• KIEE International Transactions on Electrophysics and Applications
• /
• v.11C no.3
• /
• pp.70-74
• /
• 2001

Admittance or impedance spectroscopy is one of the powerful tools to study dielectric relaxation and loss processes in organic and inorganic materials. In this study, the frequency dependent properties of an indium tin oxide/tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum($Alq_3$)/aluminum structure have been studied. The conductance of the $Alq_3$ film increases with the DC applied voltage up to 4V and decreases above 4V in the low frequency region. This indicates that the resistance of the device decreases with the applied bias due to the carrier injection enhancement, thereafter the injected carriers form the space charge and the additional injection of carriers is prevented. The Cole-Cole plot of the admittance takes a one-semicircle shape, which means that the device can be modeled as a parallel resistor-capacitor network. The resistance and capacitance were estimated as 8.62k${\Omega}$ and 2.7nF, respectively, at 3V in the low frequency region. The dielectric constant ( ${\epsilon}'$ ) of the $Alq_3$ film is independent of the frequency in the low frequency region below 100kHz, while the frequency dependency was observed at above 100kHz. The dielectric loss factor ( ${\epsilon}"$ ) of the $Alq_3$ film shows the dielectric dispersion below 100kHz and dielectric absorption in higher frequency domain. The dispersion is thought to be related to the hopping process of the carriers. The ${\epsilon}"$ is proportional to the reciprocal of the frequency. The dielectric relaxation time was extracted to about 0.318${\mu}s$ from the dielectric absorption spectrum.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.137-142
• /
• 2015

$Mn_{1+X}Co_{2-X}O_4$ solid solutions with various Mn/Co ratios were synthesized by a combustion method, and used as cathode catalysts for lithium/air secondary battery. Their electrochemical and physicochemical properties were investigated. The morphology was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the crystallinity was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. For the measurement of electrochemical properties, charge and discharge measurements were carried out at a constant current density of $0.2mA/cm^2$, monitoring the voltage change. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyses were also employed to examine the change in charge transfer resistance during charge-discharge process. $Mn_{1+X}Co_{2-X}O_4$ solid solutions showed enhanced cycleability as a cathode of Li/air secondary battery, and the performance was found to be strongly dependent on Mn/Co ratio. Among synthesized catalysts, $Mn_{1.5}Co_{1.5}O_4$ exhibited the best performance and cycleability, due to high charge transfer rate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2006.12a
• /
• pp.48-52
• /
• 2006

Phospho-olivine $LiFePO_4$ cathode materials were prepared by hydrothermal reaction. Carbon black was added to enhance the electrical conductivity' of $LiFePO_4$. The structural and morphological performance of $LiFePO_4$ and $LiFePO_4$-C powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). $LiFePO_4$/Li and $LiFePO_4-C$/Li cells were characterized electrochemically by cyclic voltammogram (CV), charge/discharge experiments and ac impedance spectroscopy. The results showed that the discharge capacity of $LiFePO_4$/Li cell was 147 mAh/g at the first cycle and 118 mAh/g after 30 cycles, respectively. The discharge capacity of $LiFePO_4-C$/Li cell with 5wt% carbon black was the largest among $LiFePO_4-C$/Li cells, 133 mAh/g at the first cycle and 128 mAh/g after 30 cycles, respectively. It was demonstrated that cycling performance of $LiFePO_4-C$/Li cell with 5wt% carbon black was better than that of $LiFePO_4$/Li cell.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2010.02a
• /
• pp.277-277
• /
• 2010

The capacity of the carbonaceous materials reached ca. $350\;mAhg^{-1}$ which is close to theorestical value of the carbon intercalation composition $LiC_6$, resulting in a relatively low volumetric Li capacity. Notwithstanding the capacities of carbon, it will not adjust well to the need so future devices. Silicon shows the highest gravimetric capacities (up to $4000\;mAhg^{-1}$ for $Li_{21}Si_5$). Although Si is the most promising of the next generation anodes, it undergoes a large volume change during lithium insertion and extraction. It results in pulverization of the Si and loss of electrical contact between the Si and the current collector during the lithiation and delithiation. Thus, its capacity fades rapidly during cycling. We focused on electrode materials in the multiphase form which were composed of two metal compounds to reduce the volume change in material design. A combination of electrochemically amorphous active material in an inert matrix (Si-M) has been investigated for use as negative electrode materials in lithium ion batteries. The matrix composited of Si-M alloys system that; active material (Si)-inactive material (M) with Li; M is a transition metal that does not alloy with Li with Li such as Ti, V or Mo. We fabricated and tested a broad range of Si-M compositions. The electrodes were sputter-deposited on rough Cu foil. Electrochemical, structural, and compositional characterization was performed using various techniques. The structure of Si-M alloys was investigated using X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Surface morphologies of the electrodes are observed using a field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The electrochemical properties of the electrodes are studied using the cycling test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). It is found that the capacity is strongly dependent on Si content and cycle retention is also changed according to M contents. It may be beneficial to find materials with high capacity, low irreversible capacity and that do not pulverize, and that combine Si-M to improve capacity retention.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2006.06a
• /
• pp.51-54
• /
• 2006

Cathode material, $(Ba_{0.5}Sr_{0.5})_{0.99}Co_{0.8}Fe_{0.2}O_{3-{\delta}}$, for low temperature SOFC was prepared by the glycine-nitrate synthesis process (GNP). The characteristics of the synthesized powders were studied with controlling pH of a precursor. The synthesis BSCF powders with pH were agglomeration state and calcinations temperature has not influence on particles. Highly acidicprecursor solution increased a single phase forming the temperature. Also, synthesis BSCF powder was show result for thermal analysis and alteration of difference crystal with pH. It is considered that Ba and Sr cannot complex by carboxylic acid group of glycine, because under highly acidic condition the caboxylic group mainly combined with $H^+$ insead of alkali and alkaline earth cations. In case of using precursor solution with pH $2{\sim}3$, a single perovskite phase was obtained at $1000^{\circ}C$. Polarization resistance of $(Ba_{0.5}Sr_{0.5})_{0.99}Co_{0.8}Fe_{0.2}O_{3-{\delta}}$ was measured by AC impedance spectroscopy from the two electrode symmetric cell. Area specific resistance of the $(Ba_{0.5}Sr_{0.5})_{0.99}Co_{0.8}Fe_{0.2}O_{3-{\delta}}$ air electrode at $500^{\circ}C\;and\;600^{\circ}C$ were $0.96{\Omega}?cm^2$ and $0.16{\Omega}?cm^2$, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.82-88
• /
• 2011

A uniform chromium-free conversion coating treated with an alkaline phosphate- permanganate solution was formed on the AZ 31 magnesium alloy. The effect of acid pickling on the morphology and on the corrosion resistance of the alkaline phosphate-permanganate conversion coating was investigated. The chemical composition and phase structure of conversion coating layer were determined via optical microscopy, SEM, EDS, XPS and XRD. Results show that the conversion coatings are relatively uniform and continuous, with thickness 1.8 to $2.4\;{\mu}m$. The alkaline phosphate-permanganate conversion coating was mainly composed of elements Mg, O, P, Al and Mn. The conversion-coated layers were stable compounds of magnesium oxide and spinel ($MgAl_2O_4$). These compounds were excellent inhibitors to corrosion. The electrochemical corrosion behaviors of coatings in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solutions were evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization technique. EIS results showed a polarization resistance of $0.1\;k{\Omega}$ for the untreated Mg and $16\;k{\Omega}$ for the alkaline phosphate-permanganate conversion treatment sample, giving an improvement of about 160 times. The results of the electrochemical measurements demonstrated that the corrosion resistance of the AZ 31 magnesium alloy was improved by the alkaline phosphate-permanganate conversion treatment.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.159-163
• /
• 2012

A TCO-less ruthenium (Ru) catalytic layer on glass substrate instead of conventional Ru/TCO/ glass substrate was assessed as counter electrode (CE) material in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by examining the effect of the Ru thickness on the DSSC performance. Ru films with different thicknesses (34, 46, 69, and 90 nm) were deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on glass substrates to replace both existing catalyst and electrode layer. In order to make our comparison, we also prepared an Ru catalytic layer by a similar method on FTO/glass substrate. Finally, we prepared the $0.45cm^2$ DSSC device the properties of the DSSCs were examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV), impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and current-voltage (I-V) method. CV measurements revealed an increase in catalytic activity with increasing film thickness. The charge transfer resistance at the interface between the electrolyte and Rudecreased with increasing Ru thickness. I-V results showed that the energy conversion efficiency increased up to 1.96%. Our results imply that TCO-less Ru/glass might perform as both catalyst and electrode layer when it is used in counter electrodes in DSSCs.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.276-280
• /
• 2019

In this study, we investigated the crystal defects and grain boundary properties in a ZZCCC ($ZnO-Zn_2BiVO_6-Co_3O_4-Cr_2O_3-CaCO_3$) varistor, with the liquid-phase sintering aid $Zn_2BiVO_6$ developed by our laboratory. The ZZCCC varistor sintered at $1,200^{\circ}C$ exhibited excellent nonlinear current-voltage characteristics (${\alpha}=63$), with oxygen vacancy ($V_o^*$ ; 0.35 eV) as a main defect, and an apparent activation energy of 1.1 eV with an electrically single grain boundary. Therefore, among the various additives to improve the electrical properties of ZnO varistors, if $Zn_2BiVO_6$ is used as a liquid phase sintering aid, it will be ideal to use Co for the oxygen vacancy and Ca for the electrically single grain boundary. This will allow the good properties of ZnO varistors to be maintained up to high sintering temperatures.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.22-28
• /
• 2019

To maximize the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in the electrolysis of water, nano-grade $IrO_2$ powder with a low specific surface was prepared as a catalyst for a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) system, and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) was prepared with a catalyst loading as low as $2mg\;cm^{-2}$ or less. The $IrO_2$ catalyst was composed of heterogeneous particles with particle sizes ranging from 20 to 70 nm, having a specific surface area of $3.8m^2g^{-1}$. The anode catalyst layer of about $5{\mu}m$ thickness was coated on the membrane (Nafion 117) for the MEA by the decal method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) confirmed strong adhesion at the interface between the membrane and the catalyst electrode. Although the loading of the $IrO_2$ catalyst was as low as $1.1-1.7mg\;cm^{-2}$, the SPE cell delivered a voltage of 1.88-1.93 V at a current density of $1A\;cm^{-2}$ and operating temperature of $80^{\circ}C$. That is, it was observed that the over-potential of the cell for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) decreased with increasing $IrO_2$ catalyst loading. The electrochemical stability of the MEA was investigated in the electrolysis of water at a current density of $1A\;cm^{-2}$ for a short time. A voltage of ~2.0 V was maintained without any remarkable deterioration of the MEA characteristics.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.57 no.5
• /
• pp.606-610
• /
• 2019

In this study, we demonstrated that the nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on the flexible carbon fiber bundle electrode with BDD nanocomposites (CF-BDD electrode). As a nano seeding method for the deposition of BDD on flexible carbon fiber, electrostatic self-assembly technique was employed. Surface morphology of BDD coated carbon fiber electrode was observed by scanning electron microscopy. And the electrochemical characteristics were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry. This CF-BDD electrode exhibited a large surface area, a direct electron transfer between the redox species and the electrode surface and a high catalytic activity, resulting in a wider linear range (3.75~50 mM), a faster response time (within 3 s) and a higher sensitivity (388.8 nA/mM) in comparison to a bare CF electrode. As a durable and flexible electrochemical sensing electrode, this brand new CF-BDD scheme has promising advantages on various electrochemical and wearable sensor applications.