• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2020

In this study, the side reactions that greatly affect the coulombic efficiency of a zinc-air secondary battery are quantitatively analyzed on the basis of the charging-discharging characteristics, open circuit self-discharge characteristics, and a series of calculations. In particular, the charge amounts consumed by water electrolysis and self-discharge during charging process are separately determined so that the charging efficiency (the amount of charge used in actual charging with respect to the applied charge amount) can be estimated, which would enable systematic understanding of the cause of coulombic efficiency degradation. Using two cells with different charging overvoltages, the validity of the proposed method can be assessed.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.401-409
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• 2021

The combination of different concentrations of ZnSO₄ in acidic solution as electrolyte in Zn-air batteries was investigated by Zn symmetrical cell test, half-cell and full cell tests. Using 1 M ZnSO₄ + 0.05 M H₂SO₄ as electrolyte and MnO₂ as air cathode catalyst with Zn foil anode, this combination had a satisfactory performance with balance of electrochemical activity and stability. Its electrochemical activity was matched to or even better than the PtRu catalyst in different current density. And its cycle life was improved (more than 100 cycles stable) by suppressing the growth of zinc dendrites on anode obviously. This electrolyte overcame the shortcomings of alkaline electrolyte that are easy to react with CO₂ in the air, severely growth of Zn dendrites caused by uneven plating/stripping of Zn.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.68 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2024

The commercialization of rechargeable metal-air batteries is extremely desirable but designing stable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts with non-noble metal still has faced challenges to replace platinum-based catalysts. The nonnoble metal catalysts for ORR were prepared to improve the catalytic performance and stability by the thermal decomposition of ZIF-8 with optimum cobalt loading. The porous carbon was obtained by the calcination of ZIF-8 and different loading amounts of Co nanoparticles were anchored onto porous carbon forming a Co/PC catalyst. Co/PC composite shows a significant increase in the ORR value of current and stability (500 h) due to the good electronic conductive PCN support and optimum cobalt metal loading. The significantly improved catalytic performance is ascribed to the chemical structure, synergistic effects, porous carbon networks, and rich active sites. This method develops a new pathway for a highly active and advantageous catalyst for electrochemical devices.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.342-348
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• 2009

Zn/Air secondary batteries are high energy density type and environment-friendly. Also, they have safer properties than batteries of other type by low manufacturing cost and using the electrolyte solution. But, they have a weak concerning large output discharge. Oxygen evolution reaction(OER) and oxgen reduction reaction(ORR) in aqueous solution make a result of a decrease of cell efficiency and life span. Therefore, to minimize the voltage drop from between OCV and charge/discharge voltage is key point. The problem should be solved through developing catalysts of high efficiency. In this study, we synthesized $Pr_{1-x}(Sr,\;Ca)_x\;CoO_3$ powders by citric method and then measured physical characteristics of each powder by XRD, SEM, TGA etc. We examined its electrochemical properties by the cathodic polarization, anodic polarization and cyclic voltammogram. We achieved results that new catalysts showed better performances than existing $La_{1-x}Sr_xCoO_3$, $La_{1-x}Ca_xCoO_3$, ect. catalysts prepared in our lab.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.16-25
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• 2012

There are several kinds of batteries such as zinc-air battery, lithium battery, Manganese dry battery, silver oxide battery, sodium-sulphur battery, lead acid battery, metal hydride secondary battery, nickel-cadmium battery, lithium ion battery, alkaline battery, etc. These days it has been widely studied for the recycling technologies of the used battery from view points of economy and efficiency. In this paper, patents and published papers on the recycling technologies of the used battery were analyzed. The range of search was limited in the open patents of USA (US), European Union (EU), Japan (JP), Korea (KR) and SCI journal articles from 1972 to 2011. Patents and journal articles were collected using key-words searching and filtered by filtering criteria. The trends of the patents and journal articles were analyzed by the years, countries, companies, and technologies.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.95-103
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• 1991

For the purpose of estimating the working environment and the relationship between the airborne lead concentration and the ZPP level in the whole blood of the workers, the airborne lead concentrations and the ZPP level were measured at the 26 plants which deal with lead, from October 5 to November 5 in 1988. Analysis of the airborne lead concentration was performed by NIOSH Method 7082, and the ZPP level was measured by a hematofluorometer. The following results are concluded. 1. The average airborne lead concentration of the lead battery manufactures is 0.025mg/m$^{3}$ and that of the secondary lead smelters is 0.023mg/m$^{3}$. There were no significant differences between industry (p>0.1) 2. At the lead battery manufacture, the process of lead powder production showed the highest concentration of 0.034mg/m$^{3}$ but there were no significant differences among the processes (p>0.1). At the secondary lead smelter, the process of dismantling waste batteries showed the highest concentration 0.141mg/m$^{3}$, and there were very significant differences among the processes (p<0.005). 3. The ZPP level in the whole blood showed significant differences between industry (p<0.10). The average ZPP level of the lead battery manufactures is 133.0 + 106.3 $\mu$g/100ml and that of the secondary lead smelters is 149.6 + 110.9 $\mu$g/100ml. 4. The correlation coefficients between the airborne lead concantration and ZPP level were 0. 426 (p<0.001) for the lead battery manufactures and 0.484 (p<0.001) for the secondary lead smelters. The correlation coefficients between the work duration (in months) and the ZPP level were 0.238 (p<0.001) for the lead battery mannfactures and 0.075 (p>0.10) for the secondary lead smelters. 5. The linear regression equation, with the airborne lead concentration as an independent variable and the ZPP level as a dependent variable, is Y=96.84+1300.34X (r=0.448, p<0.001) for the 26 plants which deal with lead. The linear regression equation, with the work duration(in months) as an independent variable and the ZPP level as a dependent variable, is Y=127.28 +0.49X (r=0.162, p<0.05). 6. The correlation coefficients between the amount of inhaled lead and ZPP level were 0.349 (p < 0.001) for the lead battery manufactures and 0.318(p<0.001) for the secondary lead smeltes. The linear regression equation for the 26 plants surveyed, with the amount of inhaled lead as an independent variable and ZPP level as a dependent variable, is Y=123.63+18.82X (r=0. 335, p<0.001).