• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.506-510
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• 2010

Electron recombinations in electrolyte solution reduce light-to-energy conversion efficiency at the nanoporous electrode surface of dye sensitized solar cells. In this study, we improved the conversion efficiency using an energy barrier at the nanoporous electrode surface to control the recombination process. The energy barrier was formed by coating nanoporous $TiO_2$ electrode with $Nb_2O_5$ material. We investigated the influence of energy barrier on the cell efficiency depending on the coating thickness. Nanoporous $TiO_2$ electrode was coated about 5 nm thickness by 12 times coatings, and so the coating layer was grown about 0.417 nm for every time. Enhancement of conversion efficiency from 2.55% to 4.25% was achieved at 0.834 nm coating thickness, and it was believed as the optimum thickness for minimizing the electron recombination process in our experimental system.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.3553-3558
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• 2014

The reduced graphene oxide(rGO)/aluminum phosphate($AlPO_4$)-coated $LiMn_{1.5}Ni_{0.5}O_4$ (LMNO) cathode material has been developed by hydroxide precursor method for LMNO and by a facile solution based process for the coating with GO/$AlPO_4$ on the surface of LMNO, followed by annealing process. The amount of $AlPO_4$ has been varied from 0.5 wt % to 1.0 wt %, while the amount of rGO is maintained at 1.0 wt %. The samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The rGO/$AlPO_4$-coated LMNO electrodes exhibit better cyclic performance compared to that of pristine LMNO electrode. Specifically, rGO(1%)/$AlPO_4$(0.5%)- and rGO(1%)/$AlPO_4$(1%)-coated electrodes deliver a discharge capacity of, respectively, $123mAhg^{-1}$ and $122mAhg^{-1}$ at C/6 rate, with a capacity retention of, respectively, 96% and 98% at 100 cycles. Furthermore, the surface-modified LMNO electrodes demonstrate higher-rate capability. The rGO(1%)/$AlPO_4$(0.5%)-coated LMNO electrode shows the highest rate performance demonstrating a capacity retention of 91% at 10 C rate. The enhanced electrochemical performance can be attributed to (1) the suppression of the direct contact of electrode surface with the electrolyte, resulting in side reactions with the electrolyte due to the high cut-off voltage, and (2) smaller surface resistance and charge transfer resistance, which is confirmed by total polarization resistance and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.306-308
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• 2007

Poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether (PEGDME)/fumed silica/ 1-methyl -3-propylimidazolium iodide (MPII)/$I_2$ mixtures were used as polymer electrolytes in solid state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The contents of MPII were changed and the concentration of $I_2$ was fixed at 0.1 mole% with respect to the MPII. The maximum ionic conductivity was obtained at [EG]:[MPII]:[$I_2$]=10:1.5:0.15. It was supposed that the maximum of ionic conductivities would match with that of cell efficiencies, if the ionic conductivity is a rate determining step in the sol id state DSSCs. However, the maximum composition did not show the maximum solar cell performance, indicating the mismatch between ionic conductivity and cell performance. This suggests that the ionic conductivity may not be the rate controlling step in determining the cell efficiency in these experimental conditions, whereas other parameters such as the electron recombination might play an important role. Thus, we tried to modify the surface of the $TiO_2$ particles by coating a thin metal oxide such as $Al_2O_3$ or $Nb_2O_5$ layer to prevent electron recombination. As a result, the maximum of the cell efficiency was shifted to that of the ionic conductivity. The peak shifts were also attempted to be explained by the diffusion coefficient and the lifetime of electrons in the $TiO_2$ layer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.154-154
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• 2017

Ti-6Al-4V alloys are widely used as metal-lic biomaterials in dentistry and orthopedics due to its excellent biocompatibility and me-chanical properties. However, because of low biological activity, it is difficult to form bone growth directly on the surface of titanium implants. For this reason, surface treatment of plasma electrolytic oxidation(PEO) was used for dental implants. To enhance bioac-tivity on the surface, strontium(Sr) and sili-con(Si) ions can be added to PEO treated sur-face in the electrolyte containing these ions. The presence of Sr in the coating enhances osteoblast activity and differentiation, where-as it inhibits osteoclast production and prolif-eration. And Si has been found to be essen-tial for normal bone, cartilage growth, and development. In this study, electrochemical characteristics of Ca, P, Sr, and Si ions from PEO-treated Ti-6Al-4V alloy surface was re-searched using various experimental instruments. DC power is used and Ti-6Al-4V al-loy was subjected to a voltage of 280 V for 3 minutes in the electrolyte containing 5, 10, 20M% Sr ion and 5M% Si ion. The morphol-ogies of PEO-treated Ti-6Al-4V alloy by electrochemical anodization were examined by field-emission scanning electron micro-scopes (FE-SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and corrosion analysis using AC impedance and potentiodynamic polarization test in 0.9% NaCl solution at similar body tempera-ture using a potentiostat with a scan rate of 1.67mV/s and potential range from -1500mV to + 2000mV.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2012.11a
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• pp.16-16
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• 2012

Mg and its alloys have been of great interest because of their low density of 1.7, 30% lighter than Al, but their wide applications have been limited because of their poor resistances against corrosion and/or abrasion. Corrosion resistance of Mg alloys can be improved by formation of anodic films using anodic oxidation method in aqueous electrolytes. Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is one of anodic oxidation methods by which hard anodic films can be formed as a result of micro-arc generation under high electric field. PEO method utilize not only substrate elements but also chemical components in electrolytes to form anodic films on Mg alloys. PEO films formed on AM50 magnesium alloy in an acidic fluozirconate electrolyte were observed to consist of mainly $ZrO_2$ and $MgF_2$. Liu et al reported that PEO coating on AM30 Mg alloy consists of $MgF_2$-rich outer porous layer and an MgO-rich dense inner layer. PEO films prepared on ACM522 Mg die-casting alloy in an aqueous phosphate solution were also reported to be composed of monoclinic $Mg_3(PO_4)_2$. $CeO_2$-incorporated PEO coatings were also reported to be formed on AZ31 Mg alloys in $CeO_2$ particle-containing $Na_2SiO_3$-based electrolytes. Magnesium tin hydroxide ($MgSn(OH)_6$) was also produced on AZ91D alloy by PEO process in stannate-containing electrolyte. Effects of $OH^-$, $F^-$, $PO{_4}^{3-}$ and $SiO{_3}^{2-}$ ions and alloying elements of Al and Sn on the formation of PEO films on pure Mg and Mg alloys and their protective properties against corrosion have been investigated in this work. $PO{_4}^{3-}$, $F^-$ and $SiO{_3}^{2-}$ ions were observed to contribute to the formation of PEO films but $OH^-$ ions were found to break down the surface films under high electric field. The effect of pulse current on the formation of PEO films will be also reported.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2001

Vanadium based solid solution alloys have been studied as a potential negative electrode of Ni/MH battery due to their high hydrogen storage capacity. In order to improve the kinetic property of V-Ti alloy in KOH electrolyte, the ball-milling process with Ni, which has a catalytic effect of hydrogen absorption/desorption, was carried out to modify the surface properties of V-Ti-Cr alloys with high hydrogen storage capacity. Moreover, to overcome the problem of poor cycle life, V-Ti alloy substituted by Cr, V0.68 Ti0.20 Cr0.12, has been developed showing a good cycle performance (keeping about 80 % of initial discharge capacity after 200 cycles). The cycle life of surface-modified V0.68 Ti0.20 Cr0.12 alloy was improved by suppressing the formation of TiO2 layer on the alloy surface while decreasing the amount of dissolved vanadium in the KOH electrolyte. In order to promote the effect of Ni coating on the surface property of V0.68 Ti 0.20 Cr 0.12 alloy by ball-milling, filamentary-typed Ni, which has higher surface coverage area than sphere-typed Ni was used as a surface modifier. Consequently, the surface-modified V0.68 Ti0.20 Cr0.12 alloy electrode showed a improved discharge capacity of 460 mAh/g.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.59-64
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• 2014

Crystallographic phases of Plasma electrolytic oxidized Al alloy, A1050, were investigated. The electrolyte of PEO was $Na_2Si_2O_3$ and KOH. Unipolar pulse, $ 2000{\mu}sec$ with $400{\mu}sec+420V$ impulse, were applied for 2 min, 5 min, 15 min, and 30 min. ${\gamma}-Alumina$, as well as ${\alpha}-alumina$, was main crystal phase. ${\gamma}-Alumina$ was appeared in the beginning, then the amount of ${\alpha}-alumina$ was increased with time, but the amount of ${\gamma}-Alumina$ remained constant without any increasing. So, it is concluded that plasma gas produce ${\gamma}-Alumina$ at the first, and then ${\gamma}-Alumina$ transform ${\alpha}-alumina$ finally. During the transformation, high temperature of micro plasma gives transformation energy.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.187-193
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• 2010

Chromium nitride (CrN) samples with two different layer structures (multilayer and single layer) were coated on bipolar plates of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) using the reactive sputtering method. The effects with respect to layer structure on corrosion resistance and overall cell performance were investigated. A continuous and thin chromium nitride layer ($Cr_{0.48}\;N_{0.52}$) was formed on the surface of the SUS 316L when the nitrogen flow rate was 10 sccm. The electrochemical stability of the coated layers was examined using the potentiodynamic and potentiostatic methods in the simulated corrosive circumstances of the PEMFC under $80^{\circ}C$. Interfacial contact resistance (ICR) between the CrN coated sample and the gas diffusion layer was measured by using Wang's method. A single cell performance test was also conducted. The test results showed that CrN coated SUS316L with multilayer structure had excellent corrosion resistance compared to single layer structures and single cell performance results with $25\;cm^2$ in effective area also showed the same tendency. The difference of the electrochemical properties between the single and multilayer samples was attributed to the Cr interlayer layer, which improved the corrosion resistance. Because the coating layer was damaged by pinholes, the Cr layer prevented the penetration of corrosive media into the substrate. Therefore, the CrN with a multilayer structure is an effective coating method to increase the corrosion resistance and to decrease the ICR for metallic bipolar plates in PEMFC.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.324-329
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• 2018

Needle-like NiO protecting layers on NiCrAl alloy foam, used as support for hydrogen production, are introduced through electroplated Ni and subsequent microwave annealing. To improve the stability of the NiCrAl alloy foam, oxygen concentration of microwave annealing to form a needle-like NiO layer with good chemical stability and corrosion resistance is controlled in a range of 20 and 50 %. As the oxygen concentration increases to 50 %, needle-like NiO forms a dense coating layer on the NiCrAl alloy foam; this layer formation can be attributed to accelerated growth of the (200) plane. In addition, the increased oxygen concentration causes increased NiO/Ni ratio of the resultant coating layer on NiCrAl alloy foam due to improved rate of the oxidation reaction. As a result, the introduction of dense needle-like NiO layers formed at 50 % oxygen concentration improves the chemical stability of the NiCrAl alloy foam by protecting the direct electrochemical reaction between the electrolyte and the foam. Thus, needle-like NiO can be proposed as a superb protecting layer to improve the chemical stability of NiCrAl alloy form.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.405-409
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• 2010

New sol-gel precursors having the ability to protect iron against corrosion were synthesized and used to prepare organic-inorganic hybrid coatings based on epoxy. Bisphenol A epoxy was modified with 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane to improve the compatibility, and water and HCl were used as catalysts for sol-gel process. Various coating formulations were prepared depending on the type of sol-gel precursors and the amount of each ingredient, and cast on iron substrates by dip-coating and thermally cured. Corrosion protection properties of coated iron were studied by a salt spray test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy under 0.1 M NaCl electrolyte. Hybrid coatings containing anticorrosive functional group exhibited excellent corrosion protection on iron, compared to that of typical hybrid coatings. From electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the hybrid coatings containing anticorrosive functional group could maintaine the initial impedance after 500 h, while the impedance of hybrid coatings without them started to decrease after 24 h.