• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.292-303
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• 2022

An eco-friendly energy conversion device without the emission of pollutants has gained much attention due to the rapid use of fossil fuels inducing carbon dioxide emissions ever since the first industrial revolution in the 18th century. Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) that can produce water during the reaction without the emission of carbon dioxide are promising devices for automotive and residential applications. As a key component of PEMFCs, polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) need to have high proton conductivity and physicochemical stability during the operation. Currently, perfluorinated sulfonic acid-based PEMs (PFSA-PEMs) have been commercialized and utilized in PEMFC systems. Although the PFSA-PEMs are found to meet these criteria, there is an ongoing need to improve these further, to be useful in practical PEMFC operation. In addition, the well-known drawbacks of PFSA-PEMs including low glass transition temperature and high gas crossover need to be improved. Therefore, this review focused on recent trends in the development of high-performance PFSA-PEMs in three different ways. First, control of the side chain of PFSA copolymers can effectively improve the proton conductivity and thermal stability by increasing the ion exchange capacity and polymer crystallinity. Second, the development of composite-type PFSA-PEMs is an effective way to improve proton conductivity and physical stability by incorporating organic/inorganic additives. Finally, the incorporation of porous substrates is also a promising way to develop a thin pore-filling membrane showing low membrane resistance and outstanding durability.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.413-422
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• 2015

Proton exchange membrane (PEM), which transfers proton from the anode to the cathode, is the key component of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Nafion is widely used as PEM due to its high proton conductivity as well as excellent chemical and physical stabilities. However, its high cost and the environmental hazards limit the commercial application in PEMFCs. To overcome these disadvantages, various alternative polymer electrolytes have been investigated for fuel cell applications. We used densely sulfonated polymers to maximize the ion conductivity of the corresponding membrane. To overcome high swelling, dipole-dipole interaction was used by introducing nitrile groups into the polymer backbone. As a result, physically-crosslinked membranes showed improved swelling ratio despite of high water uptake. All the membranes with different hydrophilic-hydrophobic compositions showed higher conductivity, despite their lower IEC, than that of Nafion-117.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.11b
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• pp.545-549
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• 2001

We have produced electrolyte solution out of 1.15M $LiPF_6$ EC/EMC/DEC/PC(30/55/10/5 by vol%) as a reference, and at the same time, performed basic physical property test using a single solvent of 1.15M $LiPF_6$ DEC, DMC, EMC and a 2 component electrolyte solution of 1.15M $LiPF_6$ EC/DEC(1/2 by vol%) and PC/DEC(1/2 by vol%). Cyclic Voltammetry Analysis showed that, compared to existing carbonate organic solvent, the addition of DEC,DMC and EMC brought the de-decomposition peak of salt anion of $PF_6$ and the solvent at lower oxidization potential of 2.3V, 0.7V and 2.1V(vs. $Li/Li^+$). In addition, a kinetics current peak, in which intercalation of Lt is proceeded at 750mV, 450mV(vs. $Li/Li^+$), was confirmed. These findings suggest that the DEC solvent decomposition occurred at an electric potential lower than that of oxidization of existing carbonate organic solvent. Through the impedance analysis, we checked electric charge transfer resistance($R_{ct}$) according to the electric potential of $Li^+$ intercalation at 750mV(vs. $Li/Li^+$), which was the same as the resistance ($R_f$) and cyclic voltammetry of SEI film that was formed at Reference. By doing so, we found that the significant decrease of polarization resistance($R_p$) when Reference was played a part in the formation of compact SEI layer at the initial decomposition reaction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.545-549
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• 2001

We have produced electrolyte solution out of 1.15M LiPF$\sub$6/ EC/EMC/DEC/PC(30/55/10/5 by vol%) as a reference, and at the same time, performed basic physical property test using a single solvent of 1.15M LiPF$\sub$6/DEC, DMC, EMC and a 2 component electrolyte solution of 1.15M LiPF$\sub$6/ EC/DEC(1/2 by vo%%) and PC/DEC(1/2 by vol%). Cyclic Voltammetry Analysis showed that, compared to existing carbonate organic solvent, the addition of DEC, DMC and EMC brought the de-decomposition peak of salt anion of PF$\sub$6/$\^$-/ and the solvent at lower oxidization potential of 2.3V, 0.7V and 2.1V(vs. Li/Li$\^$+/\`). In addition, a kinetics current peak, in which intercalation of Li$\^$+/ is proceeded at 750mv, 450mv(vs. Li/Li$\^$+/), was confirmed. These findings suggest that the DEC solvent decomposition occurred at an electric potential lower than that of oxidization of existing carbonate organic solvent. Through the impedance analysis, we checked electric charge transfer resistance(R$\sub$ct/) according to the electric potential of Li$\^$+/ intercalation at 750mv(vs. Li/Li$\^$+/), which was the same as the resistance (R$\sub$f/) and cyclic voltammetry of SEI film that was formed at Reference. By doing so, we found that the significant decrease of polarization resistance(R$\sub$p/) when Reference was played a part in the formation of compact SEI layer at the initial decomposition reaction.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.467-471
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• 2021

A ladder-like polysilsesquioxane (LPMA64) functionalized with a crosslinkable group was synthesized and used for the preparation of organic-inorganic hybrid gel polymer electrolytes through a thermal crosslinking process of the liquid electrolytes. A small weight percent of LPMA64 polymer crosslinker (5 wt%) was able to form a well-developed network structure, resulting in good dimensional stability with high ionic conductivity. The lithium-sulfur batteries fabricated with organic-inorganic hybrid gel polymer electrolytes exhibited stable C-rate and cycling performance with excellent Coulombic efficiency due to the alleviated lithium polysulfide shuttling effect during prolonged cycling. The result demonstrates that the organic-inorganic hybrid gel polymer electrolytes could be a promising candidate electrolyte for application in lithium-sulfur batteries.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.537-544
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• 2001

In the present study, tin-zinc alloys were coated on a cold-rolled steel sheet with variations of electrolyte concentration, additives quantity and current density employing the Hull cell and circulation cell simulator. With an addition of additives of 2m1/L, tin-zinc deposits containing 10 to 40 percent Zn revealed a good surface appearance with weak acidic electrolytes. The organic additives suppressed the Sn deposition rate and thus increased the zinc contents in tin-zinc coating layers. The zinc contents in the tin-zinc coating layers depended almost linearly on the concentrations of metal ions of tin and zinc. Temperature of the electrolyte affected the composition tin-zinc coating layer. However, the concentration of complexants revealed little effectiveness. The surface morphology of tin-zinc coating showed dense tin and zinc phases with fine equiaxed grains with the high current density.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.295-298
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• 1998

We have investigated ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability of the electrolytes containing organic solvent. Ion conductivities were measured between 10 and 80$^{\circ}C$, and electrochemical stabilities were determined by cyclic voltammetry on glassy carbon, platinum and aluminum electrodes. Ionic conductivity of electrolyte(EC:DEC=1:1) with IM LiPF$\_$6/ shows better than that of the other electrolytes having Li salts. The IM LiBF$_4$-PC electrolyte exhibits good electrochemical stability. IM LiPF$\_$6/ (EC:DEC=1:1) and IM LiPF$\_$6/ (EC:DMC=1:1) electrolytes are used for the high capacity of battery system.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.3183-3189
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• 2010

In order to increase the specific capacitance and energy density of supercapacitors, non-aqueous supercapacitors were prepared using lithium transition-metal oxides and activated carbons as active materials. The electrochemical properties were analyzed in terms of the content of lithium transition-metal oxides. The results of cyclic voltammetry and AC-impedance analyses showed that the pseudocapacitance may stem from the synergistic contributions of capacitive and faradic effects; the former is due to the electric double layer which is prepared in the interface of activated carbon and organic electrolyte, and the latter is due to the intercalation of lithium ($Li^+$) ions. The specific capacitance and energy density of a supercapacitor improved as the lithium transition-metal oxides content increased, showing 60% increase compared to those of supercapacitor using a pure activated carbon positive electrode.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.358-359
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• 2006

Ru-C nano-composite films were prepared by MOCVD, and their microstructures and their electrode properties for oxygen gas sensors were investigated. Deposited films contained Ru particles of 5-20 nm in diameter dispersed in amorphous C matrix. The AC conductivities associating to the interface charge transfer between Ru-C composite electrode and YSZ electrolyte were 100-1000 times higher than that of conventional paste-Pt electrodes. The emf values of the oxygen gas concentration cell constructed from the nano-composite electrodes and YSZ electrolyte showed the Nernstian theoretical values at low temperatures around 500 K. The response time of the concentration cell was 900 s at 500 K.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.42-45
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• 2003

Inorganic polymer based hybrid membranes consisting of zirconium oxide and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) have been synthesized by sol-gel processes. The hybrid membranes showed thermal stability and flexibility up to $300^{\circ}C$. The membrane becomes proton conducting polymer electrolyte when added with 12-phosphotungstic acid (PWA). The conductivity of the membranes was measured in the temperature range from room temperature to $150^{\circ}C$ under saturated humidity and a maximum conductivity of $5{\times}10^{-5}\;Sm^{-1}$ was obtained at $150^{\circ}C$.