• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.237-245
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• 2021

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) enhances the stability of cathode materials via surface modification. Previous studies have demonstrated that an Ni-rich cathode, such as LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂, is a promising candidate owing to its high capacity, but is limited by poor cycle stability. In this study, to enhance the stability of the Ni-rich cathode, synthesized LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ was coated with Al₂O₃ using ALD. Thus, the surface-modified cathode exhibited enhanced stability by protecting the interface from Ni-O formation during the cycling process. The coated LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ exhibited a capacity of 176 mAh g^-1 at 1 C and retained up to 72% of the initial capacity after 100 cycles within a range of 2.8-4.3 V (vs Li/Li⁺. In contrast, pristine LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ presented only 58% of capacity retention after 100 cycles with an initial capacity of 173 mAh g^-1. Improved cyclability may be a result of the ALD coating, which physically protects the electrode by modifying the interface, and prevents degradation by resisting side reactions that result in capacity decay. The electrochemical impedance spectra and structural and morphological analysis performed using electron microscopy and X-ray techniques establish the surface enhancement resulting from the aforementioned strategy.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.461-466
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• 2020

There are many application fields of electrical energy storage such as load shifting, integration with renewables, frequency or voltage supports, and so on. Especially, the frequency regulation is needed to stabilize the electric power system, and there have to be more than 1 GW as power reserve in Korea. Ni-rich layered oxide cathode materials have been investigated as a cathode material for Li-ion batteries because of their higher discharge capacity and lower cost than lithium cobalt oxide. Nonetheless, most of them have been investigated using small coin cells, and therefore, there is a limit to understand the deterioration mode of Ni-rich layered oxides in commercial high energy Li-ion batteries. In this paper, the pouch-type 20 Ah-scale Li-ion full cells are fabricated using Ni-rich layered oxides as a cathode and graphite as an anode. Above all, two test conditions for the application of frequency regulation were established in order to examine the performances of cells. Then, the electrochemical performances of two types of Ni-rich layered oxides are compared, and the long-term performance and degradation mode of the cell using cathode material with high nickel contents among them were investigated in the frequency regulation conditions.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.407-415
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• 2022

Surface coating of cathodes is an essential process for all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) based on sulfide electrolytes as it efficiently suppresses interfacial reactions between oxide cathodes and sulfide electrolytes. Based on computational calculations, Li₃PO₄ has been suggested as a promising coating material because of its higher stability with sulfides and its optimal ionic conductivity. However, it has hardly been applied to the coating of ASSBs due to the absence of a suitable coating process, including the selection of source material that is compatible with ASSBs. In this study, polyphosphoric acid (PPA) and (NH₄)₂HPO₄ were used as source materials for preparing a Li₃PO₄ coating for ASSBs, and the properties of the coating layer and coated cathodes were compared. The Li₃PO₄ layer fabricated using the (NH₄)₂HPO₄ source was rough and inhomogeneous, which is not suitable for the protection of the cathodes. Moreover, the water-based coating solution with the (NH₄)₂HPO₄ source can deteriorate the electrochemical performance of high-Ni cathodes that are vulnerable to water. In contrast, when an alcohol-based solvent was used, the PPA source enabled the formation of a thin and homogeneous coating layer on the cathode surface. As a consequence, the ASSBs containing the Li₃PO₄-coated cathode prepared by the PPA source exhibited significantly enhanced discharge and rate capabilities compared to ASSBs containing a pristine cathode or Li₃PO₄-coated cathode prepared by the (NH₄)₂HPO₄ source.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.216-222
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• 2022

The capacity of high nickel Li(Ni_xCo_yMn_1-x-y)O₂ (NCM, x ≥ 0.8) cathodes is known to rapidly decline, a serious problem that needs to be solved in a timely manner. It was reported that cathode materials with the {010} plane exposed toward the outside, i.e., a radial structure, can provide facile Li⁺ diffusion paths and stress buffer during repeated cycles. In addition, cathodes with a core-shell composition gradient are of great interest. For example, a stable surface structure can be achieved using relatively low nickel content on the surface. In this study, precursors of the high-nickel NCM were synthesized by coprecipitation in ambient atmosphere. Then, a transition metal solution for coprecipitation was replaced with a low nickel content and the coprecipitation reaction proceeded for the desired time. The electrochemical analysis of the core-shell cathode showed a capacity retention of 94 % after 100 cycles, compared to the initial discharge capacity of 184.74 mA h/g. The rate capability test also confirmed that the core-shell cathode had enhanced kinetics during charging and discharging at 1 A/g.

• 한국태양에너지학회 논문집
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.17-22
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• 2014

The design of a fuel cells stack is important to get optimal output power. This study focuses on the evaluation of fuel cell system for unmaned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Low temperature proton exchange membrane (LTPEM) fuel cells are the most promising energy source for the robot applications because of their unique advantages such as high energy density, cold startup, and quick response during operation. In this paper, a 600 W open cathode LTPEM fuel cell was tested to evaluate the performance and to determine optimal operating conditions. The open cathode design reduces the overall size of the system to meet the requirement for robotic application. The cruise power requirement of 600 W was supported entirely by the fuel cell while the additional power requirements during takeoff was extended using a battery. A peak of power of 900 W is possible for 10 mins with a lithium polymer (LiPo) battery. The system was evaluated under various load cycles as well as start-stop cycles. The system response from no load to full load meets the robot platform requirement. The total weigh of the stack was 2 kg, while the overall system, including the fuel processing system and battery, was 4 kg.

• Carbon letters
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• 제1권3_4호
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• pp.148-153
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• 2001

The initial irreversible capacity, $Q_i$, is one of the parameters to express the material balancing of the cathode to anode. We introduced new terms, which are the initial intercalation Ah efficiency (IIE) and the initial irreversible specific capacity at the surface ($Q_{is}$), to express precisely the irreversibility of an electrode/electrolyte system. Two terms depended on kinds of active-materials and compositions of the electrode, but did not change with charging state. MPCF had the highest value of IIE and the lowest value of $Q_{is}$ in 1M $LiPE_6$/EC + DEC (1 : 1 volume ratio) electrolyte. IIE value of $LiCoO_2$ electrode was 97-98%, although the preparation condition of the material and the electrolyte were different. $Q_{is}$ value of $LiCoO_2$ was 0~1 mAh/g. MPCF-$LiCoO_2$ cell system had the lowest of the latent capacity. $Q_{is}$ value increased slightly by adding conductive material. IIE and $Q_{is}$ value varied with the electrolyte. By introducing PC to EC+DEC mixed solvent, IIE values were retained, but $Q_{is}$ increased. In case of addition of MP, IIE value increased and $Q_{is}$ value also increased a little.

• 한국자기공명학회논문지
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.1-5
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• 2019

$^{19}F$ NMR experiments were carried out to observe the change of the characteristics of the PVdF binder which is an auxiliary material of the lithium ion battery. PVdF has various crystalline or amorphous phases by thermal treatment. A mixture of cathode and auxiliary materials including PVdF was coated on aluminum foil as an electron collector and then subjected to thermal treatment at various temperatures. The overlapped $^{19}F$ NMR signals obtained from the various phases were separately convoluted into the respective phases, and it was found that there was a relative ratio change of these phases. In addition, the crystal and amorphous phase of PVdF was changed during the vacuum drying, which is the last step of the actual electrode manufacturing. It was observed that the relative amount of amorphous phase, which may affect the flexibility of the electrode or the wettability of the electrolyte, abruptly changes after a certain temperature.

• 한국기계가공학회지
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• 제21권9호
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• pp.85-91
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• 2022

The demand for electric vehicles has increased because of environmental regulations. The lithium-ion battery, the most widely used type of battery in electric vehicles, is composed of a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte. It is manufactured according to the pole plate, assembly, and formation processes. To improve battery performance and increase manufacturing efficiency, the manufacturing process must be optimized. To do so, simulation can be used to reduce wasted resources and time, and a finite-element method can be utilized. For high simulation quality, it is essential to reflect the material properties of the electrode by considering the pores. However, the material properties of electrodes are difficult to derive through measurement. In this study, the representative volume element method, which is a homogenization method, was applied to estimate the representative material properties of the electrode considering the pores. The representative volume element method assumes that the strain energy before and after the conversion into a representative volume is conserved. The method can be converted into one representative property, even when nonhomogeneous materials are mixed in a unit volume. In this study, the material properties of the electrode considering the pores were derived. The results should be helpful in optimizing the electrode manufacturing process and related element technologies.

• 자원리싸이클링
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.81-91
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• 2022

리튬이온 배터리의 사용은 전자기기 및 전기차 등의 생산량 증가로 인해 사용량이 크게 증가하고 있으며, 이와 맞물려 향후 폐배터리의 발생량 증가도 예상된다. 따라서 폐배터리를 구성하고 있는 여러 유가 자원 중 Ni, Co, Mn, Li 등이 함유되어 있는 양극 활물질이 매우 중요한 유가 자원으로, 이를 재활용하기 위한 많은 연구가 진행되고 있다. 양극 활물질 회수를 위해서 일반적으로 폐배터리로부터 블랙 매스(Black mass)를 회수하고, 이를 처리하여 주요 금속 자원을 회수한다. 블랙 매스를 회수하는 공정은 폐배터리를 수거-방전-해체-파쇄-분급의 순서로 이루어지며, 본 연구에서는 블랙 매스 회수를 위한 파쇄/분급 공정을 분석하였다. 파쇄/분급 공정을 통해 다양한 공정 산물의 입도 특성을 분석하고, 이 과정에서 생산된 산물의 입도별 형상을 현미경 및 SEM(Scanning Electron Microscopy)-EDS(Energy Dispersive Spectrometer)로 분석하였다. 분석 결과 블랙 매스로 회수되는 입자 중 74 ㎛의 미세한 입자들은 양극/음극 활물질이 전극으로부터 단체분리되어 존재하였지만, 100 ㎛ 이상의 입자들은 전극과 활물질이 붙어있는 상태에서 파쇄에 의해 입도가 감소되어 존재함을 확인하였다. 또한 배터리의 특징인 2종 혼합물(전극과 활물질)이 결합되어 있는 시료에 대해 파분쇄 특성을 모사할 수 있는 PBM(Population Balance Model) 을 개발하였으며, 2종 혼합물의 분쇄 상수를 도출하고 입도 분포 예측 성능을 검증하였다.

• 자원리싸이클링
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.26-33
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• 2022

리튬이온배터리의 수요가 증가함에 따라 향후 발생할 폐리튬이온배터리 중의 유가금속 회수가 필요하다. 대량의 폐리튬이온배터리 리사이클링에는 건식제련이 적합하지만 Li이 슬래그나 분진으로 손실되는 문제점이 있다. 본 연구에서는 폐리튬이온배터리의 NCM계 양극재로부터 Li을 회수하기 위해 그라파이트 첨가에 따른 탄산화 배소와 수침출 거동에 대해 조사하였다. 그라파이트를 10 wt% 첨가 시, Ar 및 CO₂ 분위기에서 승온 중 약 850 K에서 급격한 무게 감소와 함께 CO 및 CO₂ 가스가 배출되었다. 급격한 무게 감소 후 NCM은 금속 산화물 및 순금속으로 분해되고 환원되었다. 따라서 블랙파우더(NCM+그라파이트)의 탄산화 배소에서는 NCM의 분해에 의해 O₂가 발생하면서 Li₂O, NiO 등의 산화물이 생성되고, 이어서 Li₂O가 CO₂와 반응하여 Li₂CO₃를 생성하며, NiO의 일부는 그라파이트에 의해 환원되어 금속 Ni을 생성한다. 그리고 탄산화 배소 후 수침출에 의해 약 99.95 % 순도의 Li₂CO₃를 최대 94.5 %까지 회수하였다.