The microstructures and cyclic voltammograms of Al-Si/C nano-composites were investigated as the anode of lithium ion batteries. Al-Si nanoparticles were prepared by the arc-discharge method. Al-Si/C nanoparticles were obtained by coated Al-Si nanoparticles with the precursor of glucose (C6H12O6) as carbon source. It was indicated that the post carbon coating treatment can reduce Al2O3 film on Al-Si particles, and new phase Al4C3 formed in the process can activate the inactivated materials of electrode in a certain extent.

Activated carbons (ACs) were prepared by activation of coal tar pitch (CTP) in the range of 700°C-1000°C for 1-4 h using potassium hydroxide (KOH) powder as the activation agent. The optimal activation conditions were determined to be a CTP/KOH ratio of 1:4, activation temperature of 900°C, and activation time of 3 h. The obtained ACs showed increased pore size distribution in the range of 1 to 2 nm and the highest specific capacitance of 122 F/g in a two-electrode system with an organic electrolyte, as measured by a charge-discharge method in the voltage range of 0-2.7 V. In order to improve the performance of the electric double-layer capacitor electrode, various mixtures of CTP and petroleum pitch (PP) were activated at the optimal activation conditions previously determined for CTP. Although the specific capacitance of AC electrodes prepared from CTP only and the mixtures of CTP and PP was not significantly different at a current density of 1 A/g, the AC electrodes from CTP and PP mixtures showed outstanding specific capacitance at higher current rates. In particular, CTP-PP61 (6:1 mixture) had the highest specific capacitance of 132 F/g, and the specific capacitance remained above 90% at a high current density of 3 A/g. It was found that the high specific capacitance could be attributed to the increased micro-pore volume of ACs with pore sizes from 1 to 2 nm, and the high power density could be attributed to the increased meso-pore volume.

A series of high capacity soft carbons with different phosphorus contents were successfully prepared by carbonizing petroleum cokes treated with hypophosphorous acid at 900˚C. The effect of phosphorus content on the electrochemical performance of the soft carbons was extensively investigated. The P-doped soft carbons exhibited greatly enhanced discharge capacities and outstanding rate capabilities with increasing phosphorus content. In addition, the influence of temperature on the electrochemical behaviors of the soft carbons was investigated in a wide temperature range of 25˚C to 50˚C. Surprisingly, the electrochemical properties of the pristine and P-doped soft carbons were highly sensitive to the operating temperature, unlike conventional graphite. The pristine and P-doped soft carbons exhibited significantly high discharge capacities of 470 and 522 mAh/g, respectively, at a high temperature of 50˚C.

Commercial activated-carbon used as the electrode material of an electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) was posttreated with various acids and alkalis to increase its capacitance. The carbon samples prepared were then heat-treated in order to control the amount of acidic functional groups formed by the acid treatments. Coin-type EDLC cells with two symmetric carbon electrodes were assembled using the prepared carbon materials and an organic electrolyte. The electrochemical performance of the EDLC was measured by galvanostatic charge-discharge, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Among the various activated carbons, the carbon electrodes (CSsb800) prepared by the treatments of coconutshell-based carbon activated with NaOH and H3BO5, and then heat treated at 800˚C under a flow of nitrogen gas, showed relatively good electrochemical performance. Although the specific-surface-area of the carbon-electrode material (1,096m2/g) was less than that of pristine activated-carbon (1,122m2/g), the meso-pore volume increased after the combined chemical and heat treatments. The specific capacitance of the EDLC increased from 59.6 to 74.8 F/g (26%) after those post treatments. The equivalent series resistance of EDLC using CSsb800 as electrode was much lower than that of EDLC using pristine activated carbon. Therefore, CSsb800 exhibited superior electrochemical performance at high scan rates due to its low internal resistance.

In this work, iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were deposited on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) by a simple chemical coprecipitation method and Fe3O4-decorated MWNTs (Fe-MWNTs)/polypyrrole (PPy) nanocomposites (Fe-MWNTs/PPy) were prepared by oxidation polymerization. The effect of the PPy on the electrochemical properties of the Fe-MWNTs was investigated. The structures characteristics and surface properties of MWNTs, Fe-MWNTs, and Fe-MWNTs/PPy were characterized by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The electrochemical performances of MWNTs, Fe-MWNTs, and Fe-MWNTs/PPy were determined by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge characteristics in a 1.0 M sodium sulfite electrolyte. The results showed that the Fe-MWNTs/PPy electrode had typical pseudo-capacitive behavior and a specific capacitance significantly greater than that of the Fe-MWNT electrode, indicating an enhanced electrochemical performance of the Fe-MWNTs/PPy due to their high electrical properties.

Mass production-capable powder was synthesized for use as cathode material in state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are main powder sources for high tech-end digital electronic equipments and electric vehicles in the near future and they must possess high specific capacity and durable charge-discharge characteristics. Amorphous silicone was quite superior to crystalline one as starting material to fabricate silicone oxide with high reactivity between precursors of sol-gel type reaction intermediates. The amorphous silicone starting material also has beneficial effect of efficiently controlling secondary phases, most notably . Lastly, carbon was coated on powders by using sucrose to afford some improved electrical conductivity. The carbon-coated cathode material was further characterized using SEM, XRD, and galvanostatic charge/discharge test method for morphological and electrochemical examinations. Coin cell was subject to 1.5-4.8 V at C/20, where 74 mAh/g was observed during primary discharge cycle.

The electrochemical properties of electric double layer capacitor(EDLC) was studied by controlling pore size distribution and specific surface area of the activated carbon fiber(ACF). The mesoporous ACF, which was prepared by the iron exchange method, showed the tendency of increasing average pore size and decreasing total surface area. The mesoporous ACF (surface area = 2225 m2/g, pore size=1.93 nm) showed increased mesopore(pore size=1~3nm) volume from 0.055 cc/g to 0.408 cc/g compared to its raw ACF. The charging capacity of the EDLC which uses the prepared mesoporous ACF also increased from 0.39 F/cm2 to 0.55 F/cm2. From these results, it can be known that the electrochemical properties of EDLC are mainly dependent on the specific surface area, but above the surface area 2200 m2/g, it is the mesopore volume that affects the performance of the capacitor considerably. Because the increased mesopore volume results in a decreased ion mobility resistance, the charge capacitance is enhanced.

Carbon/silicon composites were synthesized by mixing silicon powders with petroleum pitch and subsequent heat-treatment. The resultant composites were composed of carbon and nano-size crystalline silicon identified by XRD and EDX. FIB images and SEM images were taken respectively to detect the existence of silicon impregnated in carbon and the distribution of silicon on the carbon surface. The obtained carbon/silicon materials were assembled as half cell anodes for lithium ion secondary battery and their electrochemical properties were tested. The pitch/silicon composite (3 : 1 wt. ratio) heat treated at 1000℃ and mixed with 55.5 wt.% of graphite showed relatively good electrochemical properties such as the initial efficiency of 78%, the initial discharge capacity of 605 mAh/g, and the discharge capacity of 500 mAh/g after 20 cycles.

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell technology uses powder processes to produce electrodes with residual porosity by partially sintering a mixture of electronically and ionically conducting particles. We model porous fuel cell electrodes with 3D packings of monosized spherical particles. These packings are created by numerical sintering. Each particle-particle contact is characteristic for an ionic, electronic or electrochemical resistance. The numerical packing is then discretized into a resistor network which is solved by using Kirchhoff's current law to evaluate the electrode's electrochemical performance. We investigate in particular percolation effects in functionally graded electrodes as compared to other types of electrodes.

시멘트 대체 재료로서 플라이애쉬의 사용은 시멘트 생산비용을 절감시키는 효과를 창출하였다. 반면에 플라이애쉬 혼입콘크리트는 OPC에 비해 상대적으로 긴 양생시간과 초기강도의 발현 저하를 들 수 있어 이의 해결을 위해 물리적 방법, 온도 및 화학적 방법 등과 같은 다양한 활성화 기술의 적용을 통하여 플라이애쉬 혼입 콘크리트의 수화를 가속시킬 수 있고, 콘크리트의 부식 저항성을 향상시킬 수가 있다. 본 연구에서는 10～40%의 치환률을 가진 활성화된 플라이애쉬 시편을 통해 개방 회로형 전위측정(Open circuit potential measurement)을 수행하였고, 투수시험, 급속염화물침투시험 및 SEM(Scanning electron microscopy)촬영을 통해 OPC 콘크리트와 비교․분석 하였다. 또한, 치환률의 임계범위 20～30%의 경우에 있어서 활성화된 플라이애쉬를 사용한 콘크리트가 열화저항성에 있어서 개선효과가 나타나고 있음을 확인하였다. 또한 플라이애쉬를 화학적으로 활성화시킨 경우가 본 연구에서 수행된 다른 활성화 방법들에 비해 더욱 좋은 결과를 나타나고 있음도 확인하였다.