• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2021

A capacitive water sensor was developed to measure the capacitance over a wide part of a substrate using an insulated electrode plate (30 cm × 10 cm) with copper and Teflon attached on either side of the substrate. This study aimed to convert the capacitance output obtained from the condenser-type capacitance sensor into the substrate water content. The quantification experiment was performed by measuring the changes in substrate water weight and capacitance while providing a nutrient solution and by subsequently comparing these values. The substrate water weight and capacitance were measured every 20 to 30 seconds using the sensor and load cell with a software developed specifically for this study. Using a curve-fitting program, the substrate water content was estimated from the output of the capacitance using the water weight and capacitance of the substrate as variables. When the amount of water supplied was increased, the capacitance tended to increase. Coefficient of variation (CV) in capacitance according to the water weight in substrate was greater with the 1.0 kg of water weight, compared with other weights. Thus, the fitting was performed with higher than 1.0 kg, from 1.7 to 6.0 kg of water weight. The correlation coefficient between the capacitance and water weight in substrate was 0.9696. The calibration equation estimated water content from the capacitance, and it was compared with the substrate water weight measured by the load cell.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.132-137
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• 2020

Lithium secondary batteries have become an important power source for portable electronic devices such as cellular phones, laptop computers. Presently, commercialized lithium-ion batteries use a LiCoO₂ cathode. However, due to the high cost and environmental problems resulting from cobalt, an intensive search for new electrode materials is being actively conducted. Recently, solid solution LiMn_1-xNi_xO₂ have become attractive because of high capacity and enhanced safety at high voltages over 4.5 V. The Li_1.6Ni_0.35Mn_0.65O₂ compounds were conventionally prepared by a sol-gel method, which can produce the layered Li-Ni-Mn-O compounds with a high homogeneity. And by adding a graphene 2wt% the first charge-discharge voltage profiles was increased over Li_1.6Ni_0.35Mn_0.65O₂ compound. Also, the variation s of the discharge capacities with cycling showed a higher capacity retention rater. In this study, material lifecycle evaluation was performed to analyze the environmental impact characteristics of Li_1.6Ni_0.35Mn_0.65O₂ & graphene 2wt% half-cell manufacturing process. The software of material life cycle assessment was Gabi. Through this, environmental impact assessment was performed for each process. The environmental loads induced by Li_1.6Ni_0.35Mn_0.65O₂ & graphene 2wt% synthesis process were quantified and analyzed, and the results showed that the amount of power had the greatest impact on the environment.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.223-231
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• 2021

In order to address many issues associated with large volume changes of silicon, which has very low electrical conductivity but offers about 10 times higher theoretical capacity than graphite (Gr), a silicon nanoparticles/hollow carbon (SiNP/HC) composite having bimodal-mesopores was prepared using silica nanoparticles as a template. A control SiNP/C composite without a hollow structure was also prepared for comparison. The physico-chemical and electrochemical properties of SiNP/HC were analyzed by X-ray diffractometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements for surface area and pore size distribution, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, galvanostatic cycling, and cyclic voltammetry tests to compare them with those of the SiNP/C composite. The SiNP/HC composite showed significantly better cycle life and efficiency than the SiNP/C, with minimal increase in electrode thickness after long cycles. A hybrid composite, SiNP/HC@Gr, prepared by physical mixing of the SiNP/HC and Gr at a 50:50 weight ratio, exhibited even better cycle life and efficiency than the SiNP/HC at low capacity. Thus, silicon/carbon composites designed to have hollow spaces capable of accommodating volume expansion were found to be highly effective for long cycle life of silicon-based composites. However, further study is required to improve the low initial coulombic efficiency of SiNP/HC and SiNP/HC@Gr, which is possibly because of their high surface area causing excessive electrolyte decomposition for the formation of solid-electrolyte-interface layers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.439-439
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• 2012

태양광 발전은 발전 셀의 특성상 태양광의 일사량, 태양과 셀 단면이 이루는 각도에 따라서 발전량의 차이를 가져온다. 실리콘 태양전지의 전면 texturing은 입사광의 반사율을 크게 감소시키고, 태양전지 내에서 빛의 통과길이를 증가시켜 태양전지 내의 흡수하는 빛의 양을 증가 시키는 역할을 한다. 따라서 전면 texturing은 단락전류를 증대시키는 효과를 가지고 온다. 일반적으로 texturing은 alkaline etching (WET) 공정과 reactive ion etching (RIE) 공정이 사용된다. 그리고 다결정 실리콘 태양전지의 경우에는 재료의 결정방향에 따라 식각이 되어지는 WET 공정의 경우 texturing 모양을 제어할 수 없어 효과적이지 못하는 결과를 가지고 온다. 본 연구에서는 Electroluminescence을 측정하여 RIE, WET 공정을 사용하여 만든 texturing 구조의 다결정 태양전지의 Microcrack 및 Defect, Electrode Failure, Hot spot등을 검출하였으며, ${\mu}$-PCD 측정 결과와 비교 분석하여 Micro carrier life time을 유추하여 계산하였다. 또한 반사율을 측정해본 결과 WET 공정 대비 RIE의 경우 단파장영역에서 반사율이 크게 감소하여, 상대적으로 높은 External quantum efficiency (EQE)가 측정되었다. 이는 Jsc를 증가시켜, 태양전지의 효율이 증가되는 결과를 얻을 수 있었다.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.2573-2576
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• 2013

Rate capability and cyclability of $LiMn_2O_4$ should be improved in order to use it as a cathode material of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid-electric-vehicles (HEV). To enhance the rate capability and cyclability of $LiMn_2O_4$, it was coated with $MnV_2O_6$ by a sol-gel method. A $V_2O_5$ sol was prepared by a melt-quenching method and the $LiMn_2O_4$ coated with the sol was heat-treated to obtain the $MnV_2O_6$ coating layer. Crystal structure and morphology of the samples were examined by X-ray diffraction, SEM and TEM. The electrochemical performances, including cyclability at $60^{\circ}C$, and rate capability of the bare and the coated $LiMn_2O_4$ were measured and compared. Overall, $MnV_2O_6$ coating on $LiMn_2O_4$ improves the cyclability at high temperature and rate capability at room temperature at the cost of discharge capacity. The improvement in cyclability at high temperature and the enhanced rate capability is believed to come from the reduced contact between the electrode, and electrolyte and higher electric conductivity of the coating layer. However, a dramatic decrease in discharge capacity would make it impractical to increase the coating amount above 3 wt %.

• Carbon letters
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• v.26
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• pp.18-24
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• 2018

Pollution of chloride ion-reinforced concrete can trigger active corrosion processes that reduce the useful life of structures. Multifunctional materials used as a counter-electrode by electrochemical techniques have been used to rehabilitate contaminated concrete. Cement-based pastes added to carbonaceous material, fibers or dust, have been used as an anode in the non-destructive Electrochemical Chloride Extraction (ECE) technique. We studied the performance of the addition of Carbon Fiber (CF) in a cement-graphite powder base paste used as an anode in ECE of concretes contaminated with chlorides from the preparation of the mixture. The experimental parameters were: 2.3% of free chlorides, 21 days of ECE application, a Carbon Fiber Volume Fraction (CFVF) of 0.1, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9%, a lithium borate alkaline electrolyte, a current density of $4.0A/m^2$ and a cement/graphite ratio of 1.0 for the paste. The efficiency of the ECE in the traditional technique using metal mesh as an anode was 77.6% and for CFVF of 0.9% it was 90.4%, with a tendency to increase to higher percentages of the CFVF in the conductive cement-graphite paste, keeping the pH stable and achieving a homogeneous ECE in the mass of the concrete contaminated with chlorides.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2010

This paper describes a multi channel measurement system which can measure the cellular respiration level in a solution containing cells by using a Clark-type sensor with the solution temperature control unit. The Clark-type sensor can measure the cellular respiration level in the solution because it can measure the reduction current depending on the dissolved oxygen level in the solution. This measurement system was maintained the temperature within ${\pm}0.1^{\circ}C$ of the setting temperature value by on/off control method in order to measure the precise cellular respiration level. The measurement system showed that the applied voltage to the working electrode was very stable(-0.8 V$\pm$ 0.0071 V) by using proportional control method. From the current measurement, the response time and the linearity correlation coefficient were 25 sec and 0.94, respectively, which are very close to the results of the commercial product. Using this system and the fabricated Clarktype sensor, the average ratio of the uncoupled OCR(oxygen consumption rate) to the coupled OCR was 1.35 and this is almost the same as that obtained from a commercial systems.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.240-245
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• 2005

Herein is described the successful treatment of complex regional pain syndrome type II with the combination treatment of spinal cord stimulation and radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the lumbar sympathetic ganglion. A 62 years old male patient, suffering from CRPS type II in his left lower extremity, visited our pain clinic. Medication and nerve blockade produced only slight improvement in his symptoms and signs. Therefore, a linear type spinal cord simulator was inserted into the thoracic epidural space, using a non-surgical percutaneous approach, with the cephalad lead located at the T11 level. Two months later, the repositioning of the electrode to the T12 level for more effective pain control, with radiofrequency thermocoagulation of lumbar sympathetic ganglion also performed at the left L2 and 3 levels for the control of trophic change. These resulted in significant pain relief and decreased trophic change, with no complications, after which the patient was able to resume a normal life.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2012

Ginsenosides are low molecular weight glycosides found in ginseng that exhibit neuroprotective effects through inhibition of $N$-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor channel activity. Ginsenosides, like other natural compounds, are metabolized by gastric juices and intestinal microorganisms to produce ginsenoside metabolites. However, little is known about how ginsenoside metabolites regulate NMDA receptor channel activity. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ginsenoside metabolites, such as compound K (CK), protopanaxadiol (PPD), and protopanaxatriol (PPT), on oocytes that heterologously express the rat NMDA receptor. NMDA receptor-mediated ion current ($I_{NMDA}$) was measured using the 2-electrode voltage clamp technique. In oocytes injected with cRNAs encoding NMDA receptor subunits, PPT, but not CK or PPD, reversibly inhibited $I_{NMDA}$ in a concentration-dependent manner. The $IC_{50}$ for PPT on $I_{NMDA}$ was $48.1{\pm}4.6\;{\mu}M$, was non-competitive with NMDA, and was independent of the membrane holding potential. These results demonstrate the possibility that PPT interacts with the NMDA receptor, although not at the NMDA binding site, and that the inhibitory effects of PPT on $I_{NMDA}$ could be related to ginseng-mediated neuroprotection.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.300-308
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• 2009

In a pursuit of the development of alternative mobile power sources with a high energy density, a planar and air-breathing PEMFCs with a new type of hydrogen cartridge which uses onsite $H_2$ generated from sodium borohydride ($NaBH_4$) hydrolysis have been investigated for use in advanced power systems. Two types of $H_2$ generation through $NaBH_4$ hydrolysis are available: (1) using organic acids such as sulphuric acid, malic acid, and sodium hydrogen carbonate in aqueous solution with solid $NaBH_4$ and (2) using solid selected catalysts such as Pt, Ru, CoB into the stabilized alkaline $NaBH_4$ solution. It might therefore be relevant at this stage to evaluate the relative competitiveness of the two methods mentioned above. The effects of flow rate of stabilized $NaBH_4$ solution, MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly) improvement, and type and flow control of the catalytic acidic solution have been studied and the cell performances of the planar, air-breathing PEMFCs using $NaBH_4$ has been measured from aspects of power density, fuel efficiency, energy density, and fast response of cell. In our experiments, planar, air-breathing PEMFCs using $NaBH_4$ achieved to maximum power density of 128mW/$cm^2$ at 0.7V and energy efficiency of 46% and has many advantages such as low operating temperature, sustained operation at a high power density, compactness, the potential for low cost and volume, long stack life, fast star-up and suitability for discontinuous operation.