• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.291-296
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• 2021

Recently, there has been increasing demand for advancing photocatalytic techniques that are capable of the efficient removal of organic pollutants in water. TiO₂, a representative photocatalytic material, has been commonly used as an effective photocatalyst, but it is rather expensive and an alternative is required that will fulfill the requirements of both high performing photocatalytic activities and cost-effectiveness. In this work, ZnO, which is more cost effective than TiO₂, was synthesized by using a microreactor-assisted nanomaterials (MAN) process. The process enabled a continuous production of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with a flower-like structure with high uniformity. In order to resolve the limited light absorption of ZnO arising from its large band gap, Ag NPs were uniformly decorated on the flower-like ZnO surface by using the MAN process. The plasmonic effect of Ag NPs led to a broadening of the absorption range toward visible wavelengths. Ag NPs also helped inhibit the electron-hole recombination by drawing electrons generated from the light absorption of the flower-like ZnO NPs. As a result, the Ag-ZnO nanocomposites showed improved photocatalytic activities compared with the flower-like ZnO NPs. The photocatalytic activities were evaluated through the degradation of methylene blue (MB) solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the successful synthesis of Ag-ZnO nanocomposites with high uniformity. Ag-ZnO nanocomposites synthesized via the MAN process offer the potential for cost-effective and scalable production of next-generation photocatalytic materials.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.396-396
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• 2012

$TiO_2$ anatase nanotube arrays (NTAs) were grown by electrochemical anodization and followed annealing of Ti foil. Ethylene glycol/$NH_4F$-based organic electrolyte was used for electrolyte solution and using second anodization process to obtain free-standing NTAs. After obtaining NTAs, ITO film was deposited by sputtering process on bottom of NTAs. UV-curable NOA was used for attach free-standing NTAs on flexible plastic substrate (PEN). Solid state electrolyte (spiro-OMeTAD) was coated via spin-coating method on top of attached NTAs. Ag was deposited as a counter electrode. Under AM 1.5 simulated sunlight, optical characteristics of devices were investigated. In order to use flexible polymer substrate, processes have to be conducted at low temperature. In case of $TiO_2$ nano particles (NPs), however, crystallization of NPs at high temperature above $450^{\circ}C$ is required. Because NTAs were conducted high temperature annealing process before NTAs transfer to PEN, it is favorable for using PEN as flexible substrate. Fabricated flexible solid-state DSSCs make possible the preventing of liquid electrolyte corrosion and leakage, various application.

• Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
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• v.67
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• pp.199-209
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• 2018

Polyethersulfone (PES)/sulfonated $TiO_2$ ($STiO_2$) nanoparticles (NPs) UF blended membranes were fabricated with different loadings of $STiO_2$. The modified membranes exhibited significant improvement in surface roughness, porosity, and pore size when compared to the PES membrane. The $P-STiO_2$ 1 and $P-TiO_2$ 1 blended membranes exhibited higher water flux, approximately 102.4% and 62.6%, respectively, compared to PES. SPP-$STiO_2$ and $P-STiO_2$ showed lower Rir fouling resistance than the $P-TiO_2$ blended membrane. Overall, the $STiO_2$-blended membranes provide high hydrophilicity permeability, anti-fouling performance, and improved BSA rejection attributed to the hydrogen bonding force and more electrostatic repulsion properties of $STiO_2$.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2024

Nanoparticles are commonly used to avoid the opaque white color of TiO₂ based sunscreen. However, a dispersing agent is typically required because of the tendency of the nanoparticles (NPs) to agglomerate. Stearic acid is one kind of dispersing agent often used for sunscreen products. However, according to the MSDS data sheet on stearic acid, stearic acid is highly hazardous to aquatic life and causes irritation on human skin. To avoid this problem, in this study a safer organic dispersing agent extracted from Korean seaweed has been studied to disperse TiO₂ nanoparticles, and further use as an active agent in sunscreen products. The presence of phytochemicals in seaweed extract, especially alginate, can disperse TiO₂ nanoparticles and improve TiO₂ dispersion properties. Results show that seaweed extract can improve the dispersion properties of TiO₂ nanoparticles and sunscreen products. Reducing the agglomeration of TiO₂ nanoparticles improves sunscreen properties, by making it less opaque white in color, and increasing UV protection value. It was also confirmed that adding seaweed extract into sunscreen products had no irritating effects on the human skin, making it more desirable for cosmetics application.

• Clean Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2017

In this study, toxicities of seven metals (Cu, Cd, Cr, As(III), As(V), Zn, Ni) and five metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs: CuO, ZnO, NiO, $TiO_2$, $Fe_2O_3$) were evaluated based on the growth of Chlorella vulgaris. Effect on algae growth was evaluated by integrating the results of absorption, chlorophyll content, and cell count. The toxicity rankings of metals was observed as Cr ($0.7mgL^{-1}$) > Cu ($1.7mgL^{-1}$) > Cd ($3.2mgL^{-1}$) > Zn ($3.9mgL^{-1}$) > Ni ($13.2mgL^{-1}$) > As(III) ($17.8mgL^{-1}$) ${\gg}$ As(V) (> $1000mgL^{-1}$). Slightly different orders and sensitivities of metal toxicity were examined depending on endpoints of algal growth. In case of NPs, regardless of endpoints, similar toxicity rankings of NPs ($TEC_{50}$) were observed, showing ZnO ($2.4mgL^{-1}$) > NiO ($21.1mgL^{-1}$) > CuO ($36.6mgL^{-1}$) > $TiO_2$ ($62.5mgL^{-1}$) > $Fe_2O_3$ ($82.7mgL^{-1}$). These results indicate that an integrating results of endpoints might be an effective strategy for the assessment of contaminants.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2016.11a
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• pp.191.2-191.2
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• 2016

$TiO_2$는 우수한 화학적 및 물리적 안정성 때문에 수전해 장기간 사용에 적합한 전기화학 전극으로 여겨진다. 큰 표면적을 갖는 $TiO_2$를 제조하기 위한 수많은 방법 중 양극산화(anodization)는 비교적 간단하고 저렴한 공정으로 인하여 매우 실용적인 방법으로서 알려져 있다. 특히, 고도로 정렬 된 $TiO_2$ 나노튜브($TiO_2$ NTs) 의 경우에는 분말상과 달리 전극제조를 위해 추가적인 접착제를 필요하지 않다. 그러나, $TiO_2$는 일반적으로 절연 특성을 나타내기 때문에 전극의 활용을 위해서는 본질적으로 촉매의 사용이 불가피하다. 다수의 전기 촉매 중, $IrO_2$와 $RuO_2$는 수전해 분야에 잘 알려진 산화 촉매이다. 그럼에도 불구하고, 특유의 높은 종횡비 때문에 $TiO_2$ 나노튜브에 전기 촉매를 균일하게 도핑하는 것은 많은 어려움이 따른다. 이를 해결하기 위한 방법으로 $RuO_2$를 도핑하기 위한 단일공정 $TiO_2$ 양극산화 기술이 보고된 바 있다. 본 연구에서는 2원 촉매($IrO_2$ 및 $RuO_2$)를 $TiO_2$ 나노튜브에 도핑하기 위한 단일공정 양극산화 기술에 대하여 연구하였다. 전구물질로써 $KRuO_4$($RuO_2$ 전구체)와 IrOx 나노입자(IrOx NPs, $IrO_2$ 전구체)를 사용하였다. 특히, IrOx를 나노 입자는 $IrCl_3$로부터 중간 매체로 합성된다. IrOx는 단일공정 양극산화 중에 $TiO_2$ 나노튜브 상에 도핑 가능한 이온 형태인 $IrO_4$-로 전환될 수 있다. 제조된 시료는 열처리 후 바로 전극으로 사용되었으며 SEM, XPS, TEM, ICP-OES 등으로 정성, 정량 분석을 수행하였다. LSV와 EIS를 통해 전기화학적 성능 평가가 이루어졌으며, LSV를 통해 포집한 기체는 가스 크로마토그래피를 사용하여 정량분석한 후 그 효율을 측정하였다.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.45-48
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• 2014

$TiO_2$ nanoparticles (NPs) with a diameter of 100 nm were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal route at $220^{\circ}C$ and then processed for a possible alternate cathode catalyst material in the lithium-oxygen batteries. It was found that when $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were utilized as cathodes, substantial improvements in the discharge capacity, cycle ability, rate capability and low overpotential were observed. This can be attributed to its high catalytic activity and large surface area.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.105-108
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• 2014

$TiO_2$ nanoparticles (NPs) with a diameter of 100 nm were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal route at $220^{\circ}C$ and then processed for a possible alternate cathode catalyst material in the lithium-oxygen batteries. It was found that when $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were utilized as cathodes, substantial improvements in the discharge capacity, cycle ability, rate capability and low overpotential were observed. This can be attributed to its high catalytic activity and large surface area.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.7-11
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• 2010

For many large-scale applications of high-temperature superconducting materials, large critical current density($J_c$) in high applied magnetic fields are required. A number of methods have been reported to introduce artificial pinning centers(APCs) in $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-\delta}$(YBCO) films for enhancement of their $J_c$. In this work, we investigated electric characteristic of YBCO films on $SrTiO_3$ (100) substrates whose surfaces were modified by the introduction of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs). Au nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed on STO substrates with one of typical solution techniques, self assembled monolayer. After heating the STO substrates with Au nanoparticles, the size of Au nanoparticles was around 29~32 nm in height and 41~49 nm in diameter. XRD diffraction patterns taken on the YBCO film with Au nanoparticles show the c-axis orientation. The measured $T_c$ of YBCO /AuNPs films was around 89K and the $J_c$ was 0.75 MA/$cm^2$ at 65 K and 1 T.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.423-428
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• 2021

Here, we report the development of a new and low-cost core-shell structure for lithium-ion battery anodes using silicon waste sludge and the Ti-ion complex. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the raw waste silicon sludge powder to be pure silicon without other metal impurities and the particle size distribution is measured to be from 200 nm to 3 ㎛ by dynamic light scattering (DLS). As a result of pulverization by a planetary mill, the size of the single crystal according to the Scherrer formula is calculated to be 12.1 nm, but the average particle size of the agglomerate is measured to be 123.6 nm. A Si/TiO₂ core-shell structure is formed using simple Ti complex ions, and the ratio of TiO₂ peaks increased with an increase in the amount of Ti ions. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations revealed that TiO₂ coating on Si nanoparticles results in a Si-TiO₂ core-shell structure. This result is expected to improve the stability and cycle of lithium-ion batteries as anodes.