• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.39 no.10
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• pp.928-934
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• 2002

Gallium doped Zinc Oxide(GZO) films were deposited by dc magnetron sputtering using a GZO ceramic target at various conditions such as substrate temperature (RT, 400), residual water pressure ($P_{H_2O}$; 1.61${\times}10^{-4}∼2.2{\times}10^{-3}$ Pa), introduction of $H_2$ gas (8.5%) and different magnetic field strengths(250, 1000G). GZO films deposited without substrate heating showed clear degradation in film crystallinity and electrical properties with increasing $P_{H_2O}$. The resistivity increased from 3.0${\times}10^{-3}$ to 3.1${\times}10^{-2}{\Omega}㎝$ and the grain size of the films decreased from 24 to 3 nm when PH2O was increased from 1.61${\times}10^{-4}$ to 2.2${\times}10^{-3}$ Pa. However, degradation in electrical properties with increasing $P_{H_2O}$ was not observed for the films deposited with introduction of 8.5% $H_2$. When magnetic field strength of the cathode increased from 250G to 1000G, crystallinity and electrical properties of GZO films improved remarkably about all the $P_{H_2O}$. This result could be attributed to the decrease in film damage caused by the decrease in plasma impedance.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.343-350
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• 2012

A planar solid oxide fuel cell (PSOFC) is studied in its application in a high-temperature stationary power plant. Even though PSOFCs with external reformers are designed for application from the distributed power source to the central power plant, such PSOFCs may sacrifice more system efficiency than internally reformed SOFCs. In this study, modeling of the PSOFC with an external reformer was developed to analyze the feasibility of thermal energy utilization for the external reformer. The PSOFC system model includes the stack, reformer, burner, heat exchanger, blower, pump, PID controller, 3-way valve, reactor, mixer, and steam separator. The model was developed under the Matlab/Simulink environment with Thermolib$^{(R)}$ modules. The model was used to study the system performance according to its configuration. Three configurations of the SOFC system were selected for the comparison of the system performance. The system configuration considered the cathode recirculation, thermal sources for the external reformer, heat-up of operating gases, and condensate anode off-gas for the enhancement of the fuel concentration. The simulation results show that the magnitude of the electric efficiency of the PSOFC system for Case 2 is 12.13% higher than that for Case 1 (reference case), and the thermal efficiency of the PSOFC system for Case 3 is 76.12%, which is the highest of all the cases investigated.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.279-288
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• 2014

Nuclear energy is expected to meet the growing energy demand while avoiding CO2 emission. However, the problem of accumulating spent fuel from current nuclear power plants which is mainly composed of uranium oxides should be addressed. One of the most practical solutions is to reduce the spent oxide fuel and recycle it. Next-generation fuel cycles demand innovative features such as a reduction of the environmental load, improved safety, efficient recycling of resources, and feasible economics. Pyroprocessing based on molten salt electrolysis is one of the key technologies for reducing the amount of spent nuclear fuel and destroying toxic waste products, such as the long-life fission products. The oxide reduction process based on the electrochemical reduction in a LiCl-$Li_2O$ electrolyte has been developed for the volume reduction of PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor) spent fuels and for providing metal feeds for the electrorefining process. To speed up the electrochemical reduction process, the influences of the feed form for the cathode and the type of anode shroud on the reduction rate were investigated.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.100-101
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• 2012

The plasma damage free and room temperature processedthin film deposition technology is essential for realization of various next generation organic microelectronic devices such as flexible AMOLED display, flexible OLED lighting, and organic photovoltaic cells because characteristics of fragile organic materials in the plasma process and low glass transition temperatures (Tg) of polymer substrate. In case of directly deposition of metal oxide thin films (including transparent conductive oxide (TCO) and amorphous oxide semiconductor (AOS)) on the organic layers, plasma damages against to the organic materials is fatal. This damage is believed to be originated mainly from high energy energetic particles during the sputtering process such as negative oxygen ions, reflected neutrals by reflection of plasma background gas at the target surface, sputtered atoms, bulk plasma ions, and secondary electrons. To solve this problem, we developed the NBAS (Neutral Beam Assisted Sputtering) process as a plasma damage free and room temperature processed sputtering technology. As a result, electro-optical properties of NBAS processed ITO thin film showed resistivity of $4.0{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}{\cdot}m$ and high transmittance (>90% at 550 nm) with nano- crystalline structure at room temperature process. Furthermore, in the experiment result of directly deposition of TCO top anode on the inverted structure OLED cell, it is verified that NBAS TCO deposition process does not damages to the underlying organic layers. In case of deposition of transparent conductive oxide (TCO) thin film on the plastic polymer substrate, the room temperature processed sputtering coating of high quality TCO thin film is required. During the sputtering process with higher density plasma, the energetic particles contribute self supplying of activation & crystallization energy without any additional heating and post-annealing and forminga high quality TCO thin film. However, negative oxygen ions which generated from sputteringtarget surface by electron attachment are accelerated to high energy by induced cathode self-bias. Thus the high energy negative oxygen ions can lead to critical physical bombardment damages to forming oxide thin film and this effect does not recover in room temperature process without post thermal annealing. To salve the inherent limitation of plasma sputtering, we have been developed the Magnetic Field Shielded Sputtering (MFSS) process as the high quality oxide thin film deposition process at room temperature. The MFSS process is effectively eliminate or suppress the negative oxygen ions bombardment damage by the plasma limiter which composed permanent magnet array. As a result, electro-optical properties of MFSS processed ITO thin film (resistivity $3.9{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$, transmittance 95% at 550 nm) have approachedthose of a high temperature DC magnetron sputtering (DMS) ITO thin film were. Also, AOS (a-IGZO) TFTs fabricated by MFSS process without higher temperature post annealing showed very comparable electrical performance with those by DMS process with $400^{\circ}C$ post annealing. They are important to note that the bombardment of a negative oxygen ion which is accelerated by dc self-bias during rf sputtering could degrade the electrical performance of ITO electrodes and a-IGZO TFTs. Finally, we found that reduction of damage from the high energy negative oxygen ions bombardment drives improvement of crystalline structure in the ITO thin film and suppression of the sub-gab states in a-IGZO semiconductor thin film. For realization of organic flexible electronic devices based on plastic substrates, gas barrier coatings are required to prevent the permeation of water and oxygen because organic materials are highly susceptible to water and oxygen. In particular, high efficiency flexible AMOLEDs needs an extremely low water vapor transition rate (WVTR) of $1{\times}10^{-6}gm^{-2}day^{-1}$. The key factor in high quality inorganic gas barrier formation for achieving the very low WVTR required (under ${\sim}10^{-6}gm^{-2}day^{-1}$) is the suppression of nano-sized defect sites and gas diffusion pathways among the grain boundaries. For formation of high quality single inorganic gas barrier layer, we developed high density nano-structured Al2O3 single gas barrier layer usinga NBAS process. The NBAS process can continuously change crystalline structures from an amorphous phase to a nano- crystalline phase with various grain sizes in a single inorganic thin film. As a result, the water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) of the NBAS processed $Al_2O_3$ gas barrier film have improved order of magnitude compared with that of conventional $Al_2O_3$ layers made by the RF magnetron sputteringprocess under the same sputtering conditions; the WVTR of the NBAS processed $Al_2O_3$ gas barrier film was about $5{\times}10^{-6}g/m^2/day$ by just single layer.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.283-287
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• 2007

KIER has been developing the anode-supported flat tubular solid oxide fuel cell unit bundle for the intermediate temperature($700{\sim}800^{\circ}C$) operation. Anode-supported flat tubular cells have Ni/YSZ cermet anode support, 8 moi.% $Y_2O_3$ stabilized $ZrO_2(YSZ)$ thin electrolyte, and cathode multi-layer composed of Sr-doped $LaSrMnO_3(LSM)$, LSM-YSZ composite, and $LaSrCoFeO_3(LSCF)$. The prepared anode-supported flat tubular cell was joined with ferritic stainless steel cap by induction brazing process. Current collection for the cathode was achieved by winding Ag wire and $La_{0.6}Sr_{0.4}CoO_3(LSCo)$ paste, while current collection for the anode was achieved by using Ni wire and felt. For making stack, the prepared anode-supported flat tubular cells with effective electrode area of $90\;cm^2$ connected in series with 12 unit bundles, in which unit bundle consists of two cells connected in parallel. The performance of unit bundle in 3% humidified $H_2$ and air at $800^{\circ}C$ shows maximum power density of $0.39\;W/cm^2$ (@ 0.7V). Through these experiments, we obtained basic technology of the anode-supported flat tubular cell and established the proprietary concept of the anode-supported flat tubular cell unit bundle.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2013

The original pilot-scale electrokinetic equipment suitable to soil contamination characteristics of Korean nuclear facility sites was manufactured for the remediation of soil contaminated with uranium. During the experiment with the original electrokinetic equipment, many metal oxides were generated and were stuck on the cathode plate. The uranium removal capability of the original electrokinrtic equipment was almost exhausted because the cathode plate covered with metal oxides did not conduct electricity in the original electrokinetic equipment. Therefore, the original electrokinetic equipment was improved. After the remediation experience for 25 days using the improved electrokinetic remediation equipment, the removal efficiency of uranium from the soil was 96.8% and its residual uranium concentration was 0.81 Bq/g. When the initial uranium concentration of soil was about 50 Bq/g, the electrokinetic remediation time required to remediate the uranium concentration below clearance concentration of 1.0 Bq/g was about 34 days. When the initial uranium concentration of soil was about 75 Bq/g, the electrokinetic remediation time required to remediate below 1.0 Bq/g was about 42 days. When the initial uranium concentration of soil was about 100 Bq/g, the electrokinetic remediation time required to remediate below 1.0 Bq/g was about 49 days.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.993-994
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• 2008

Electrochromic (EC) devices are capable of reversibly changing their optical properties upon charge injection and extraction induced by the external voltage. The characteristics of the EC device, such as low power consumption, high coloration efficiency, and memory effects under open circuit status, make them suitable for use in a variety of applications including smart windows and electronic papers. Coloration due to reduction or oxidation of redox chromophores can be used for EC devices (e-paper), but the switching time is slow (second level). Recently, with increasing demand for the low cost, lightweight flat panel display with paper-like readability (electronic paper), an EC display technology based on dye-modified $TiO_2$ nanoparticle electrode was developed. A well known organic dye molecule, viologen, was adsorbed on the surface of a mesoporous $TiO_2$ nanoparticle film to form the EC electrode. On the other hand, ZnO is a wide bandgap II-VI semiconductor which has been applied in many fields such as UV lasers, field effect transistors and transparent conductors. The bandgap of the bulk ZnO is about 3.37 eV, which is close to that of the $TiO_2$ (3.4 eV). As a traditional transparent conductor, ZnO has excellent electron transport properties, even in ZnO nanoparticle films. In the past few years, one-dimension (1D) nanostructures of ZnO have attracted extensive research interest. In particular, 1D ZnO nanowires renders much better electron transportation capability by providing a direct conduction path for electron transport and greatly reducing the number of grain boundaries. These unique advantages make ZnO nanowires a promising matrix electrode for EC dye molecule loading. ZnO nanowires grow vertically from the substrate and form a dense array (Fig. 1). The ZnO nanowires show regular hexagonal cross section and the average diameter of the ZnO nanowires is about 100 nm. The cross-section image of the ZnO nanowires array (Fig. 1) indicates that the length of the ZnO nanowires is about $6\;{\mu}m$. From one on/off cycle of the ZnO EC cell (Fig. 2). We can see that, the switching time of a ZnO nanowire electrode EC cell with an active area of $1\;{\times}\;1\;cm^2$ is 170 ms and 142 ms for coloration and bleaching, respectively. The coloration and bleaching time is faster compared to the $TiO_2$ mesoporous EC devices with both coloration and bleaching time of about 250 ms for a device with an active area of $2.5\;cm^2$. With further optimization, it is possible that the response time can reach ten(s) of millisecond, i.e. capable of displaying video. Fig. 3 shows a prototype with two different transmittance states. It can be seen that good contrast was obtained. The retention was at least a few hours for these prototypes. Being an oxide, ZnO is oxidation resistant, i.e. it is more durable for field emission cathode. ZnO nanotetropods were also applied to realize the first prototype triode field emission device, making use of scattered surface-conduction electrons for field emission (Fig. 4). The device has a high efficiency (field emitted electron to total electron ratio) of about 60%. With this high efficiency, we were able to fabricate some prototype displays (Fig. 5 showing some alphanumerical symbols). ZnO tetrapods have four legs, which guarantees that there is one leg always pointing upward, even using screen printing method to fabricate the cathode.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.184-190
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• 2011

$LiMn_2O_4$ with mesoporous hollow sphere shape was synthesized by precipitation method with silica template. The synthesized $LiMn_2O_4$ has nanosized first particle and mesoporous hollow sphere shape. Silica template was removed by chemical etching method using NaOH solution. When the concentration of NaOH solution was increased, first particle size of manganese oxide was decrease and confirmed mesoporous hollow shpere shape. X-ray diffraction(XRD) patterns revealed that the synthesized samples has spinel structure with Fd3m space group. In case the ratio of silica and maganese salt increased, the size of first particles was decreased. The tetragoanal $LiMn_2O_4$ with micron size was synthesized at ratio of silica and manganese salt over 1 : 9. The prepared samples were assembled as cathode materials of Li-ion battery with 2032 type coin cell and their electrochemical properties are examined by charge-discharge and cyclic performance. Electrochemical measurements show that the nano-size particles had lower capacity than micron-size particles. But, cyclic performance of nano-size particles had better than that of micron-size particles.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.211-216
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• 2010

$(NH_4)_{0.3}V_2O_5$ nanorods and $V_2O_5$ nanosheets have been synthesized by the reaction of $V_2O_5$ gel via homogeneous precipitation process employing urea and formic acid. The electrochemical and chemical characteristics of these nanomaterials have been investigated using TGA, SEM, FT-IR, XRD, and LSV. The interlayer distance of $(NH_4)_{0.3}V_2O_5$ was about $10.7{\AA}$, and that of $V_2O_5$ synthesized by using formic acid was $14.2{\AA}$. The surface morphology of $(NH_4)_{0.3}V_2O_5$ and $V_2O_5$ showed features that looked like nanorods and nanosheets, respectively. Specific capacity of $(NH_4)_{0.3}V_2O_5$ nanorods prepared at $95^{\circ}C$ was at least 280 mAh/g at 10 mA/g discharge rate.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.83.2-83.2
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• 2010

평판형 고체산화물 연료전지(planar SOFC : Solid oxide Fuelcell)는 높은 전류 효율 및 출력밀도를 가지는 중,대형 발전용 전기소자이다. SOFC 스택을 600~800도에서 작동할 경우, 금속 분리판에서 휘발된 크롬에 의한 열화현상과 금속의 산화에 의한 표면 저항의 증가가 큰 문제점으로 알려져 있으며, 이를 개선하기 위한 많은 연구가 진행되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 금속 분리판의 열화를 억제하기 위한 여러 보호코팅의 특성을 밝히고, 특성차이의 원인을 분석하고자 하였다. 모재는 상용 STS444합금 (Nisshin steel 생산) 2.0mmt 박판을 사용하였으며, 표면 상태를 균일하게 하기 위하여 표면은 동일한 #1200 번 사포로 연마후 코팅하였다. 적용한 코팅은 전기도금 Ni 코팅, (MnCo)3O4 wet powder spray 코팅, (MnCo)3O4 ADM코팅 3종이었으며, 코팅층의 두께는 최적 공정조건에 따라 달리 하였다. 산화후 형성되는 표면 산화물의 전기적 특성을 평가하기 위하여 시험편의 비면적 저항 (ASR : area specific resistance)을 장시간 측정하였다. 측정편의 크기는 가로 4cm ${\times}$ 세로 4cm였으며, 100시간 공기중 산화후 측정하였다. 표면 접촉을 높이기 위하여 Pt paste를 40~50um도포하였으며, 1~0.1A인가된 전류에 대한 저항을 4전극법 (4-probe)으로 측정하였다. 표면 코팅층이 크롬 휘발을 억제하는 정도를 평가하기 위하여 크롬 휘발량을 측정하였다. 시편은 가로 1.5cm ${\times}$ 세로 1cm 였으며, 공급된 공기와 수분의 혼합가스와 응축기 표면에 흡착된 크롬의 양을 ICP-MASS법으로 측정하였다.