• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.344-349
• /
• 2015

An interconnect is the key component of solid oxide fuel cells that electrically connects unit cells and separates fuel from oxidant in the adjoining cells. To improve their surface stability in high-temperature oxidizing environments, metallic interconnects are usually coated with conductive oxides. In this study, lanthanum nickelates ($LaNiO_3$) with a perovskite structure are synthesized and applied as protective coatings on a metallic interconnect (Crofer 22 APU). The partial substitution of Co, Cu, and Fe for Ni improves electrical conductivity as well as thermal expansion match with the Crofer interconnect. The protective perovskite layers are fabricated on the interconnects by a slurry coating process combined with optimized heat-treatment. The perovskite-coated interconnects show area-specific resistances as low as $16.5-37.5m{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$ at $800^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.54 no.3
• /
• pp.200-204
• /
• 2017

Molybdenum (Mo), an electrode material of alkali metal thermal-to-electric converters (AMTEC), facilitates grain growth behavior and forms Mo-Na-O compounds at high operating temperatures, resulting in reduced performance and shortened lifetime of the cell. Mo/TiN composite materials have been developed to provide a solution for such issues. Mo is a metal that possesses excellent electrical properties, and TiN is a ceramic compound with high-temperature durability and catalytic activity. In this study, a dip-coating process with an organic solvent-based slurry was used as an optimal coating method to achieve homogeneity and stability of the electrodes. Cell performance was evaluated under various conditions such as the number of coatings, ranging from 1 to 3 times, and heat treatment temperatures of $800-1100^{\circ}C$. The results confirmed that the cell yielded a maximum power of 9.99 W for the sample coated 3 times and heat-treated at $900^{\circ}C$.

• Advances in Energy Research
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.41-57
• /
• 2022

Electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) based on solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have gained an immense recognition in the present world due to their unique properties. This study is about preparing and characterizing EDLCs using a natural rubber (NR) based SPE with natural graphite (NG) electrodes. NR electrolyte was consisted with 49% methyl grafted natural rubber (MG49) and zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate ((Zn(CF₃SO₃)₂-ZnTF). It was characterized using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) test, dc polarization test and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) test. NG electrodes were made using a slurry of NG and acetone. EIS test, cyclic voltammetry (CV) test and galvanostatic charge discharge (GCD) test have been done to characterize the EDLC. Optimized electrolyte composition with NR: 0.6 ZnTF (weight basis) exhibited a conductivity of 0.6 x 10^-4 Scm^-1 at room temperature. Conductivity was predominantly due to ions. The electrochemical stability window was found to be from 0.25 V to 2.500 V. Electrolyte was sandwiched between two identical NG electrodes to fabricate an EDLC. Single electrode specific capacitance was about 2.26 Fg^-1 whereas the single electrode discharge capacitance was about 1.17 Fg^-1. The EDLC with this novel NR-ZnTF based SPE evidences its suitability to be used for different applications with further improvement.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.695-699
• /
• 2021

In this study, Selective Catalytic Reduction on Diesel Particulate Filter (SDPF) after-treatment system was introduced to simultaneously remove NO_x and Particulate Matters (PM) emitted from trucks and special cargo vehicles using old engine. First, in order to select an Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalyst for SDPF, the de-NO_x performance of V/TiO₂ and Cu-Zeolite catalysts were compared, and the SCR catalyst characteristics were analyzed through Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and NH3-TPD (Temperature Programmed Desorption). From the activity test results, the Cu-zeolite catalyst showed the best thermal stability. For optimal coating of SDPF, slurry was prepared according to the target particle size. From the coating stability and back pressure test results of SDPF according to the amount of SCR coating, As a result of comparing coating stability, back pressure, and de-NOx performance by producing A, B, and C samples for each loading amount of the SDPF catalyst, the best results were found in the B sample. The engine dynamometer test was conducted for the optimal SDPF after-treatment system, and the test results satisfied Eu-5 regulations.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2023

The cathode, which is one of the four major components of a lithium secondary battery, is an important component responsible for the energy density of the battery. The mixing process of active material, conductive material, and polymer binder is very essential in the commonly used wet manufacturing process of the cathode. However, in the case of mixing conditions of the cathode, since there is no systematic method, in most cases, differences in performance occur depending on the manufacturer. Therefore, LiMn₂O₄ (LMO) cathodes were prepared using a commonly used THINKY mixer and homogenizer to optimize the mixing method in the cathode slurry preparation step, and their characteristics were compared. Each mixing condition was performed at 2000 RPM and 7 min, and to determine only the difference in the mixing method during the manufacture of the cathode other experiment conditions (mixing time, material input order, etc.) were kept constant. Among the manufactured THINKY mixer LMO (TLMO) and homogenizer LMO (HLMO), HLMO has more uniform particle dispersion than TLMO, and thus shows higher adhesive strength. Also, the result of the electrochemical evaluation reveals that HLMO cathode showed improved performance with a more stable life cycle compared to TLMO. The initial discharge capacity retention rate of HLMO at 69 cycles was 88%, which is about 4.4 times higher than that of TLMO, and in the case of rate capability, HLMO exhibited a better capacity retention even at high C-rates of 10, 15, and 20 C and the capacity recovery at 1 C was higher than that of TLMO. It's postulated that the use of a homogenizer improves the characteristics of the slurry containing the active material, the conductive material, and the polymer binder creating an electrically conductive network formed by uniformly dispersing the conductive material suppressing its strong electrostatic properties thus avoiding aggregation. As a result, surface contact between the active material and the conductive material increases, electrons move more smoothly, changes in lattice volume during charging and discharging are more reversible and contact resistance between the active material and the conductive material is suppressed.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.30-38
• /
• 2013

In this study, a catalyst slurry was prepared with a Pt/C catalyst, Nafion ionomer solution as a binder, an ionic liquid (IL) (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate), deionized water and ethanol as a solvent for the application to polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) at high-temperatures. The effect of the IL in the electrode of each design was investigated by performing a cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurement. Electrodes with different IL distributions inside and on the surface of the catalyst electrode were examined. During the CV test, the electrochemical surface area (ESA) obtained for the Pt/C electrode without ILs gradually decreased owing to three mechanisms: Pt dissolution/redeposition, carbon corrosion, and place exchange. As the IL content increased in the electrode, an ESA decrement was observed because ILs leaked from the Nafion polymer in the electrode. In addition, the CVs under conditions simulating leakage of ILs from the electrode and electrolyte were evaluated. When the ILs leaked from the electrode, minor significant changes in the CV were observed. On the other hand, when the leakage of ILs originated from the electrolyte, the CVs showed different features. It was also observed that the ESA decreased significantly. Thus, leakage of ILs from the polymer electrolyte caused a performance loss for the PEFCs by reducing the ESA. As a result, greater entrapment stability of ILs in the polymer matrix is needed to improve electrode performance.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.1061-1070
• /
• 2018

The main purpose of retaining wall methods for deep excavation is to keep the construction site safe from the earth pressure acting on the backfill during the construction period. Currently used retaining wall methods include the common strut method, anchor method, slurry wall method, and raker method. However, these methods have drawbacks such as reduced workspace and intrusion into private property, and thus, efforts are being made to improve them. The most advanced retaining wall method is the prestressed wale system, so far, in which a load corresponding to the earth pressure is applied to the wale by using the tension of a prestressed (PS) strand wire. This system affords advantages such as providing sufficient workspace by lengthening the strut interval and minimizing intrusion into private properties adjacent to the site. However, this system cannot control the tension of the PS strand wire, and thus, it cannot actively cope with changes in the earth pressure due to excavation. This study conducts a preliminary numerical analysis of the field applicability of the controllable prestressed wale system (CPWS) which can adjust the tension of the PS strand wire. For the analysis, back analysis was conducted through two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) numerical analyses based on the field measurement data of the typical strut method, and then, the field applicability of CPWS was examined by comparing the lateral deflection of the wall and adjacent ground surface settlements under the same conditions. In addition, the displacement and settlement of the wall were predicted through numerical analysis while the prestress force of CPWS was varied, and the structural stability was analysed through load tests on model specimens.

• Tribology and Lubricants
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.56-60
• /
• 2016

Sapphire has a high hardness and strength and chemical stability as a superior material. It is used mainly as a material for a semiconductor as well as LED. Recently, the cover glass industry used by a sapphire is getting a lot of attention. The sapphire substrate is manufactured through ingot sawing, lapping, diamond mechanical polishing (DMP) and chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. DMP is an important process to ensure the surface quality of several nm for CMP process as well as to determine the final form accuracy of the substrate. In DMP process, the material removal is achieved by using the mechanical energy of the relative motion to each other in the state that the diamond slurry is disposed between the sapphire substrate and the polishing platen. The polishing platen is one of the most important factors that determine the material removal characteristics in DMP. Especially, it is known that the geometric characteristics of the polishing platen affects the material removal amount and its distribution. This paper investigated the material removal characteristics and the effects of the polishing platen groove in sapphire DMP. The experiments were preliminarily carried out to evaluate the sapphire material removal characteristics according to process parameters such as pressure, relative velocity and so on. In the experiment, the monitoring apparatus was applied to analyze process phenomena in accordance with the processing conditions. From the experimental results, the correlation was analyzed among process parameters, polishing phenomena and the material removal characteristics. The material removal equation based on phenomenological factors could be derived. And the experiment was followed to investigate the effects of platen groove on material removal characteristics.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.253-257
• /
• 2013

Freeze drying for porous Mo was accomplished by using $MoO_3$ powder as the source and camphor-naphthalene eutectic system as the sublimable material. Eutectic composition of camphor-naphthalene slurries with the initial $MoO_3$ content of 5 vol%, prepared by milling at $55^{\circ}C$ with a small amount of oligomeric dispersant, was frozen at $-25^{\circ}C$. The addition of dispersant showed improvement of dispersion stability in slurries. Pores were generated subsequently by sublimation of the camphor-naphthalene during drying in air for 48 h. To convert the $MoO_3$ to metallic Mo, the green body was hydrogen-reduced at $750^{\circ}C$, and sintered at $1100^{\circ}C$ for 2 h. The sintered samples, frozen by heated Teflon cylinder, showed large pores with the size of about 40 ${\mu}m$ which were aligned parallel to the sublimable vehicles growth direction. The formation of unidirectionally aligned pores is explained by the rejection and accumulation of solid particles in the serrated solid-liquid interface.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.523-539
• /
• 2017

Clay soils are typical for their swelling properties upon absorption of water during rains and development of cracks during summer time owing to the profile desorption of water through the inter-connected soil pores by water vapour diffusion leading to evaporation. This type of unstable soil phenomenon by and large poses a serious threat to the strength and stability of structures when rest on such type of soils. Even as lime and cement are extensively used for stabilization of clay soils it has become imperative to find relatively cheaper alternative materials to bring out the desired properties within the clay soil domain. In the present era of catastrophic environmental degradation as a side effect to modernized manufacturing processes, industrialization and urbanization the creative idea would be treating the waste products in a beneficial way for reuse and recycling. Bottom ash and ecosand are construed as a waste product from cement industry. An optimal combination of bottom ash-eco sand can be thought of as a viable alternative to stabilize the clay soils by means of an effective dispersion dynamics associated with the inter connected network of pore spaces. A CATIA model was created and imported to ANSYS Fluent to study the dispersion dynamics. Ion migration from the bottom ash-ecosand pile was facilitated through natural formation of cracks in clay soil subjected to atmospheric conditions. Treated samples collected at different curing days from inner and outer zones at different depths were tested for, plasticity index, Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), free swell index, water content, Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), pH and ion concentration to show the effectiveness of the method in improving the clay soil.