• Membrane Journal
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.530-537
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• 2015

Photovoltaic (PV) modules are environmentally energy conversion devices to generate electricity via photovoltaic effect of semiconductors from solar energy. One of key elements in PV modules is "Backsheet," a multilayered barrier film, which determines their lifetime and energy conversion efficiency. The representative Backsheet is composed of chemically resistant poly(vinyl fluoride) (PVF) and cheap poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films used as core and skin materials, respectively. PVF film is too expensive to satisfy the market requirements to Backsheet materials with production cost as low as possible. The promising alternatives to PVF-based Backsheet are hydrocarbon Backsheets employing semi-crystalline PET films instead of PVF film. It is, however, necessary to provide improved barrier property to water vapor to the PET films, since PET films are suffering from hydrolytic decomposition. In this study, a polyurethane adhesive with reduced water vapor permeation behavior is developed via a homogeneous distribution of hydrophobic silica nanoparticles. The modified adhesive is expected to retard the hydrolysis of PET films located in the core and inner skin. To clarify the efficacy of the proposed concept, the mechanical properties and electrochemical PV performances of the Backsheet are compared with those of a Backsheet employing the polyurethane adhesive without the silica nanoparticles, after the exposure under standard temperature and humidity conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.229-229
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• 2010

With the scaling down of ultra large integrated circuits (ULSI) to the sub-50 nm technology node, the need for an ultra-thin, continuous and conformal diffusion barrier and Cu seed layer is increasing. However, diffusion barrier and Cu seed layer formation with a physical vapor deposition (PVD) method has become difficult as the technology node is reduced to 30 nm and beyond. Recent work on self-forming barrier processes using PVD Cu alloys have attracted great attention due to the capability of conformal ultra-thin barrier formation using a simple technique. However, as in the case of the conventional barrier and Cu seed layer, PVD of the Cu alloy seed layer will eventually encounter the difficulty in conformal deposition in narrow line trenches and via holes. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) has been known for its good step coverage and precise thickness control, and is a candidate technique for the formation of a thin conformal barrier layer and Cu seed layer. Conformal Cu-Mn seed layers were deposited by plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) at low temperature ($120^{\circ}C$), and the Mn content in the Cu-Mn alloys were controlled form 0 to approximately 10 atomic percent with various Mn precursor feeding times. Resistivity of the Cu-Mn alloy films decreased by annealing due to out-diffusion of Mn atoms. Out-diffused Mn atoms were segregated to the surface of the film and interface between a Cu-Mn alloy and $SiO_2$, resulting in self-formed $MnO_x$ and $MnSi_xO_y$, respectively. No inter-diffusion was observed between Cu and $SiO_2$ after annealing at $500^{\circ}C$ for 12 h, indicating an excellent diffusion barrier property of the $MnSi_xO_y$. The adhesion between Cu and $SiO_2$ was enhanced by the formation of $MnSi_xO_y$. Continuous and conductive Cu-Mn seed layers were deposited with PEALD into 32 nm $SiO_2$ trench, enabling a low temperature process, and the trench was perfectly filled using electrochemical plating (ECD) under conventional conditions. Thus, it is the resultant self-forming barrier process with PEALD Cu-Mn alloy film as a seed layer for plating Cu that has further potential to meet the requirement of the smaller than 30 nm node.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.263-271
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• 2018

In this study, we analyzed the removal efficiency of ammonia nitrogen and phosphate dependant on the column depths using various absorbents such as zeolite silica sand, and activated carbon through the column test. In addition, we analyzed electrochemical adsorption behaviors of ammonia nitrogen and phosphate through the quantum mechanical calculation based on density functional theory calculation. Experimental results represent the removal efficiency of ammonia nitrogen and phosphate are zeolite > activated carbon > silica sand, and activated carbon > zeolite > silica sand, respectively. Zeolite shows high adsorption property for ammonia nitrogen over 90%, regardless of the column depth, while activated carbon exhibits high adsorption property for both ammonia nitrogen and phosphate as the column depth for filter media increases. Theoretical findings using DFT calculation for the adsorption behaviors of adsorbents (activated carbon and silica sand) and nutrients ($PO_4{^{3-}}$, $NH_4{^{+}}$) show that activated carbon represented narrower HOMO-LUMO band gap with high adsorption energy, and even more favorable environment for electron adsorption than silica sand, which leads to the effective removal of nutrients.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.515-523
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• 1998

Oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) damages cellular DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids and others causing various diseases such as cancer, arthritis, and heart diseases. 8-Hydroxyguanine (8-OHG) is one of the products formed from DNA or RNA damaged by ROS. Since high amounts of 8-OHG can be excreted in urine, it may serve as a potential biomarker indicating the level of oxidative damage to nucleic acids. Residents in industrial area with severe air pollution are expected to be affected by higher level of oxidative stress from pollutants like polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), etc. Smokers are also expected to be damaged by higher level of oxidative stress from cigarette smoke components like PAHs than non-smokers. To examine if the determination of the urinary concentration of 8-OHG could be used as exposure biomarker for the oxidative stress caused by air-pollutants, this study was performed to determine and compare the urinary concentrations of 8-OHG in smokers and non-smokers, or non-polluted area residents and polluted area residents. Urine samples were collected and purified by a strong cation exchange and cellulose partition column, then analyzed by HPLC with electrochemical detector at 600 ㎷ potential. Concentrations of urinary 8-OHG in non-smokers and smokers of Seoul area college male students were determined as 15.12$\pm$9.68 (ng/mg creatinine) and 34.72$\pm$11.72 (ng/mg creatinine), respectively, showing significantly higher level of 8-OHG in smokers than in non-smokers. Urine samples of elementary school students were collected from Sokcho area, which is known to be non-polluted, and 3 representative polluted areas; Yocheon industrial area, Ulsan urban and Ulsan industrial area. The concentrations of 8-OHG in these samples were 12.42$\pm$8.27 (ng/ mg creatinine, Sokcho), 22.55$\pm$9.12 (ng/mg creatinine, Yocheon), 17.41$\pm$2.30 (ng/mg creatinine, Ulsan urban), 55.04$\pm$39.73 (ng/mg creatinine, Ulsan industrial). Thus, samples from polluted area tend to have higher level of 8-OHG and the levels of Yocheon and Ulsan industrial area were significantly higher than that of Sokcho area. The results indicate that the residents of polluted industrial area or smokers are more severely exposed to oxidative stress probably caused by air pollutants like PAHs. Thus, the determination of urinary 8-OHG concentration could be used as biomarker for the extent of body exposure to oxidative stress caused by various pollutants.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.719-725
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• 1998

Tridentate Schiff base ligands were prepared by the reactions of salicylaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde with 2-aminophenol and 2-amino-p-cresol. And then Cu(II) complexes of those ligands were synthesized. The structures and properties of ligands and their complexes were studied by elemental analysis, $^1H$-NMR, IR, UV-visible spectra, and thermogravimetric analysis. The mole ratio of Schiff base to the metal of complexes was found to be 1:1. Cu(II) complexes were contemplated to be four-coordinated square planar configuration containing one water molecule. The redox process of ligands and complexes in DMSO solution containing 0.1 M TBAP as a supporting electrolyte was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry with glassy carbon electrode. The redox process of the tridentate Schiff base ligands was totally irreversible. The redox process of Cu(II) complexes was quasi-reversible and diffusion-controlled as one electron by one step process Cu(II)/Cu(I). The reduction potentials of the Cu(II) complexes shifted in the positive direction in the order of [Cu(II)(HNIPC)($H_2O$)]>[Cu(II)(HNIP)($H_2O$)]>[Cu(II)(SIP)($H_2O$)]>[Cu(II)(SIPC)($H_2O$)].

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.774-780
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• 1998

For the stabilization of the spinel structured $LiMn_2O_4$, a fraction of manganese was substituted with various metals such as Mg, Fe, V, W, Cr, Mo with Mn that had a similar ionic radii ($LiM_xMn_{2-x}O_4(0.05{\leq}x{\leq}0.02)$). The $LiM_xMn_{2-x}O_4$ showed a substantial improvement as lower capacity loss than that of the spinel structured $LiMn_2O_4$ when it was used as a cathode material. And with the partial substitution, the chemical diffusion coefficient for $LiMg_{0.05}Mn_{1.9}O_4$ and $LiCr_{0.1}Mn_{1.9}O_4$ was increased by and order of magnitude compared to that of the $LiMn_2O_4$ with spinel structure. The results showed that significant improvement can be made on the electrochemical characteristics as the structure of the $LiMn_2O_4$ electrode material was stabilized by the partial substitution.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.34-40
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• 2012

$Pt_{10}$/C, $Pt_9Mn_1$/C, $Pt_7Mn_3$/C electrocatalysts for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells(PEMFCs) were synthesized by reduction with HCHO and their activity as a oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) was examined at half cell. The electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) was studied by using a glaasy carbon electrode through cyclic voltammetric curves(CV) in a 1 M $H_2SO_4$ solution. The ORR activities of $Pt_9Mn_1$/C were higher than $Pt_{10}$/C, $Pt_7Mn_3$/C. Also potential-current curves of $Pt_9Mn_1$/C at 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6V for 5minutes respectively were higher than $Pt_{10}$/C, $Pt_7Mn_3$/C. Physical characterization was made by using x-ray diffraction(XRD) and transmission electron microscope(TEM). The TEM images of $Pt_9Mn_1$/C, $Pt_{10}$/C catalysts showed homogenous particle distribution with particle size of about 2.7 nm, 3 nm respectively and then the XRD results showed that the crystalline structure of the synthesized catalysts are seen FCC structure.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.334-340
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• 2016

The combustion chamber of a diesel engine is often exposed to a more serious wear and corrosion environment than other parts of the engine because its temperature increases as a result of using heavy oil of low quality. Therefore, repair and built-up welding methods must be performed on worn or corroded parts of the piston crown, exhaust valve, etc. from an economical point of view. In this study, Inconel 718 filler metal was used in repair welding on the groove of a forged steel specimen for a piston crown, along with built-up welding on the surface of another forged steel specimen. Then, the corrosion characteristics of the weld metal zone for the repair welding and the deposited metal zone for the built-up welding were investigated using electrochemical methods in a 35% H₂SO₄ solution. The deposited metal zone indicated better corrosion resistance than the weld metal zone, showing a nobler corrosion potential, higher impedance, and smaller corrosion current density. It is considered that metal elements with good corrosion resistance were generally included in the filler metal, and these elements were also greatly involved in the deposited meta by built-up welding, whereas the weld metal consisted of metal elements mixed with both the filler metal and base metal elements because of the molten pool produced by the repair welding. Finally, it is considered that the hardness of the weld metal was increased by the repair welding, whereas the built-up welding improved the corrosion resistance of the deposited metal.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.08a
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• pp.302-303
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• 2010

Generally, the high energy lithium ion batteries depend intimately on the high capacity of electrode materials. For anode materials, the capacity of commercial graphite is unlike to increase much further due to its lower theoretical capacity of 372 mAhg-1. To improve upon graphite-based negative electrode materials for Li-ion rechargeable batteries, alternative anode materials with higher capacity are needed. Therefore, some metal anodes with high theoretic capacity, such as Si, Sn, Ge, Al, and Sb have been studied extensively. This work focuses on ternary Si-M1-M2 composite system, where M1 is Ge that alloys with Li, which has good cyclability and high specific capacity and M2 is Mo that does not alloy with Li. The Si shows the highest gravimetric capacity (up to 4000mAhg-1 for Li21Si5). Although Si is the most promising of the next generation anodes, it undergoes a large volume change during lithium insertion and extraction. It results in pulverization of the Si and loss of electrical contact between the Si and the current collector during the lithiation and delithiation. Thus, its capacity fades rapidly during cycling. Si thin film is more resistant to fracture than bulk Si because the film is firmly attached to the substrate. Thus, Si film could achieve good cycleability as well as high capacity. To improve the cycle performance of Si, Suzuki et al. prepared two components active (Si)-active(Sn, like Ge) elements film by vacuum deposition, where Sn particles dispersed homogeneously in the Si matrix. This film showed excellent rate capability than pure Si thin film. In this work, second element, Ge shows also high capacity (about 2500mAhg-1 for Li21Ge5) and has good cyclability although it undergoes a large volume change likewise Si. But only Ge does not use the anode due to its costs. Therefore, the electrode should be consisted of moderately Ge contents. Third element, Mo is an element that does not alloys with Li such as Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, V, Zr. In our previous research work, we have fabricated Si-Mo (active-inactive elements) composite negative electrodes by using RF/DC magnetron sputtering method. The electrodes showed excellent cycle characteristics. The Mo-silicide (inert matrix) dispersed homogeneously in the Si matrix and prevents the active material from aggregating. However, the thicker film than $3\;{\mu}m$ with high Mo contents showed poor cycling performance, which was attributed to the internal stress related to thickness. In order to deal with the large volume expansion of Si anode, great efforts were paid on material design. One of the effective ways is to find suitably three-elements (Si-Ge-Mo) contents. In this study, the Si based composites of 45~65 Si at.% and 23~43 Ge at.%, and 12~32 Mo at.% are evaluated the electrochemical characteristics and cycle performances as an anode. Results from six different compositions of Si-Ge-Mo are presented compared to only the Si and Ge negative electrodes.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.768-773
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• 2019

The Fenton reaction, which evaluates the electrochemical durability of polymer membranes of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEMFC), and the degradation of polymer membranes by OCV holding method are compared. The Fenton reaction is a method that can evaluate the chemical durability of the polymer membrane at outside the cell in a shorter time than the OCV Holding method. The Fenton reaction was carried out at 30% hydrogen peroxide, 10 ppm iron, and $80^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours. OCV Holding was driven at $90^{\circ}C$, 30% relative humidity and OCV for 168 hours. The Fenton reaction caused a lot of degradation inside the polymer membrane. On the other hand, in OCV Holding, the membrane thickness was thinned by the entire surface and internal degradation. The fluorine emission rate was more than 10 times higher than that of OCV Holding due to the Fenton reaction. The hydrogen permeation rate increased about 30% at 24 hours of Fenton reaction. At OCV Holding, hydrogen permeability decreased after 24 hours and then increased. As a whole, there was a difference in a membranes deteriorated by Fenton reaction and OCV Holding.