• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1347-1356
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• 2022

In this paper, we investigate the properties of CoGe thin film-based galvanic cells as a function of their dimension (cell length, width, etc.) and show their application as sensors to Arduino-based IoT sensor networks to detect water contact. Because these CoGe thin film-based galvanic cells do not require mechanical strains or temperature gradients unlike piezoelectric and thermoelectric energy harvesters, we think that these thin film-based galvanic cells are more suitable for self-powered sensor networks demanding sustainable and robust energy harvesters. In the past, a sputter-deposited CoGe thin film has not been intensively investigated for energy harvesting appilcations. Thus, in this study, we perform a feasibility study of galvanic cells composed of a sputter-deposited CoGe thin film to see if they can be applied as potential self-powered sensors. We believe that this paper will be of great help in developing even more enhanced sensor networks.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.277-282
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• 2007

The artificial lightweight aggregate (ALA) was manufactured using coal bottom ashes produced from a thermoelectric power plant with clay and, the sintering temperature and batch composition dependence upon physical properties of ALA were studied. The bottom ash (BA) had 13wt% coarse particle (>4.75mm) and showed very irregular shape so should be crushed to fine particles to be formed with clay by extrusion process. Also the bottom ash contained a many unburned carbon which generates the gas by oxidation and lighten a aggregate during a sintering process. Plastic index of green bodies decreased with increasing bottom ash content but the extrusion forming process was possible for the green body containing BA up to 40wt% whose plastic index and plastic limit were around 10 and 22 respectively. The ALA containing $30{\sim}40wt%$ BA sintered at $1100{\sim}1200^{\circ}C$ showed a volume specific density of $1.3{\sim}1.5$ and water absorption of $13{\sim}15%$ and could be appled for high-rise building and super-long bridge.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.170.1-170.1
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• 2016

$Bi_2Te_3$ has long been studied for its excellent thermoelectric characteristics. Recently, this material has been known as a topological insulator (TI). The surface states within the bulk band gap of a TI, which are protected by the time reversal symmetry, contribute to the conduction at the surface, while the bulk is in insulating state. In contrast to the bulk defects tuning the chemical potential to the Dirac energy, the native defects near the surface are expected not to change the shape of the Fermi surface and the related spin structure. Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we have systematically characterized surface or near surface defects in p- and n- doped $Bi_2Te_3$, and identified their structure by first principles calculations. In addition, bias-polarity dependences of STM images revealed the electron donor/acceptor nature of each defect. A detailed theoretical study of the surface states near the Dirac energy reveals the robustness of the Dirac point, which verifies the effectiveness of the disturbance on the backscattering from various kinds of defects.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.497-501
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• 2010

Nano structure $Bi_2Te_3$ films were deposited on (100) GaAs substrates using a modified MOCVD system and the effect of growth parameters on the structural properties were investigated. Different from conventional MOCVD systems, our reactor consist of pressure control unit and two heating zones ; one for formation of nano-sized particles and the other for the growth of nano particles on substrates. By using this instrument we successfully grow $Bi_2Te_3$ films with nano-grain size. The film grown at high reactor pressure has large grain size. On the contrast, the grain size decreases with a decrease in pressure of the reactor. Here, we introduce new growth methods of nano-grain structured $Bi_2Te_3$ films for high thermoelectric figure of merit.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.615-620
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• 2013

There is considerable interest in developing energy sources capable of larger power densities. In our previous works, we proved that by coupling an exothermic chemical reaction with 1D nanostructures, a self-propagating reactive wave can be driven along its length with a concomitant electrical pulse of high specific power, which we identified as a thermopower wave. Herein, we discuss details about many different aspects of a thermopower wave. Different alignment degree in vertically aligned CNT films is evaluated in the reactive wave speed and correlated with its thermal reaction that affects the change in the magnitude of energy generation. The effects of the temperature-dependent properties of chemical fuels and CNTs are evaluated. Furthermore, we explore the convection and radiation portions in this thermal wave as well as the synchronization between the thermal reaction transfer and the oscillation of the electrical signal.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.580-580
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• 2012

Heterostructures has unique and important properties, which may be helpful for finding many potential applications in the field of electronic, thermoelectric, and optoelectronic devices. We synthesized CdTe/Te core-shell heterostructures by vapor-solid process at low temperatures using a quartz tube furnace. Two step vapor-solid processes were employed. First, various tellurium structures such as nanowires, nanorods, nanoneedles, microtubes and microrods were synthesized under various deposition conditions. These tellurium nanostructures were then used as substrates in the second step to synthesize the CdTe/Te core-shell heterostructures. Using this method, various sizes, shapes and types of CdTe/Te core-shell structures were fabricated under a range of conditions. These structures were analysed by scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The vapor phase process at low temperatures appears to be an efficient method for producing a variety of Cd/Te hetero-nanostructures. In addition, the hetero-nanostructures can be tailored to the needs of specific applications by deliberately controlling the synthetic parameters.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2019

While wood pellets are often used as a fuel in thermoelectric power plants and firewood boilers, there is a risk of ignition temperature when strong wood pellets, which have a high calorific value, for prolonged periods of time. In this research study, the minimum auto ignition temperature and the ignition limitation temperature according to the change in flow rate depending on the size of the test vessel were calculated, and based on these temperatures, the apparent activation energy was calculated to predict the combustive properties of the material. The apparent activation energy was calculated to be 190.224 kJ/mol. The thicker the sample is storage in the vessel, the longer the ignition induction time was due to the increased difficulty in heat being transferred from the surface of the vessel to the middle section area of the vessel. For vessel of the same size, the higher the flow rate, the lower the auto ignition temperature was. It was also confirmed that increases in the size of the test vessel lowered the auto ignition temperature and increased the ignition induction time.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.377-385
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• 2022

Thermal batteries are specialized as primary reserve batteries that operate when the internal heat source is ignited and the produced heat (450~550℃) melts the initially insulating salt into highly conductive eutectic electrolyte. The heat source is composed of Fe powder and KClO₄ with different mass ratios and is inserted in-between the cells (stacks) to allow homogeneous heat transfer and ensure complete melting of the electrolyte. An ideal heat source has following criteria to satisfy: sufficient mechanical durability for stacking, appropriate heat calories, ease of combustion by an igniter, stable combustion rate, and modest peak temperature. To satisfy the aforementioned requirements, Fe powder must have high surface area and porosity to increase the reaction rate. Herein, the hydrothermal and spray drying synthesis techniques for Fe powder samples are employed to investigate the physicochemical properties of Fe powder samples and their applicability as a heat source constituent. The direct comparison with the state-of-the-art Fe powder is made to confirm the validity of synthesized products. Finally, the actual batteries were made with the synthesized iron powder samples to examine their performances during the battery operation.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.363-369
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• 1994

Bimuth telluride base thermoelectrics are prepared by AC current applied hot pressing method. It is possible to minimize the defects arising from the vaporization of Te, thanks to the very short processing time compared to the single crystal growing method. The optimum conditions for the AC applied hot pressing of 95 mol% $Bi_2Te_3-5 mol% Bi_2Se_3$ thermoelectrics are sintering at $400^{\circ}C$, for 2 minutes, under 1500 kgf/$\textrm{cm}^2$, with the particle size of $125 to 250 {\mu}m$, range of powder. The resultant Z value (figure of merit) was $2.2{\times}10^{-3}/K$.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.283-290
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• 2009

Differently from fly ash, the bottom ash produced from thermoelectric power plant has been treated as an industrial waste matter, and almost reclaimed a tract from the sea. If this waste material is applicable to foam concrete as an aggregate owing to its light-weight, however, it may be worthy of environmental preservation by recycling of waste material as well as reducing self-weight of high-rising structure and horizontal forces and deformations of retaining wall subject to soil pressure. This study has an objective of evaluating the effects of application of bottom ash on the mechanical properties of foam concrete. Thus, the ratio of bottom ash to cement was selected as a variable for experiment and the effect was measured in terms of unit weight of concrete, air content, water-cement ratio and compressive strength. It can be observed from experiments that the application ratios have different effects on the material parameters considered in this experiment, thus major relationships between application ratio and each material parameter were finally introduced. The result of this study can be applied to decide a mix design proportion of foam concrete while bottom ash is used as an aggregate of the concrete.