Abstract: Disclosed are composite particles comprising: (a) conductive polymer particles; and (b) conductive inorganic nanoparticles having a higher conductivity as compared to the conductive polymer, wherein the conductive inorganic nanoparticles are distributed onto the surface of the conductive polymer particles and/or inside the conductive polymer particles. An electrode comprising the composite particles and an electrochemical device including the electrode are also disclosed. When the composite particles comprising a conductive polymer and conductive inorganic nanoparticles uniformly distributed in the conductive polymer are used for forming an electrode, the amount of electrode active material contributing to the capacity of an electrochemical device increases. Thus, the electrochemical device can provide high capacity and improved lifespan characteristics.

Abstract: Provided are a dye-sensitized solar cell and a method of fabricating the same. The dye-sensitized solar cell includes an electrode structure including a conductive layer having pores that are regularly arranged, a semiconductor oxide layer disposed on a surface of the conductive layer, and a dye layer disposed on a surface of the semiconductor oxide layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are an electrode having a porous active coating layer, a manufacturing method thereof and an electrochemical device containing the same. The electrode having a porous active coating layer according to the present invention may be useful to enhance peeling and scratch resistances of the porous active layer and improve a lamination characteristic toward the porous active layer by introducing a porous active layer onto a porous substrate having pores, the porous active layer having heterogeneity of morphology toward a thickness direction in which a content ratio of the binder polymer/inorganic particles present in a surface layer is higher than that of the binder polymer/inorganic particles present inside the surface layer. Accordingly, the stability and performances of the battery can be improved at the same time since the detachment of the inorganic particles from the porous active layer may be reduced during the assembly process of the electrochemical device.

Abstract: An organic/inorganic composite separator includes a porous substrate having a plurality of pores; and a porous coating layer formed on at least one surface of the porous substrate with a plurality of inorganic particles and a binder polymer. The binder polymer is a copolymer including: (a) a first monomer unit having a contact angle to a water drop in the range from 0° to 49°; and (b) a second monomer unit having a contact angle to a water drop in the range from 50° to 130°. This organic/inorganic composite separator has excellent thermal stability, so it may restrain an electric short circuit between a cathode and an anode. In addition, the separator may prevent inorganic particles in the porous coating layer from being extracted during an assembling process of an electrochemical device, thereby improving stability of an electrochemical device.

Abstract: Provided are a dye-sensitized solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same. The dye-sensitized solar cell includes a semiconductor electrode and a counter electrode that face each other, and an electrolytic solution interposed therebetween, wherein the semiconductor electrode includes: a conductive substrate; an oxide semiconductor-conductor structure formed on the conductive substrate; and dye molecules layer adsorbed onto the surface of the oxide semiconductor. A dye-sensitized solar cell manufactured using the method can effectively prevent electrons transferred to the conductor and an electrolyte from recombining, thus having maximal photoelectron conversion efficiency.

Abstract: Provided is a dye-sensitized solar cell including a flexible electrode. The dye-sensitized solar cell includes: first and second electrodes facing each other, and an electrolyte layer interposed between the first and second electrodes, wherein the first electrode comprises a structure formed of conductive fibers, a nano-particle semiconductor oxide layer formed on a surface of the structure of the conductive fibers, and dye molecules adsorbed in the nano-particle semiconductor oxide layer.

Abstract: An organic/inorganic composite separator includes (a) a polyolefin porous substrate having pores; and (b) a porous active layer containing a mixture of inorganic particles and a binder polymer, with which at least one surface of the polyolefin porous substrate is coated, wherein the porous active layer has a peeling force of 5 gf/cm or above, and a thermal shrinkage of the separator after being left alone at 150° C. for 1 hour is 50% or below in a machine direction (MD) or in a transverse direction (TD). This organic/inorganic composite separator solves the problem that inorganic particles in the porous active layer formed on the porous substrate are extracted during an assembly process of an electrochemical device, and also it may prevent an electric short circuit between cathode and anode even when the electrochemical device is overheated.

Abstract: Provided is a nanocomposite. The nanocomposite includes a plurality of nanotubes arranged perpendicular to a substrate and a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed within each of the plurality of nanotubes or between adjacent ones of the plurality of nanotubes. The nanotube and the nanoparticle are formed of titanium dioxide (TiO2), tin dioxide (SnO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), tungsten trioxide (WO3), or mixtures thereof. The nanoparticle has a spherical, tubular, or rod-like shape.

Abstract: Provided are a dye-sensitized solar cell with increased energy conversion efficiency, and a method of fabricating the same. The dye-sensitized solar cell is provided with a semiconductor electrode layer including hollow-shaped semiconductor particles and a dye layer adsorbed on the surface of the semiconductor electrode layer, and the dye layer is adsorbed on the outer and inner surfaces of the semiconductor particles.

Abstract: There is provided a polymer electroluminescent device, which comprises a transparent substrate, an anode, a polymer emitting layer, a polymer insulating nanolayer and a cathode. The polymer insulating nanolayer having the dielectric constant (?) of less than 3.0 is located between the cathode and the polymer emitting layer. According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the polymer electroluminescent device showing more improved luminance efficiency.

Abstract: A polymeric electroluminescent device suppresses photo-oxidation and enhances luminous stability and efficiency by using a nanocomposite of a luminescent polymer and metal nanoparticles as its emitting layer.

Abstract: There is provided a polymer electroluminescent device, which comprises a transparent substrate, an anode, a polymer emitting layer, a polymer insulating nanolayer and a cathode. The polymer insulating nanolayer having the dielectric constant (?) of less than 3.0 is located between the cathode and the polymer emitting layer. According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the polymer electroluminescent device showing more improved luminance efficiency.

Abstract: A polymeric electroluminescent device suppresses photo-oxidation and enhances luminous stability and efficiency by using a nanocomposite of a luminescent polymer and metal nanoparticles as its emitting layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetorheological fluid in which magnetic particles coated with a hydrophilic surfactant are dispersed in a water in oil emulsion, and a process for preparing the same. The magnetorheological fluid of the present invention is prepared by adding water to oil dissolved with emulsifier, stirring it to give a mobile phase of water in oil emulsion, and dispersing magnetic particles coated with a hydrophilic surfactant in the water in oil emulsion. The invented magnetorheological fluid is improved in terms of stability through the interaction between surfactant of the magnetic particle surface and water molecule, which makes possible its practical application in the development of variable devices employing the magnetorheological fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetorheological fluid in which magnetic particles coated with a hydrophilic surfactant are dispersed in a water in oil emulsion, and a process for preparing the same. The magnetorheological fluid of the present invention is prepared by adding water to oil dissolved with emulsifier, stirring it to give a mobile phase of water in oil emulsion, and dispersing magnetic particles coated with a hydrophilic surfactant in the water in oil emulsion. The invented magnetorheological fluid is improved in terms of stability through the interaction between surfactant of the magnetic particle surface and water molecule, which makes possible its practical application in the development of variable devices employing the magnetorheological fluid.