• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.2067-2072
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• 2013

Hydrogen ($H_2$) treatment using a two-step $TiO_2$ nanotube (TONT) film was performed under various annealing temperatures from $350^{\circ}C$ to $550^{\circ}C$ and significantly influenced the extent of hydrogen treatment in the film. Compared with pure TONT films, the hydrogen-treated TONT (H:TONT) film showed substantial improvement of material features from structural, optical and electronic aspects. In particular, the extent of enhancement was remarkable with increasing annealing temperature. Light absorption by the H:TONT film extended toward the visible region, which was attributable to the formation of sub-band-gap states between the conduction and valence bands, resulting from oxygen vacancies due to the $H_2$ treatment. This increased donor concentration about 1.5 times higher and improved electrical conductivity of the TONT films. Based on these analyses and results, photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance was evaluated and showed that the H:TONT film prepared at $550^{\circ}C$ exhibited optimal PEC performance. Approximately twice higher photocurrent density of 0.967 $mA/cm^2$ at 0.32 V vs. NHE was achieved for the H:TONT film ($550^{\circ}C$) versus 0.43 $mA/cm^2$ for the pure TONT film. Moreover, the solar-to-hydrogen efficiency (STH, ${\eta}$) of the H:TONT film was 0.95%, whereas a 0.52% STH efficiency was acquired for the TONT film. These results demonstrate that hydrogen treatment of TONT film is a simple and effective tool to enhance PEC performance with modifying the properties of the original material.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.111-115
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• 2015

$Er^{3+}$ doped $Y_3Al_5O_{12}$ (Er:YAG) single crystals, in which the concentrations of $Er^{3+}$ ion were 5, 7.3, 8, and 10 at.%, were grown by the Czochralski method under nitrogen atmosphere. The <111> oriented Er:YAG single crystals with diameters of up to 50 mm were grown at a pulling rate of 1.0 mm/h and rotation rate of 10 rpm. The thick part of the core region was generated mainly when there was a diameter change during the crystal growth. The concentrations of $Er^{3+}$ ion in the crystals were the same as it was in the melt. $Er^{3+}$ concentration of core region was slightly higher than the other regions in the compositional analysis. The fluorescence lifetime was saturated according to the increase of $Er^{3+}$ doping concentrations.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.646-650
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• 2017

We have evaluated the ferroelectric and electrical properties of pure $BiFeO_3$ (BFO) and $Bi_{0.9}A_{0.1}Fe_{0.975}V_{0.025}O_{3+{\alpha}}$ (A=Nd, Tb) thin films on $Pt(111)/Ti/SiO_2/Si(100)$ substrates by using a chemical solution deposition method. The remnant polarization ($2P_r$) of the $Bi_{0.9}Tb_{0.1}Fe_{0.975}V_{0.025}O_{3+{\alpha}}$ (BTFVO) thin film was approximately $65{\mu}C/cm^2$, with a maximum applied electric field of 950 kV/cm and a frequency of 10 kHz, where as that of the $Bi_{0.9}Nd_{0.1}Fe_{0.975}V_{0.025}O_{3+{\alpha}}$ (BNFVO) thin film was approximately $37{\mu}C/cm^2$ with a maximum applied electric field of 910 kV/cm. The leakage current density of the co-doped BNFVO thin film was four orders of magnitude lower than that of the pure BFO thin film, at $2.75{\times}10^{-7}A/cm^2$ with an applied electric field of 100 kV/cm. The grain size and uniformity of the co-doped BNFVO and BTFVO thin films were improved, in comparison to the pure BFO thin film, through structural modificationsdue to the co-doping with Nd and Tb.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.336-345
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• 2020

Nickel-doped lanthanum cobalt oxide (LaCo_1-xNi_xO_3-δ, LCN) was investigated as an alternative anode material for solid oxide fuel cells. To improve its catalytic activity for steam methane reforming (SMR) reaction, Ni²⁺ was substituted into Co³⁺ lattice in LaCoO₃. LCN anode, synthesized using the Pechini method, reacts with yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte at high temperatures to form an electrochemically inactive phase such as La₂Zr₂O₇. To minimize the interlayer by-products, the LCN was coated via a double-tape casting method on the Ni/YSZ anode as a catalytic functional layer. By increasing the Ni doping amount, oxygen vacancies in the LCN increased and the cell performance improved. CH₄ fuel decomposed to H₂ and CO via SMR reaction in the LCN functional layer. Hence, the LCN-coated Ni/YSZ anode exhibited better cell performance than the Ni/YSZ anode under H₂ and CH₄ fuels. LCN with 12 mol% of Ni (LCN12)-modified Ni/YSZ anode showed excellent long-term stability under H₂ and CH₄ conditions.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.1-6
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• 2000

The mechanical strength of silicon carbide dose nor permit the use of diffusion as a means to achieve selective doping as required by most electronic devices. While epitaxial layers may be doped during growth, ion implantation is needed to define such regions as drain and source wells, junction isolation regions, and so on. Ion activation without an annealing cap results in serious crystal damage as these activation processes must be carried out at temperatures on the order of 1600$^{\circ}C$. Ion implanted silicon carbide that is annealed in either a vacuum or argon environment usually results in a surface morphology that is highly irregular due to the out diffusion of Si atoms. We have developed and report a successful process of using silicon overpressure, provided by silane in a CAD reactor during the anneal, to prevent the destruction of the silicon carbide surface, This process has proved to be robust and has resulted in ion activation at a annealing temperature of 1600$^{\circ}C$ without degradation of the crystal surface as determined by AFM and RBS. In addition XPS was used to look at the surface and near surface chemical states for annealing temperatures of up to 1700$^{\circ}C$. The surface and near surface regions to approximately 6 nm in depth was observed to contain no free silicon or other impurities thus indicating that the process developed results in an atomically clean SiC surface and near surface region within the detection limits of the instrument(${\pm}$1 at %).

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.661-666
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• 1998

Active reaction sites and electrochemical O2 reduction kinetics on La_{1-x}Sr_xMnO_{3+{\delta}} (x=0.1-0.4)/YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia) electrodes are investigated in the temperature range of 700-900 ℃ at $Po_2=10^{-3}$-0.21 atm. Results of the steady-state polarization measurements, which are formulated into the Butler-Volmer formalism to extract transfer coefficient values, lead us to conclude that the two-electron charge transfer step to atomically adsorbed oxygen is rate-limiting. The same conclusion is drawn from the $Po_2$-dependent ac impedance measurements, where the exponent m in the relationship of $I_o$ (exchange current density) ∝ $P_{o_{2}}^m$ is analyzed. Chemical analysis is performed on the quenched Mn perovskites to estimate their oxygen stoichiometry factors (δ) at the operating temperature (700-900 ℃). Here, the observed δ turns out to become smaller as both the Sr-doping contents (x) and the measured temperature increase. A comparison between the 8 values and cathodic activity of Mn perovskites reveals that the cathodic transfer coefficients $({\alpha}_c)$ for oxygen reduction reaction are inversely proportional to δ whereas the anodic ones $({\alpha}_a)$ show the opposite trend, reflecting that the surface oxygen vacancies on Mn perovskites actively participate in the $O_2$ reduction reaction. Among the samples of x= 0.1-0.4, the manganite with x=0.4 exhibits the smallest 8 value (even negative), and consistently this electrode shows the highest ${\alpha}_c$ and the best cathodic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.293-300
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• 2023

The global energy storage markets have gravitated to high-energy-density and low cost of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) as the predominant system for energy storage such as electric vehicles (EVs). High-Ni layered oxides are considered promising next-generation cathode materials for LIBs owing to their significant advantages in terms of high energy density. However, the practical application of high-Ni cathodes remains challenging, because of their structural and surface instability. Although extensive studies have been conducted to mitigate these inherent instabilities, a two-step process involving the synthesis of the cathode and a dry/wet coating is essential. This study evaluates a one-step β-Li₂SnO₃ layer coating on the surface of LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ (NC82) via the thermal segregation of Sn owing to the solubility limit with respect to the synthesis temperature. The doping, segregation, and phase transition of Sn were systematically revealed by structural analyses. Moreover, surface-engineered 5 mol% Sn-coated LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ (NC82_Sn5%) exhibited superior capacity retention compared to bare NC82 owing to the stable surface coating layer. Thus, the developed one-step coating method is suitable for improving the properties of high-Ni layered oxide cathode materials for application in LIBs.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.654-659
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• 2010

We have investigated the effect of rubrene-doped CuPc hole transport layer on the performance of p-i-n type bulk hetero-junction photovoltaic device with a structure of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/CuPc: rubrene/CuPc:C60(blending ratio 1:1)/C60/BCP/Al and have evaluated the current density-voltage(J-V) characteristics, short-circuit current($J_{sc}$), open-circuit voltage($V_{oc}$), fill factor(FF), and energy conversion efficiency(${\eta}_e$) of the device. By rubrene doping into CuPc hole transport layer, absorption intensity in absorption spectra decreased. However, the performance of p-i-n organic type bulk hetero-junction photovoltaic device fabricated with crystalline rubrene-doped CuPc was improved since rubrene shows higher bandgap and hole mobility compared to CuPc. Increased injection currents have effected on the performance improvement of the present device with energy conversion efficiency(${\eta}_e$) of 1.41%, which is still lower value compared to silicone solar cell and many efforts should be made to improve organic photovoltaic devices.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2008

Titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) is one of the most researched semiconductor oxides that has revolutionised technologies in the field of environmental purification and energy generation. It has found extensive applications in heterogenous photocatalysis for removing organic pollutants from air and water and also in hydrogen production from photocatalytic water-splitting. Its use is popular because of its low cost, low toxicity, high chemical and thermal stability. But one of the critical limitations of $TiO_2$ as photocatalyst is its poor response to visible light. Several attempts have been made to modify the surface and electronic structures of $TiO_2$ to enhance its activity in the visible light region such as noble metal deposition, metal ion loading, cationic and anionic doping and sensitisation. Most of the results improved photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation. This paper attempts to review and update some of the information on the $TiO_2$ photocatalytic technology and its accomplishment towards visible light region.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.329-334
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• 2009

Yttrium ions doped $TiO_2$ particles have been prepared using a low temperature combustion method. The physical properties were investigated, together with the activity of $TiO_2$ particles as a photocatalyst for the decomposition of methylene blue. From XRD results, the major phase of all the $TiO_2$ particles prepared under basic condition was an anatase structure but a rutile peak was observed when they are prepared under acidic condition. The crystallite size of $TiO_2$ particles was decreased as the molar ratio of CA/TTIP increased. The photocatalytic activity increased with an increase of CA/TTIP molar ratio and pH in the solution. In addition, the doping of 1.0 mole% yttrium ion on the $TiO_2$ enhanced the photocatalytic activity and showed the higher activity than commercial P-25 catalyst.