• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2013

The present work has been devoted to the catalytic reduction of $N_2O$ by $H_2$ with $Pt/SiO_2$ catalysts at very low temperatures, such as $110^{\circ}C$, and their nanoparticle sizes have been determined by using $H_2-N_2O$ titration, X-ray diffraction(XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM) measurements. A sample of 1.72% $Pt/SiO_2$, which had been prepared by an ion exchange method, consisted of almost atomic levels of Pt nanoparticles with 1.16 nm that are very consistent with the HRTEM measurements, while a $Pt/SiO_2$ catalyst possessing the same Pt amount via an incipient wetness technique did 13.5 nm particles as determined by the XRD measurements. These two catalysts showed a noticeable difference in the on-stream $deN_2O$ activity maintenance profiles at $110^{\circ}C$. This discrepancy was associated with the nanoparticle sizes, i.e., the $Pt/SiO_2$ catalyst with the smaller particle size was much more active for the $N_2O$ reduction. When repeated measurements of the $N_2O$ reduction with the 1.16 nm Pt catalyst at $110^{\circ}C$ were allowed, the catalyst deactivation occurred, depending somewhat on regeneration excursions.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.173-182
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• 2018

As part of planning for waste minimization, decontamination foam has been considered as a potential application for the cleaning of radioactive contaminant. In this study, we synthesized silica particles to improve foam stability by varying synthesis parameters. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was found to influence the stability of the decontamination foam. The reason was that higher interaction between $SiO_2$ nanoparticles and surfactant at the air-water interface in aqueous solution is beneficial for foam stability. CTAB can also be used as an additive for the aggregation of silica nanoparticles. In the separation of $SiO_2$ nanoparticles, CTAB plays a critical role in the nanoparticles flocculation because of the charge neutralization and hydrophobic effects of its hydrocarbon tails.

• Clean Technology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.249-254
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• 2018

In order to improve the photo conversion efficiency (${\eta}$) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), the electrospun $TiO_2$, $SiO_2$, $ZrO_2$ and $SnO_2$ nanofibers were added into the hydrothermally prepared $TiO_2$ nanoparticles for application to a photoelectrode for DSSCs. The $TiO_2$ nanofiber added photoelectrode exhibited a higher photo current density ($J_{sc}$) compared to the bare $TiO_2$ nanoparticles, which is caused from acceleration of the transfer of excited electron from dye molecule due to the nanofiber structure. The DSSCs with $SiO_2$ nanofibers shows a higher open circuit voltage ($V_{oc}$) of 0.67 V and the highest photo conversion efficiency was found to be 6.24%.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2008.07a
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• pp.1226-1227
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• 2008

In this study, a single p-type Si nanowire - Au nanoparticles nano floating gate memory (NFGM) device is successfully fabricated and characterized their memory effects by comparison of electrical characteristics of p-type Si nanowire-based field effect transistor (FET) devices with Au nanoparticles embedded in the $Al_2O_3$ gate materials and without the Au nanoparticles. Drain current versus gate voltage ($I_{DS}-V_{GS}$) characteristics of a single p-type Si nanowire - Au nanoparticle NFGM device show counterclockwise hysteresis loops with the threshold voltage shift of ${\Delta}V_{th}$= 3.0 V. However, p-type Si nanowire based top-gate device without Au nanoparticles does not exhibit a threshold voltage shift. This behavior is ascribed to the presence of the Au nanoparticles, and is indicative of the trapping and emission of electrons in the Au nanoparticles.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.355-362
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• 2023

Physical exercise, especially intense exercise and high intensity interval training (HIIT) by trampoline, can lead to muscle injuries. These effects can be reduced with intelligent products made of nanocomposite materials. Most of these nanocomposites are polymers reinforced with silicon dioxide, alumina, and titanium dioxide nanoparticles. This study presents a polymer nanocomposite reinforced with silica. As a result of the rapid reaction between tetraethyl orthosilicate and ammonia in the presence of citric acid and other agents, silica nanostructures were synthesized. By substituting bis (4-amino phenoxy) phenyl-triptycene in N, N-dimethylformamide with potassium carbonate, followed by catalytic reduction with hydrazine and Pd/C, the diamine monomer bis (4-amino phenoxy) phenyl-triptycene is prepared. We synthesized a new polyaromatic (imide) with triptycene unit by sol-gel method from aromatic diamines and dianhydride using pyridine as a condensation reagent in NMP. PI readily dissolves in solvents and forms robust and tough polymer films in situ. The FTIR and NMR techniques were used to determine the effects of SiO₂ on the sol-gel process and the structure of the synthesized nanocomposites. By using a simultaneous thermal analysis (DTA-TG) method, the appropriate thermal operation temperature was also determined. Through SEM analysis, the structure, shape, size, and specific surface area of pores were determined. Analysis of XRD results is used to determine how SiO₂ affects the crystallization of phases and the activation energy of crystallization.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.637-643
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• 2009

In this study, we analyzed the effect of silicon oxynitride matrix on the optical properties of Au nanoparticles dispersed on composite film and explored the effectiveness of the silicon in fine tuning the refractive index of the composite film for applications in optical waveguide devices. The atomic fraction of nitrogen in $SiO_xN_y$ films was controlled by varying the relative flow ratio of nitrogen gas in reactive sputtering and was evaluated optically using an effective medium theory with Bruggeman geometry consisting of a random mixture between $SiO_2$ and $Si_3N_4$. The Au nanoparticles were embedded in the $SiO_xN_y$ matrix by employing the alternating deposition technique and clearly showed an absorption peak due to the excitation of surface plasmon. With increasing nitrogen atomic fraction in the matrix, the surface plasmon resonance wavelength shifted to a longer wavelength (a red-shift) with an enhanced resonance absorption. These characteristics were interpreted using the Maxwell-Garnett effective medium theory. The formation of a guided mode in a slab waveguide consisting of 3 $\mu$m thick Au:$SiO_xN_y$ nanocomposite film was confirmed at the telecommunication wavelength of 1550 nm by prism coupler method and compared with the case of using $SiO_2$ matrix. The use of $SiO_xN_y$ matrix provides an effective way of controlling the mode confinement while maintaining or even enhancing the surface plasmon resonance properties.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.08a
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• pp.281-281
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• 2010

Very low refractive index (<1.4) materials have been proved to be the key factor improving the performance of various optical components, such as reflectors, filters, photonic crystals, LEDs, and solar cell. Highly porous SiO2 are logically designed for ultralow refractive index materials because of the direct relation between porosity and index of refraction. Among them, ordered macroporous SiO2 is of potential material since their theoretically low refractive index ~1.10. However, in the conventional synthesis of ordered macroporous SiO2, the time required for the crystallization of organic nanoparticles, such as polystyrene (PS), from colloidal solution into well ordered template is typical long (several days for 1 cm substrate) due to the low interaction between particles and particle - substrate. In this study, polystyrene - polyacrylic acid (PS-AA) nanoparticles synthesized by miniemulsion polymerization method have hydrophilic polyacrylic acid tails on the surface of particles which increase the interaction between particle and with substrate giving rise to the formation of PS-AA film by simply spin - coating method. Less ordered with controlled thickness films of PS-AA on silicon wafer were successfully fabricated by changing the spinning speed or concentration of colloidal solution, as confirmed by FE-SEM. Based on these template films, a series of macroporous SiO2 films whose thicknesses varied from 300nm to ~1000nm were fabricated either by conventional sol - gel infiltration or gas phase deposition followed by thermal removal of organic template. Formations of SiO2 films consist of interconnected air balls with size ~100 nm were confirmed by FE-SEM and TEM. These highly porous SiO2 show very low refractive indices (<1.18) over a wide range of wavelength (from 200 to 1000nm) as shown by SE measurement. Refraction indices of SiO2 films at 633nm reported here are of ~1.10 which, to our best knowledge, are among the lowest values having been announced.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.639-647
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• 2014

Laccases have a broad range of industrial applications. In this study, we immobilized laccase on $SiO_2$ nanoparticles to overcome problems associated with stability and reusability of the free enzyme. Among different reagents used to functionally activate the nanoparticles, glutaraldehyde was found to be the most effective for immobilization. Optimization of the immobilization pH, temperature, enzyme loading, and incubation period led to a maximum immobilization yield of 75.8% and an immobilization efficiency of 92.9%. The optimum pH and temperature for immobilized laccase were 3.5 and $45^{\circ}C$, respectively, which differed from the values of pH 3.0 and $40^{\circ}C$ obtained for the free enzyme. Immobilized laccase retained high residual activities over a broad range of pH and temperature. The kinetic parameter $V_{max}$ was slightly reduced from 1,890 to 1,630 ${\mu}mol/min/mg$ protein, and $K_m$ was increased from 29.3 to 45.6. The thermal stability of immobilized laccase was significantly higher than that of the free enzyme, with a half-life 11- and 18-fold higher at temperatures of $50^{\circ}C$ and $60^{\circ}C$, respectively. In addition, residual activity was 82.6% after 10 cycles of use. Thus, laccase immobilized on $SiO_2$ nanoparticles functionally activated with glutaraldehyde has broad pH and temperature ranges, thermostability, and high reusability compared with the free enzyme. It constitutes a notably efficient system for biotechnological applications.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.717-726
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• 2018

Concrete pipelines are the most efficient and safe means for gas and oil transportation over a long distance. The use of nano materials and nono-engineering can be considered for enhancing concrete pipelines properties. the tests show that $SiO_2$ nanoparticles can improve the mechanical behavior of concrete. Moreover, severe hazard for pipelines is seismic ground motion. Over the years, scientists have attempted to understand pipe behavior against earthquake most frequently via numerical modeling and simulation. Therefore, in this paper, the dynamic response of underwater nanocomposite submerged pipeline conveying fluid is studied. The structure is subjected to the dynamic loads caused by earthquake and the governing equations of the system are derived using mathematical model via Classic shell theory and Hamilton's principle. Navier-Stokes equation is employed to calculate the force due to the fluid in the pipe. As well, the effect of external fluid is modeled with an external force. Mori-Tanaka approach is used to estimate the equivalent material properties of the nanocomposite. 1978 Tabas earthquake in Iran is considered for modelling seismic load. The dynamic displacement of the structure is extracted using differential quadrature method (DQM) and Newmark method. The effects of different parameters such as $SiO_2$ nanoparticles volume percent, boundary conditions, thickness to radius ratios, length to radius ratios, internal and external fluid pressure and earthquake intensity are discussed on the seismic response of the structure. From results obtained in this paper, it can be found that the dynamic response of the pipe is increased in the presence of internal and external fluid. Furthermore, the use of $SiO_2$ nanoparticles in concrete pipeline reduces the displacement of the structure during an earthquake.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.69-74
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• 2013

In this study, the crack healing effects of $Al_2O_3$ ceramics based on the heat treatment conditions were investigated. The influence of the additive amounts of SiC nanoparticles and the cycling process of indentation-heat treatment on the crack healing effect of $Al_2O_3$ ceramics were also examined. Three-point bending tests were carried out and the morphological changes in the fracture surface were observed by using FE-SEM. As a result, heat-treated samples in a vacuum or air atmosphere showed improved bending strengths compared to un-heat treated samples. This means that cracked specimens can be healed by heat treatment in a vacuum or air atmosphere. The crack healing effect of $Al_2O_3$ ceramics that were heat treated in an air atmosphere was much higher than that of those heat treated in a vacuum. After heat treatment, the $Al_2O_3$ ceramics with 30 wt% SiC nanoparticles showed a higher bending strength than those with 15 wt% SiC. The cyclic indentation and heat treatment did not remarkably affect the crack healing effect. The SEM images showed that the median crack, indenter mark on the surface, and pores in the fracture surface of a specimen almost disappeared after being heat treated in an air atmosphere.