• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.153-158
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• 2002

The effects of leveler on the copper trench filling were investigated during damascene plating process. To investigate the trench filling effect with the addition of a leveler, a cross-section images of the electroplated trenches with the width of$0.37{\mu}m,\;and\;0.18{\mu}m$ were observed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). Polyethylene glycol(PEG), 3-mercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid and Janus Green B were used as a carrier, an accelerator and a leveler. $0.37{\mu}m$ trenches were superfilled without voids, but there was voids formation in $0.18{\mu}m$ trenches when the leveler was not added into the electrolyte. On the other hand $0.18{\mu}m$ trenches were superfilled without voids with the addition of the leveler due to the reduction growth rate of copper at protrusions and edges, which yield smooth final deposit surface. The leverer effect becomes more significant as the width of trenches becomes smaller when trenches are filed.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2016

Vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) is an energy conversion device in which charging and discharging are alternatively carried out by oxidation and reduction reactions of vanadium ions with different oxidation states. VRFB consists of electrolyte, electrode, ion-exchange membrane, etc. The role of ion-exchange membranes in VRFB separates anolyte and catholyte and provides a high conductivity to hydrogen ions. Recently much attention has been devoted to develop ideal ion-exchange membranes for VRFB. A number of developed ion-exchange membranes should be evaluated to find out ideal ion-exchange membranes for VRFB. Long-term durability test is a crucial characterization of ion-exchange membranes for commercialization, but is very time-consuming. In this study, the life time prediction protocol of ion-exchange membranes in VRFB cell tests was developed through short-term single cell performance evaluation (real total operation time, 87.5 hrs) at three different current densities. We confirmed a decrease in test time up to 96.2% of real durability tests (expected total operation time, 2,296 hrs) and 5~6% of relative error discrepancy between the predicted and the real life time in a unit cell.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.689-698
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• 1991

Activated oxidation catalysts are generated by the treatment of pentadentate Schiff base cobalt(Ⅱ) complexes with the oxygen saturated DMF solution. Oxidation of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol by homogeneous oxidation catalysts of superoxo type pentadentate schiff base cobalt(Ⅲ) complexes yields 2,6-di-tert-butylbenzoquinone(BQ) as a major product. And $O_2$/Co mole ratio of homogeneous oxidative catalysts such as [Co(Ⅲ)(sal-DET)]$O_2$ and [Co(Ⅲ)(sal-DPT)]$O_2$by PVT method of the oxygen absorption in DMSO and pyridine solution was 1:1, 1:1.52 in DMF solution and ${\mu}$-peroxo type cobalt(Ⅲ) complexes formed at solid state. The redox reaction processes of superoxo type cobalt(Ⅲ) complexes as homogeneous oxidation catalysts were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and DPP method at a glassy carbon electrode. As a result of electrochemical measurements the reduction processes of oxygen adducted superoxo type cobalt(Ⅲ) complexes occurred to four steps including prewave of $O_2$-in 0.1M TEAP-DMSO and 0.1 M TEAP-Pyridine as supporting electrolyte solution.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2001

The deposition characteristics of MOCVO Cu using the (hfac)Cu(I) (1,5-DMCOD)(1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedionato Cu(I) 1,5-dimethyl-cyclooctadine) as a precursor have been investigated in terms of the effects of hydrogen and H(hfac) ligand addition with He carrier gas. MOCVD Cu using a Helium carrier gas showed a low deposition rate (20~$125{\AA}/min$) at the substrate temperature range of 180~$230^{\circ}C$. Moreover, the Cu film deposited at 19$0^{\circ}C$ was very thin (~$700{\AA}$) and showed the lowest resistivity value of $2.8{\mu}{\Omega}-cm$. The deposition rate of MOCVD Cu using $H_2$or H(hfac) addition was significantly enhanced especially at the low temperature region (180~$190^{\circ}C$). Furthermore, thinner Cu films (~$500{\AA}$) provided low resistivity (3.6~$2.86{\mu}{\Omega}-cm$). From surface reflectance measurement, very thin films deposited by using different gas system revealed good surface morphology comparable with sputtered Cu film ($300^{\circ}C$, vacuum-anneal). Hence, Cu film using (hfac)Cu(1,5-DMCOD) as a precursor is expected as a good seed layer in the electrochemical deposition process for Cu metallization.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.590-592
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• 2010

Li-Mn spinel ($LiMn_2O_4$) is prepared by a hydrothermal process with K-Birnessite ($KMnO_4{\cdot}yH_2O$) as a precursor. The K-Birnessite obtained via a hydrothermal process with potassium permanganate [$KMnO_4$] and urea [$CO(NH_2)_2$] as starting materials are converted to Li-Mn spinel nanoparticles reacting with LiOH. The molar ratio of LiOH/K-Birnessite is adjusted in order to find the effect of the ratio on the structural, morphological and electrochemical performances of the Li-Mn spinel. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and thermogravimetry (TG) are used to investigate the crystal structure and morphology of the samples. Galvanostatic charge and discharge are carried out to measure the capacity and rate capability of the Li-Mn spinel. The capacity shows a maximum value of $117\;mAhg^{-1}$ when the molar ratio of LiOH/K-Birnessite is 0.8 and decreases with the increase of the ratio. However the rate capability is improved with the increase of the ratio due to the reduction of the particle size.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.177-181
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• 2012

Dye-sensitized solar cells(DSSCs) based on $TiO_2$ film photo anode incorporated with different amount of grapheme nanosheet(GNS) are fabricated and their photovoltaic performance are investigated. The $TiO_2$-GNS composite electrode has been prepared by a direct mixing method. The DSSC performance of this composite electrode was measured using N3 dye as a sensitizer. The performance of DSSCs using the $TiO_2$-GNS composite electrodes is dependent on the GNS loading in the electrodes. The results show that the DSSCs incorporating 0.01 wt% GNS in $TiO_2$photo anode demonstrates a maximum power conversion efficiency of 5.73%, 26% higher than that without GNS. The performance improvement is ascribed to increased N3 dye adsorption, the reduction of electron recombination and back transport reaction as well as enhancement of electron transport with the introduction of GNS. The presence of both $TiO_2$(anatase) and GNS has been confirmed by FieldEmission Scanning Electron Microscopy(FE-SEM). The decrease in recombination due to GNS in DSSCs has been investigated by the Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2011

In this work, mesoporous carbons (CMK-3) were prepared by a conventional templating method using mesoporous silica (SBA-15) for using catalyst supports in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The CMK-3 were chemically activated to obtain high surface area and small pore diameter with different potassium hydroxide (KOH) amounts, i.e., 0, 1, 3, and 4 g as an activating agent. And then Pt-Ru was deposited onto activated CMK-3 (K-CMK-3) by a chemical reduction method. The characteristics of Pt-Ru catalysts deposited onto K-CMK-3 were determined by surface area and pore size analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and inductive coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The electrochemical properties of Pt-Ru/K-CMK-3 catalysts were also analyzed by cyclic voltammetry (CV). From the results, the K3g-CMK-3 carbon supports activated with 3 g KOH showed the highest specific surface areas. In addition, the K3g-CMK-3 led to uniform dispersion of Pt-Ru onto K-CMK-3, resulted in the enhancement of elelctro-catalystic activity of Pt-Ru catalysts.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2010

Alloying degree is an important structural factor of PtRu catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). In this work, carbon supported PtRu catalysts were synthesized by reduction method using anhydrous ethanol as a solvent and $NaBH_4$ as a reducing agent. Using anhydrous ethanol as a solvent resulted in high alloying degree and good dispersion. The morphological structure and crystallanity of synthesized catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM). CO stripping and methanol oxidation reaction were measured. Due to high alloying degree catalyst prepared in anhydrous ethanol, exhibited low onset potential for methanol oxidation and negative peak shift of CO oxidation than commercial sample. Consequently, samples, applying ethanol as a solvent, exhibited not only enhanced CO oxidation, but also increased methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) activity compared with commercial PtRu/C (40 wt%, E-tek) and 40 wt% PtRu/C prepared in water solution.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.291-298
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• 2016

Electrochemical water treatment process as a useful treatment method for the removal of non-degradable matter has been consistently studied for several decades. Key process of electrochemical water treatment are oxidation reaction from an anode and reduction from a cathode. In this study, the effect of pre-treatment methods in the insoluble electrode manufacturing process for the water treatment has been evaluated for the life time of electrode The results of this study showed that pre-treatment methods of a base metal such as surface roughness, clean method and interlayer formation influenced to life time of electrode when the same condition (catalyst electrode layer coating method and material system) was applied for pre-treatment methods. This study was conducted by using $IrO_2/Ti$ electrode In the test of sand-blasting process, an electrode manufactured by using sanding media of different sizes resulted in the most effective electrode life time when the size of alumina was used for $212{\sim}180{\mu}m$ praticle size (#80). The most effective method was considered using arc plasma in the additional roughness control and cleaning process, sputtering method to form Ta type interlayer formation process.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.684-689
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• 2021

In this paper, we develop a cost effective and disposable voltammetric sensing platform involving screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified with the nanocomposites composed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, polyelectrolyte, and tyrosinase for bisphenol A. This is known as an endocrine disruptor which is also related to chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular and female reproductive diseases, precocious puberty, and infertility. A negatively charged oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) wrapped with a positively charged polyelectrolyte, e.g., polydiallyldimethylammonium, was first wrapped with a negatively charged tyrosinae layer via electrostatic interaction and assembled onto oxygen plasma treated SPCE. The nanocomposite modified SPCE was then immersed into different concentrations of bisphenol A for a given time where the tyrosinase reacted with OH group in the bisphenol A to produce the product, 4,4'-isopropylidenebis(1,2-benzoquinone). Cyclic and differential pulse voltammetries at the potential of -0.08 V vs. Ag/AgCl was employed and peak current changes responsible to the reduction of 4,4'-isopropylidenebis(1,2-benzoquinone) were measured which linearly increased with respect to the bisphenol A concentration. In addition, the SPCE based sensor showed excellent selectivity toward an interferent agent, bisphenol S, which has a very similar structure. Finally, the sensor was applied to the analysis of bisphenol A present in an environmental sample solution prepared in our laboratory.