The relationship between CO2 emissions and economic growth: The case of Korea with nonlinear evidence

Using STAR models, we investigate the nonlinear dynamic properties and the interdependence of CO₂ emissions and economic growth for Korea. The estimation results indicate that the growth rate of both CO₂ emissions and industrial production exhibit a significant nonlinear asymmetric dynamics. While the linear Granger causality test finds no causality in any direction, the results of the nonlinear Granger causality tests show a two-way causality between CO₂ emissions and economic growth. The strong mutual causation between CO₂ emissions and economic activities indicates that the economic impact from CO₂ mitigation is expected to be higher in Korea. This suggests that the appropriate energy and environmental policy be to mitigate CO₂ emissions while having less impact on the economy.     

Improved Viewing Quality of 3‐D Images in Computational Integral Imaging Reconstruction Based on Round Mapping Model

In this paper, we propose a computational integral imaging reconstruction (CIIR) method using a round mapping model to improve the viewing quality of 3‐D images. The proposed CIIR method can overcome the problem of non‐uniformly reconstructed images caused by the conventional method. To show the usefulness of proposed method, some experiments are carried out and the results are presented.     

A 3-Fluoropyridine Manipulating the Aggregation and Fibril Network of Donor Polymers for Eco-Friendly Solution-Processed Versatile Organic Solar Cells

The development of eco-friendly solvent-processed organic solar cells (OSCs) suitable for industrial-scale production should be now considered the imperative research. Herein, asymmetric 3-fluoropyridine (FPy) unit is used to control the aggregation and fibril network of polymer blends. Notably, terpolymer PM6(FPy = 0.2) incorporating 20% FPy in a well-known donor polymer poly[(2,6-(4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl-3-fluoro)thiophen-2-yl)-benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b’]dithiophene))-alt-(5,5-(1’,3’-di-2-thienyl-5’,7’-bis(2-ethylhexyl)benzo[1’,2’-c:4’,5’-c’]dithiophene-4,8-dione)] (PM6) can reduce the regioregularity of the polymer backbone and endow them with much-enhanced solubility in eco-friendly solvents. Accordingly, the excellent adaptability for fabricating versatile devices based on PM6(FPy = 0.2) by toluene processing is demonstrated. The resulting OSCs exhibit a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 16.1% (17.0% by processed with chloroform) and low batch-to-batch variation. Moreover, by controlling the donor-to-acceptor weight ratio at 0.5:1.0 and 0.25:1.0, semi-transparent OSCs (ST-OSCs) yield significant light utilization efficiencies of 3.61% and 3.67%, respectively. For large-area (1.0 cm²) indoor OSC (I-OSC), a high PCE of 20.6% is achieved with an appropriate energy loss of 0.61 eV under a warm white light-emitting diode (3,000 K) with the illumination of 958 lux. Finally, the long-term stability of the devices is evaluated by investigating their structure–performance–stability relationship. This work provides an effective approach to realizing eco-friendly, efficient, and stable OSCs/ST-OSCs/I-OSCs.     

Physicochemically Interlocked Sulfur Covalent Triazine Framework for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries with Exceptional Longevity

An electronically conjugated functional triazine framework is used to synthesize a physicochemically interlocked sulfur cathode that delivers high energy density coupled with exceptional cycle life in lithium-sulfur batteries. Conventional melt-diffusion strategies to impregnate sulfur in the cathode offer poor cycle life due to physical mixing with weak interactions. By contrast, in this approach, sulfur is physicochemically entrapped within a nanoporous and heteroatom doped high surface area covalent triazine framework, resulting in outstanding electrochemical performance (≈89% capacity retention after 1000 cycles, the energy density of ≈2,022 Wh kg⁻¹_sulfur and high-rate capability up to 12 C). The overall structural characteristics and interactions of sulfur with the covalent triazine framework are explored in detail to explain the intriguing properties of the sulfur cathode.     

Insights into Electrode Architectures and Lithium-Ion Transport in Polycrystalline V2O5 Cathodes of Solid-State Batteries

Polymer-based solid-state batteries (SSBs) have received increasing attentions due to the absence of interfacial problems in sulfide/oxide-type SSBs, but the lower oxidation potential of polymer-based electrolytes greatly limits the application of conventional high-voltage cathode such as LiNi_xCo_yMn_zO₂ (NCM) and lithium-rich NCM. Herein, this study reports on a lithium-free V₂O₅ cathode that enables the applications of polymer-based solid-state electrolyte (SSE) with high energy density due to the microstructured transport channels and suitable operational voltage. Using a synergistic combination of structural inspection and non-destructive X-ray computed tomography (X-CT), it interprets the chemo–mechanical behavior that determines the electrochemical performance of the V₂O₅ cathode. Through detailed kinetic analyses such as differential capacity and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT), it is elucidated that the hierarchical V₂O₅ constructed through microstructural engineering exhibits smaller electrochemical polarization and faster Li-ion diffusion rates in polymer-based SSBs than those in the liquid lithium batteries (LLBs). By the hierarchical ion transport channels created by the nanoparticles against each other, superior cycling stability (≈91.7% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 1 C) is achieved at 60 °C in polyoxyethylene (PEO)-based SSBs. The results highlight the crucial role of microstructure engineering in designing Li-free cathodes for polymer-based SSBs.     

Morphology and Performance Enhancement through the Strong Passivation Effect of Amphoteric Ions in Tin-based Perovskite Solar Cells

Despite the optoelectronic similarities between tin and lead halide perovskites, the performance of tin-based perovskite solar cells remains far behind, with the highest reported efficiency to date being ≈14%. This is highly correlated to the instability of tin halide perovskite, as well as the rapid crystallization behavior in perovskite film formation. In this work, l -Asparagine as a zwitterion plays a dual role in controlling the nucleation/crystallization process and improving the morphology of perovskite film. Furthermore, tin perovskites with l -Asparagine show more favorable energy-level matching, enhancing the charge extraction and minimizing the charge recombination, leading to an enhanced power conversion efficiency of 13.31% (from 10.54% without l -Asparagine) with remarkable stability. These results are also in good agreement with the density functional theory calculations. This work not only provides a facile and efficient approach to controlling the crystallization and morphology of perovskite film but also offers guidelines for further improved performance of tin-based perovskite electronic devices.     

Development of an Electrophoretic Deposition Method for the In Situ Fabrication of Ultra-Thin Composite-Polymer Electrolytes for Solid-State Lithium-Metal Batteries

All-solid-state lithium-metal batteries offer higher energy density and safety than lithium-ion batteries, but their practical applications have been pushed back by the sluggish Li⁺ transport, unstable electrolyte/electrode interface, and/or difficult processing of their solid-state electrolytes. Li⁺-conducting composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) consisting of sub-micron particles of an oxide solid-state electrolyte (OSSE) dispersed in a solid, flexible polymer electrolyte (SPE) have shown promises to alleviate the low Li⁺ conductivity of SPE, and the high rigidity and large interfacial impedance of OSSEs. Solution casting has been by far the most widely used procedure for the preparation of CPEs in research laboratories; however, this method imposes several drawbacks including particle aggregation and settlement during a long-term solvent evaporation step, excessive use of organic solvents, slow production time, and mechanical issues associated with handling of ultra-thin films of CPEs (<50 µm). To address these challenges, an electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method is developed to in situ deposit ultra-thin CPEs on lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cathodes within just a few minutes. EPD-prepared CPEs have shown better electrochemical performance in the lithium-metal battery than those CPEs prepared by solution casting due to a better dispersion of OSSE within the SPE matrix and improved CPE contact with LFP cathodes.     

A nanoclustered ceria abrasives with low crystallinity and high Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio for scratch reduction and high oxide removal rates in the chemical mechanical planarization

Journal of Materials Science - Cerium oxide nanoparticles in the size of Ca. 100&nbsp;nm usually have a degree of crystallinity over 95% and the ratio of Ce3+/Ce4+ at around 40%, which are...