• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.65-69
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• 2010

In this study, we compared two methods(an acid treatment in strong acid reflux and a heat treatment in air atmosphere) for hydrophilic surface treatment of multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWNT) to enhance the capcity of $RuO_2$/MWNT composite electrode materials for ultracapacitor. Both treatments generated a number of defects on the surface of MWNT by the breakage of $\pi$ bond in graphene layer at which carboxyl groups were introduced. However, the degree of hydrophilicity generated by strong acid treatment was higher than that by heat treatment in air, which was revealed by the quantitative measurement of surface carboxyl groups by using Boehm titration. The increased hydrophilicity save rise to an improved dispersity of $RuO_2$ nanoparticles on MWNT. Finally, the improved dispersity resulted in the capacity enhancement of composite electrode materials for ultracapacitor.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.952-957
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• 1997

Modified polymeric composite electrodes having highly dispersed CuO particles through the electrode matrix were prepared for LCEC or flow injection analysis of carbohydrates. The composite electrodes were prepared by incorporating carbon black and highly dispersed copper oxide particles in polystyrene matrix cross-linked with divinylbenzene. The analytical characteristics of the electrodes for LCEC and flow injection analysis of carbohydrates were evaluated. Improved performance in LCEC and flow injection analysis of carbohydrates is demonstrated in terms of sensitivity, reproducibility, stability and surface renewability. It was possible to get improved performance of the electrodes as well as adaptability of the electrodes for practical applications by employing highly dispersed catalyst particles through the electrode matrix and robust polymeric electrode matrix.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2011

Polypyrrole (PPy)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/conductive carbon (CC) composites are synthesized by the chemical oxidative polymerization method. The morphology analysis of the composite materials indicates uniform coating of PPy over MWCNTs and conductive carbon. The electrochemical performances of PPy/MWCNT/CC composites with different compositions are evaluated in order to optimize the composition of the composite electrode. Galvanostatic chargedischarge measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies prove the excellent cycling stability of the PPy/MWCNT/CC composite electrodes.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.187-192
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• 2008

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT)/$SnO_2$ nano-composite (MSC) for the anode electrode of a Li-ion battery was prepared using a homogeneous precipitation method with $SnCl_2$ precursors in the presence of MWNT. XRD results indicate that when annealed in Ar at $400^{\circ}C$, $Sn_6O_4(OH)_4$ was fully converted to $SnO_2$ phases. TEM observations showed that most of the $SnO_2$ nanoparticles were deposited directly on the outside surface of the MWNT. The electrochemical performance of the MSC electrode showed higher specific capacities than a MWNT and better cycleability than a nano-$SnO_2$ electrode. The electrochemical performance of the MSC electrode improved because the MWNT in the MSC electrode absorbed the mechanical stress induced from a volume change during alloying and de-alloying reactions with lithium, leading to an increase in the electrical conductivity of the composite material.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.389-395
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• 2009

A Si-CuO-graphite composite was prepared by a mechanical alloying (MA) method. The Si-CuO composite has a mixture structure, where CuO is homogeneously dispersed in Si. Also, $Cu_2O$ and $Cu_3Si$ phases were formed during MA and heat treatment. Graphite with the Si-CuO composite was mixed in the same mill for 30 minutes with weight ratio of Si-CuO composite and graphite as 1:1. The Si-CuO composite was homogeneously covered with graphite. SiC phase was not formed. Electrochemical tests of the composite have been investigated, and the first charge and discharge capacities of the material were about 870mAh/g and 660mAh/g, respectively. Those values are about 76% of the first cycle efficiency. The cycle life of the composite showed that the initial discharge capacity of 660 mAh/g could be maintained up to 92% after 20 cycles.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.470-475
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• 2012

$La_{1-x}Sr_xMnO_3$(LSM,$0{\leq}x{\leq}0.5$) powders as the air electrode for solid oxide fuel cell were synthesized by a glycine-nitrate combustion process. The powders were then examined by X-ray diffraction(XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The as-formed powders were composed of very fine ash particles linked together in chains. X-ray maps of the LSM powders milled for 1.5 h showed that the metallic elements are homogeneously distributed inside each grain and in the different grains. The powder XRD patterns of the LSM with x < 0.3 showed a rhombohedral phase; the phase changes to the cubic phase at higher compositions($x{\geq}0.3$) calcined in air at $1200^{\circ}C$ for 4 h. Also, the SEM micrographs showed that the average grain size decreases as Sr content increases. Composite air electrodes made of 50/50 vol% of the resulting LSM powders and yttria stabilized zirconia(YSZ) powders were prepared by colloidal deposition technique. The electrodes were studied by ac impedance spectroscopy in order to improve the performance of a solid oxide fuel cell(SOFC). Reproducible impedance spectra were confirmed using the improved cell, which consisted of LSM-YSZ/YSZ. The composite electrode of LSM and YSZ was found to yield a lower cathodic resistivity than that of the non-composite one. Also, the addition of YSZ to the $La_{1-x}Sr_xMnO_3$ ($0.1{\leq}x{\leq}0.2$) electrode led to a pronounced, large decrease in the cathodic resistivity of the LSM-YSZ composite electrodes.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.87-94
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• 2016

In order to improve performances of submicrometer-sized Si negative electrode which shows larger volumetric change than nano-sized Si, composite binders are introduced by blending between poly(phenanthrenequinone) (PPQ) conductive polymer binder and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) having good adhesion strength due to its carboxyl functional group. Blending between PPQ and PAA shows an effect that the adhesion strength of the Si electrode with the composite conductive binder is greatly improved after blending and this makes its better stable cycle performance. Blending ratios between PPQ and PAA in this work are 2:1, 1:1, 1:2 (by weight) and the best capacity retention at 50th cycle is observed in the electrode with the blending ratio 2:1 (named QA21). This is because that PPQ plays a role of conductive carbon among the Si particles or between Si particles and Cu current collector and PAA binds effectively the particles and the current collector. According to this synergetic effect, the internal resistance of the Si electrode with the blending ratio 2:1 is the smallest value. In addition, the Si electrode with PPQ-PAA composite binder shows the better stable cycle performance than the electrode with conventional super-P conductive carbon (20 wt.%).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.716-719
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• 2016

In this paper, we fabricated flexible CNT/PVDF (carbon nanotube / polyvinylidene fluoride) piezoelectric composite device with flexible poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) : polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) conducting polymer electrode using spray coating method. We tried to improve the piezoelectric performance from the CNT/PVDF composite film by enhancing electrical conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS electrodes. Electrical conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS electrode was enhanced by dipping it into the EG (ethylene glycol) solvent. Changes of chemical composition of the PEDOT:PSS electrode were analyzed with the dipping time by XPS (x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) in terms of oxygen (O1s). Finally, Piezoelectric performances such as output voltage and current were measured with the dipping time. We found that enhanced electrical conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS electrodes resulted in improvement of the piezoelectric performance of the CNT/PVDF films.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.319-319
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• 2010

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on plastic substrates have attracted much attention mainly due to extensive applications such as ubiquitous powers, as well as the practical reasons such as light weight, flexibility and roll-to-roll process. However, conventional high temperature fabrication technology for glass based DSSCs, cannot be applied to flexible devices because polymer substrates cannot withstand the heat more than $150^{\circ}C$. Therefore, low temperature fabrication process, without using a polymer binder or thermal sintering, was required to fabricate necked $TiO_2$. In this presentation, we proposed polymer-inorganic composite photoelectrode, which can be fabricated at low temperature. The concept of composite electrode takes an advantage of utilizing elastic properties of polymers, such as good impact strength. As an elastic material, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is selected because of its optical transparency and good adhesive properties. In this work, a polymer-inorganic composite electrode was constructed on FTO/glass substrate under low temperature sintering condition, from the mixture of PMMA and $TiO_2$ colloidal solution. The effect of PMMA composition on the photovoltaic property was investigated. Then, the enhanced mechanical stability of this composite electrode on ITO/PEN substrate was also demonstrated from bending test.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.42 no.12 s.283
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• pp.793-799
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• 2005

A composite cathode of LSCF$(La_{0.6}Sr_{0.4}Co_{0.2}Fe_{0.8}O_3)\;and\;GDC\; (Gd_2O_3-doped\;CeO_2:Ce_{0.9}Gd_{0.1}O_{1.95_})$ was characterized in terms of an electrode response, using a point contact in an Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte incorporated into AC two-point impedance spectroscopy. The point-contacted configuration amplifies the responses occurring near the YSZ/cathode interface through the aligned point contact on the planar LSCF/GDC electrode. The point contact interface increases the bulk resistance allowing the estimation of the point contact geometry and resolving the electrode-related responses. The resultant impedance spectra are analyzed through an equivalent circuit model constructed by resistors and constant phase elements. The bulk responses can be resolved from the electrode-related portions in terms of spreading resistance. The electrode-related polarizations are measured in terms of temperature and oxygen partial pressure. The modified impedance spectroscopy is discussed in terms of methodology and analytical aspects, toward resolving the electrode-polarization issues in solid oxide fuel cells.