The theoretical capacity of silicon-based anode materials is more than 10 times higher than the capacity of graphite, so silicon can be used as an alternative to graphite anode materials. However, silicon has a much higher contraction and expansion rate due to lithiation of the anode material during the charge and discharge processes, compared to graphite anode materials, resulting in the pulverization of silicon particles during repeated charge and discharge. To compensate for the above issues, there is a growing interest in SiOx materials with a silica or carbon coating to minimize the expansion of the silicon. In this study, spherical silica (SiO2) was synthesized using TEOS as a starting material for the fabrication of such SiOx through heating in a reduction atmosphere. SiOx powder was produced by adding PVA as a carbon source and inducing the reduction of silica by the carbothermal reduction method. The ratio of TEOS to distilled water, the stirring time, and the amount of PVA added were adjusted to induce size and morphology, resulting in uniform nanosized spherical silica particles. For the reduction of the spherical monodisperse silica particles, a nitrogen gas atmosphere mixed with 5 % hydrogen was applied, and oxygen atoms in the silica were selectively removed by the carbothermal reduction method. The produced SiOx powder was characterized by FE-SEM to examine the morphology and size changes of the particles, and XPS and FT-IR were used to examine the x value (O/Si ratio) of the synthesized SiOx.

Macro-porous carbon foams are fabricated using cured spherical phenolic resin particles as a matrix and furfuryl alcohol as a binder through a simple casting molding. Different sizes of the phenolic resin particles from 100– 450 μm are used to control the pore size and structure. Ethylene glycol is additionally added as a pore-forming agent and oxalic acid is used as an initiator for polymerization of furfuryl alcohol. The polymerization is performed in two steps; at 80oC and 200oC in an ambient atmosphere. The carbonization of the cured body is performed under Nitrogen gas flow (0.8 L/min) at 800oC for 1 h. Shrinkage rate and residual carbon content are measured by size and weight change after carbonization. The pore structures are observed by both electron and optical microscope and compared with the porosity results achieved by the Archimedes method. The porosity is similar regardless of the size of the phenolic resin particles. On the other hand, the pore size increases in proportion to the phenol resin size, which indicates that the pore structure can be controlled by changing the raw material particle size.

One of the greatest challenges for our society is providing powerful electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells are among the most promising candidates in terms of energy and power density. As the starting material, TiCl4·YCl3 solution and dispersing agent (HCP) were mixed and synthesized using ammonia as the precipitation agent, in order to prepare the nano size Y doped spherical TiO2 precursor. Then, the Li4Ti5O12 was synthesized using solid state reaction method through the stoichiometric mixture of Y doped spherical TiO2 precursor and LiOH. The Ti mole increased the concentration of the spherical particle size due to the addition of HPC with a similar particle size distribution in a well in which Li4Ti5O12 spherical particles could be obtained. The optimal synthesis conditions and the molar ratio of the Ti 0.05 mol reaction at 50˚C for 30 minutes and at 850˚C for 6 hours heat treatment time were optimized. Li4Ti5O12 was prepared by the above conditions as a working electrode after generating the Coin cell; then, electrochemical properties were evaluated when the voltage range of 1.5V was flat, the initial capacity was 141 mAh/g, and cycle retention rate was 86%; also, redox reactions between 1.5 and 1.7V, which arose from the insertion and deintercalation of 0.005 mole of Y doping is not a case of doping because the C-rate characteristics were significantly better.

Hybrid atomization is a new atomization technique that combines gas atomization with centrifugal atomization. This process can produce fine, spherical powders economically with a mean size of about 10 m diameter and a tight size distribution.

Ag powder was prepared from by wet chemical reduction method using various reduction agent system involving , (AgCl) and Ag complex ion aqueous solution. The pure Ag powder could be prepared regardless of reaction system but the particle shape and distribution were affected very much according to the kind of reduction agents and reaction systems. The optimum reaction system for the preparation of the silver powder having the uniform particle shape and size distribution was Ag complex ion aqueous solution-reduction agent system and in particular, and as a reduction agent leaded the more uniform particle shape and size distribution

Submicron nickel powders were prepared from aqueous solution under hydrothermal condition. The experimental conditions including the types of protective agents, concentration of the solution and the pH were studied in detail. Starting concentration of nickel ion is a dominant factor affecting particle size. It was shown that the subsequent addition of Poly Vinyl Pyrrolidone(PVP) and Sodium Dodecyle Sulfate(SDS) can help to disperse the nickel powder. X-ray diffraction and SEM were employed to characterize the products.

Spark-Plasma Sintering(SPS) is one of the new sintering methods which takes advantages both inconventional pressure sintering and electric current sintering. It is known that SPS is very effective for the densification of hard-to-sinter materials like refractory metals, intermetallic compounds, glass and ceramics without grain growth. However, a clear explanation for sintering mechanism and an experimental evidence for the formation of weak plasma during SPS are not given yet. In this study, fundamental study on sintering behavior and mechanism of SPS was investiged. For this study, various spherical Fe powders were prepared such as as-received, as-reduced, and as-oxidized and then sintered by SPS facility. In order to confirm the surface cleaning effect during SPS neck region and fracture surface of sintered body was observed and analyzed by SEM/EPMA. Densification behavior was analyzed from the data of deflection along the pressure axis. Some specimens were additionally produced by Hot Pressing and the results were compared with those of SPS.