• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.2531-2536
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• 2010

Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations have been employed to investigate the molecular structures and absorption spectra of two dyes containing diphenylaniline and 4-diphenylamino-diphenylaniline as donor moiety (TPA1 and TPA3). The geometries indicate that the strong conjugation is formed in the dyes. The electronic structures suggest that the intramolecular charge transfer from the donor to the acceptor occurs, and the electron-donating capability of 4-diphenylamino-diphenylaniline is stronger than that of diphenylaniline. The computed highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels are -5.31 and -4.90 eV, while the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energies are -2.29 and -2.26 eV for TPA1 and TPA3, respectively, revealing that the interfacial charge transfer between the dyes and the semiconductor electrode are electron injection processes from the photon-excited dyes to the semiconductor conduction band. Furthermore, all the experimental absorption bands of TPA1 and TPA3 have been assigned according to the TDDFT calculations.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2016

Zinc oxide of hexagonal wurzite, is known as n-type semiconductor. It has a wide band gap energy of 3.37 eV and large exciton binding energy of 60 meV. It can be widely applied to gas sensors, laser diodes, dye-sensitized solar cells and degradation of dye waste. The use of microwave hydrothermal synthesis brings a rapid reaction rate, high yield, and energy saving. Amine additives control the different particle shapes because of the chelate effect and formation of hydroxide ion. In this study, zinc nitrate hexahydrate was used as zinc precursor. In addition, ethanolamine, ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, and hexamethylenetetramine are used as shape control agent. The pH value was controlled as 11 by NaOH. The shapes of zinc oxide are star-like, rod, flower-like, and circular cone. In order to analyze physical, chemical, and optical properties of ZnO with diverse amine additives, we used XRD, SEM, EDS, FT-IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and PL spectroscopy.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.68.1-68.1
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• 2010

염료감응형 태양전지에서 가능한 광전자의 이동경로에 대해 살펴보면 빛 에너지를 흡수한 루테늄계 염료는 기저상태에서 여기상태로 전이한 후 광전자의 반도체 전도띠로 전자주입이 이루어진다. 이러한 전자 중 일부는 반도체산화물의 트랩으로의 전이와 트랩에서 염료 기저상태로의 전이가 일어나고 일부 전자는 전해질의 이온종 또는 산화된 염료와 재결합하는 현상이 일어난다. 본 연구에서는 이러한 전자의 재결합을 막고자 p형 반도체인 NiO paste를 제작하여 $TiO_2$ 광전극 층 위에 코팅하였다. 코팅된 NiO 층은 홀수용체로서 염료에 전자를 제공해 주는 역할과 동시에 $TiO_2$ 가전도대로 이동되었던 전자들이 염료의 기저상태의 홀이나 전해질로의 전자 유입이 이루어지는 전자의 재결합을 막는 방벽의 역할을 동시에 하게 된다. 제작된 염료감응형 태양전지 셀의 에너지 변환효율 특성을 알아보기 위하여 1000 W Xe Arc Lamp와 Air Mass 1.5, filter가 장착된 Thermo-Preal (USA) Solar simulator system을 사용하여 개방전압 (Voc), 광전류 (Isc), fill factor (FF), 에너지변환 효율 (${\eta}$)을 조사하였으며 광학현미경을 통해 염료의 흡착 정도를 비교해 보았다. NiO의 코팅 두께나 NiO 나노입자 크기에 따라 염료감응형태양전지에서 에너지변환효율에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. NiO가 코팅되지 않은 $TiO_2$ 광전극과 비교해 볼 때 NiO 코팅시 Voc와 Isc의 증가로 인해 에너지변환효율이 20% 이상 향상되는 것을 볼 수 있었다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.75-75
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• 2011

Recently, dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) attracts great attention as a promising alternative to conventional silicon solar cells. One of the key components for the DSSC would be the nanocrystalline TiO2 electrode, and the control of interface between TiO2 and TCO is a highly important issue in improving the photovoltaic conversion efficiency. In this work, we applied various interfacial layers, and analyzed their effect in enhancing photovoltaic properties. In overall, introduction of interfacial layers increased both the Voc and Jsc, since the back-reaction of electrons from TCO to electrolyte could be blocked. First, several metal oxides with different band gaps and positions were employed as interfacial layer. SnO2, TiO2, and ZrO2 nanoparticles in the size of 3-5 nm have been synthesized. Among them, the interfacial layer of SnO2, which has lower flat-band potential than that of TiO2, exhibited the best performance in increasing the photovoltaic efficiency of DSSC. Second, long-range ordered cubic mesoporous TiO2 films, prepared by using triblock copolymer-templated sol-gel method via evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) process, were utilized as an interfacial layer. Mesoporous TiO2 films seem to be one of the best interfacial layers, due to their additional effect, improving the adhesion to TCO and showing an anti-reflective effect. Third, we handled the issues related to the optimum thickness of interfacial layers. It was also found that in fabricating DSSC at low temperature, the role of interfacial layer turned out to be a lot more important. The self-assembled interfacial layer fabricated at room temperature leads to the efficient transport of photo-injected electrons from TiO2 to TCO, as well as blocking the back-reaction from TCO to I3-. As a result, fill factor (FF) was remarkably increased, as well as increase in Voc and Jsc.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.spc8
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• pp.3081-3089
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• 2011

A series of new bis-thienylanthracene derivatives D1~D5 containing 9,10-antharcene moiety in the center and 2-methylenemalonotitrile or 2-cyanoacrylic acid functional group on the terminal thiophenes were synthesized and characterized by $^1H$-NMR and high-resolution mass spectroscopy. Their optical, electrochemical, and thermal properties were measured. They have absorption ${\lambda}_{max}$ in the range of 437~480 nm and max of $7.4{\times}10^3{\sim}2.0{\times}10^4M^{-1}cm^{-1}$. The substitution of 2-cyanoacrylic acid group allows greater value of ${\varepsilon}_{max}$ than that of 2-methylenemalonotitrile. TGA curves showed that D4 and D5 which have 2-cyanoacrylic acid functional group on the terminal thiophene(s) exhibit good thermal stability and D4 was thermally stable up to $400^{\circ}C$. Their optical properties and LUMO energy levels measured suggest that they can serve as potential candidates for electron donor materials of organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) or D4 and D5 which contain 2-cyanoacrylic acid group can be used as organic dyes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2013

It is expected that progress in building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems, improving the functionality and design of buildings, will be accelerated in the coming years. While the dye sensitized solar cell is considered one of the most important technologies in the BIPV field, the transparent silicon based thin film solar cell fabricated by thin film processes has drawn attention as a novel alternative. When the selective transmitting layer is applied to the solar cell, the conversion efficiency is improved due to the re-reflection of infrared light into an absorber layer with the transmission of visible light through the solar cell. In this work, we prepared Al-Ti based oxide thin films using cost-effective sputter deposition and examined their selective transmitting characteristics with various compositions. The transmittance and reflectance of the Al-Ti based oxide thin film changed with the variation of its composition, and the selective transmitting property was observed in the sample with the 25 nm-thick AlTiO layer. It is considered that the realization of transparent solar cells and the improvement of their conversion efficiency can be achieved by introducing the Al-Ti based selective transmitting layer.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.39 no.9
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• pp.947-954
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• 2015

The homogeneous coating of a flexible film that is applied to dye-sensitized solar cells is related to the performance and durability of the product. The applied coating is obtained from the uniform temperature distribution and the mass flow rate in the nozzle of the hot air dryer. In this study, we determine the uniform temperature distribution and mass flow rate of each nozzle by performing numerical simulations to understand how various factors affect the performance of the hot air dryer. The numerical model is composed of the momentum equation for flow motion and the energy equation for temperature. In addition, we compare the numerical results to the experimental results to validate the model. Based on the results, the round-hole plate inside the hot air dryer significantly affects the uniform temperature and the mass flow rate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.433-433
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• 2009

ZnO-based materials have been extensively studied for optoelectronic applications due to their superiors physical properties such as wide direct bandgap (~3.37 eV), large exciton binding energy (~60 meV), high transparency in the visible region, and low cost. Especially, one-dimensional (1D) ZnO nanostructures have attracted considerable attention owing to quantum confinement effect and high crystalline quality. Additionally, various nanostructures of ZnO such as nanorods, nanowires, nanoflower, and nanotubes have stimulated the interests because of their semiconducting. and piezoelectric properties. Among them, vertically aligned ZnO nanorods can bring the improved performance in various promising photoelectric fields including piezo-nanogenerators, UV lasers, dye sensitized solar cells, and photo-catalysis. In this work, we studied the effect of the annealing temperature of homo seed layers on the formation of ZnO nanorods grown by hydrothermal method. The effect of annealing temperature of seed layer on the length and orientation of the nanorods was investigated scanning electron microscopy investigation. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurement were performed to understand the effect of annealing temperatures of seed layers on the formation of nanorods. Moreover, the optical properties of the seed layers and the nanorods were studied by room temperature photoluminescence.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.1605-1610
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• 2017

The electrochemical luminescence (ECL) device was investigated, which has similar structure to the dye-sensitized solar cell. The structure of the ECL cell in this experiment reliably induces a large amount of the oxidation around electrodes. The band gap of the ECL electrode is of 3.0 - 3.2 eV. Titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) nanoparticle has following properties: a band gap of 3.4 eV, a low-priced material, and 002 preferred orientation (Z-axis). Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanorod is easy to grow in a vertical direction. In this paper, in order to determine material suitable for the ECL device, the properties of various materials for electrodes of ECL devices such as ZnO nanorod (ZnO-NR) and $TiO_2$ nanoparticle ($TiO_2-NP$) were compared. The threshold voltage of the light emission of the ZnO-NR was 2.0 V which is lower than 2.5 V of $TiO_2-NP$. In the other hand, the luminance of $TiO_2-NP$ was $44.66cd/m^2$ and was higher than that of $34cd/m^2$ of ZnO-NR at the same applied voltage of 4 V. Based on the experimental results, we could conclude that $TiO_2-NP$ is a more suitable electrode material in ECL device than the ZnO-NR.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2018.06a
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• pp.141-141
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• 2018

Copper is one of the most abundant metals on earth. Its oxide (CuO) is an intrinsically p-type metal-oxide semiconductor with a bandgap ($E_g$) of 1.2-2.0 eV 1. Copper oxide nanomaterials are considered as promising materials for a wide range of applications e.g., lithium ion batteries, dye-sensitized solar cells, photocatalytic hydrogen production, photodetectors, and biogas sensors 2-7. Recently, high-density and uniform CuO nanostructures have been grown on Cu foils in alkaline solutions 3. In 2011, T. Soejima et al. proposed a facile process for the oxidation synthesis of CuO nanobelt arrays using $NH_3-H_2O_2$ aqueous solution 8. In 2017, G. Kaur et al. synthesized CuO nanostructures by treating Cu foils in $NH_4OH$ at room temperature for different treatment times 9. The surface treatment of Cu in alkaline aqueous solutions is a potential method for the mass fabrication of CuO nanostructures with high uniformity and density. It is interesting to compare the gas sensing properties among CuO nanomaterials synthesized by this approach and by others. Nevertheless, none of above studies investigated the gas sensing properties of as-synthesized CuO nanomaterials. In this study, CuO nanowalls versus nanoparticles were synthesized via the oxidation process of Cu foil in NH4OH solution at $50-70^{\circ}C$. The gas sensing properties of the as-prepared CuO nanoplates were examined with $C_2H_5OH$, $CH_3COCH_3$, and $NH_3$ at $200-360^{\circ}C$.