, such as solar, wind, and biomass, to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. In the defense sector, the new strategy seeks to increase the sustainable use of renewable energy sources to improve energy security and reduce military transportation. Renewable energy technologies are affected by factors such as climate, resources, and policy environments. Therefore, governments and global companies need to carefully select the optimal renewable energy sources and deployment strategies. Biomass is a promising energy source owing to its high energy density and ease of collection and harvesting. Many techniques have been developed to convert the biomass into electrical energy. Recently, diverse types of fuel cells have been suggested that can directly convert the chemical energy of biomass into electrical energy. The recently developed biomass flow fuel cell has significantly enhanced the power density several hundred times, reaching to ~100 mW/cm². In this review, we explore various strategies for producing electrical energy from biomass using modern methods, and discuss the challenges and potential prospects of this method.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.162-173
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• 2015

The cellular fatty acid composition is important for metabolic plasticity in Rhodobacter sphaeroides. We explored the effects of changing the cellular ratio of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) to saturated fatty acids (SFAs) in R. sphaeroides by overexpressing several key fatty acid biosynthetic enzymes through the use of expression plasmid pRK415. Bacteria containing the plasmid pRKfabI₁ with the fabI₁ gene that encodes enoyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) reductase showed a reduction in the cellular UFA to SFA ratio from 4 (80% UFA) to 2 (65% UFA) and had decreased membrane fluidity and reduced cell growth. Additionally, the ratio of UFA to SFA of the chromatophore vesicles from pRKfabI₁-containing cells was similarly lowered, and the cell had decreased levels of light-harvesting complexes, but no change in intracytoplasmic membrane (ICM) content or photosynthetic (PS) gene expression. Both inhibition of enoyl-ACP reductase with diazaborine and addition of exogenous UFA restored membrane fluidity, cell growth, and the UFA to SFA ratio to wild-type levels in this strain. R. sphaeroides containing the pRKfabB plasmid with the fabB gene that encodes the enzyme β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I exhibited an increased UFA to SFA ratio from 4 (80% UFA) to 9 (90% UFA), but showed no change in membrane fluidity or growth rate relative to control cells. Thus, membrane fluidity in R. sphaeroides remains fairly unchanged when membrane UFA levels are between 80% and 90%, whereas membrane fluidity, cell growth, and cellular composition are affected when UFA levels are below 80%.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.10
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• pp.773-786
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• 2017

The loss of green coloration via chlorophyll (Chl) degradation typically occurs during leaf senescence. To date, many Chl catabolic enzymes have been identified and shown to interact with light harvesting complex II to form a Chl degradation complex in senescing chloroplasts; this complex might metabolically channel phototoxic Chl catabolic intermediates to prevent oxidative damage to cells. The Chl catabolic enzyme 7-hydroxymethyl Chl a reductase (HCAR) converts 7-hydroxymethyl Chl a (7-HMC a) to Chl a. The rice (Oryza sativa) genome contains a single HCAR homolog (OsHCAR), but its exact role remains unknown. Here, we show that an oshcar knockout mutant exhibits persistent green leaves during both dark-induced and natural senescence, and accumulates 7-HMC a and pheophorbide a (Pheo a) in green leaf blades. Interestingly, both rice and Arabidopsis hcar mutants exhibit severe cell death at the vegetative stage; this cell death largely occurs in a light intensity-dependent manner. In addition, 7-HMC a treatment led to the generation of singlet oxygen ($^1O_2$) in Arabidopsis and rice protoplasts in the light. Under herbicide-induced oxidative stress conditions, leaf necrosis was more severe in hcar plants than in wild type, and HCAR-overexpressing plants were more tolerant to reactive oxygen species than wild type. Therefore, in addition to functioning in the conversion of 7-HMC a to Chl a in senescent leaves, HCAR may play a critical role in protecting plants from high light-induced damage by preventing the accumulation of 7-HMC a and Pheo a in developing and mature leaves at the vegetative stage.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.2895-2900
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• 2014

We fabricated quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) using cadmium sulfide (CdS) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots (QDs) as sensitizers. A spin coated $TiO_2$ nanoparticle (NP) film on tin-doped indium oxide glass and sputtered Au on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass were used as photo-anode and counter electrode, respectively. CdS QDs were deposited onto the mesoporous $TiO_2$ layer by a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method. Pre-synthesized CdTe QDs were deposited onto a layer of CdS QDs using a direct adsorption technique. CdS/CdTe QDSSCs had high light harvesting ability compared with CdS or CdTe QDSSCs. QDSSCs incorporating single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), sprayed onto the substrate before deposition of the next layer or mixed with $TiO_2$ NPs, mostly exhibited enhanced photo cell efficiency compared with the pristine cell. In particular, a maximum rate increase of 24% was obtained with the solar cell containing a $TiO_2$ layer mixed with SWNTs.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.254-261
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• 2019

Distinct from conventional energy-harvesting (EH) technologies, such as the use of photovoltaic, piezoelectric, and thermoelectric effects, betavoltaic energy conversion can consistently generate uniform electric power, independent of environmental variations, and provide a constant output of high DC voltage, even under conditions of ultra-low-power EH. It can also dramatically reduce the energy loss incurred in the processes of voltage boosting and regulation. This study realized betavoltaic cells comprised of p-i-n junctions based on silicon carbide, fabricated through a customized semiconductor recipe, and a Ni foil plated with a Ni-63 radioisotope. The betavoltaic energy converter (BEC) includes an array of 16 parallel-connected betavoltaic cells. Experimental results demonstrate that the series and parallel connections of two BECs result in an open-circuit voltage $V_{oc}$ of 3.06 V with a short-circuit current $I_{sc}$ of 48.5 nA, and a $V_{oc}$ of 1.50 V with an $I_{sc}$ of 92.6 nA, respectively. The capacitor charging efficiency in terms of the current generated from the two series-connected BECs was measured to be approximately 90.7%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2014.10a
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• pp.585-588
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• 2014

This paper presents a self-powered sensor node circuit using photovoltaic and vibration energy harvesting. The harvested energy from a solar cell and a vibration device(PZT) is stored in a storage capacitor. The stored energy is managed by a PMU(Power Management Unit). In order to supply a stable voltage to the sensor node, an LDO(Low Drop Out Regulator) is used. The LDO drives a temperature sensor and a SAR ADC(Successive Approximate Register Analog-to-Digital Converter), and 10-bit digital output data corresponding to current temperature is obtained. The proposed circuit is designed in a 0.35um CMOS process, and the designed chip size including PADs is $1.1mm{\times}0.95mm$.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2011

Thin film solar cells with chalcopyrite $CuInSe_2/Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ absorber materials, commonly known as "CIS/CIGS solar cells" have recently attracted significant research interest as a potential alternative energy-harvesting system for the next generation. Among the different deposition techniques available for the CIGS absorber layer, electrodeposition is an effective and low cost alternative to vacuum based deposition methods. This article reviews progress in the area of CIGS solar cells with an emphasis on electrodeposited absorber layer. Existing challenges in fabrication of stoichiometric absorber layer are highlighted.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.667-667
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• 2013

Optimizing morphology of the front surface with three dimensional structures (3D) in solar cell is essential element for not only effectivelight harvesting but also carrier collection and separation without the cost burden in process. We designed a three-dimensionally ordered front surface with wet chemical etching. Wet chemical etching is a proper way to have three dimensional structures. The method efficiently transmits the incident light at the front surface to a Si absorber and has competitive price in manufacturing when comparing with reactive ion etching (RIE) to have three dimensional structures. This indicates that optimized front surface with three dimensional structures by wet chemical etching will bring effective light management in solar cells.