• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.233-238
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• 2021

Iron-based amorphous powder attracts increasing attention because of its excellent soft magnetic properties and low iron loss at high frequencies. The development of an insulating layer on the surface of the amorphous soft magnetic powder is important for minimizing the eddy current loss and enhancing the energy efficiency of high-frequency devices by further increasing the electrical resistivity of the cores. In this study, a hybrid insulating coating layer is investigated to compensate for the limitations of monolithic organic or inorganic coating layers. Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles are added to the flexible silicon-based epoxy layer to prevent magnetic dilution; in addition TiO₂ nanoparticles are added to enhance the mechanical durability of the coating layer. In the hybrid coating layer with optimal composition, the decrease in magnetic permeability and saturation magnetization is suppressed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2014.05a
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• pp.248-249
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• 2014

Photocatalytic cement is receiving attention due to its high oxidation power that oxidizes nitrogen oxides (NOx), thus contributing to clean atmospheric environment. However, there has not been a thorough investigation on durability of a parent material, cementitious material, as a result of photocatalytic reactions. In this study, durability of photocatalytic cementitious materials exposed to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) gas was examined. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles containing cement paste samples were exposed to cycles of NO₂ with UV light, followed by wetting and drying to simulate environmental condition. The surface of samples was characterized mechanically, chemically, and visually during the cycling. The results indicate that the photocatalytic efficiency decreased with continued NO₂ oxidation due to calcium carbonate formation. The pits found from SEM demonstrate that chemical deterioration have occurred, such as acid attack or leaching. In conclusion, the photocatalytic reactions and its product could alter cementitious materials chemically and mechanically which could further affect long-term durability.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.246-246
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• 2016

Tungsten-nitrogen (W-N) co-doping has been known to enhance the photocatalytic activity of anatase titania nanoparticles by utilizing visible light. The doping effects are, however, largely dependent on calcination or annealing conditions, and thus, the massive production of quality-controlled photocatalysts still remains a challenge. Using density functional theory (DFT) thermodynamics and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) computations, we investigate the atomic structures of N doping and W-N co-doping in anatase titania, as well as the effect of the thermal processing conditions. We find that W and N dopants predominantly constitute two complex structures: an N interstitial site near a Ti vacancy in the triple charge state and the simultaneous substitutions of Ti by W and the nearest O by N. The latter case induces highly localized shallow in-gap levels near the conduction band minimum (CBM) and the valence band maximum (VBM), whereas the defect complex yielded deep levels (1.9 eV above the VBM). Electronic structures suggest that substitutions of Ti by W and the nearest O by N improves the photocatalytic activity of anatase by band gap narrowing, while defective structure degrades the activity by an in-gap state-assisted electron-hole recombination, which explains the experimentally observed deep level-related photon absorption. Through the real-time propagation of TDDFT (rtp-TDDFT), we demonstrate that the presence of defective structure attracts excited electrons from the conduction band to a localized in-gap state within a much shorter time than the flat band lifetime of titania. Based on these results, we suggest that calcination under N-rich and O-poor conditions is desirable to eliminate the deep-level states to improve photocatalysis.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.1204-1208
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• 2012

A new photoelectrode composed of $Sb_6O_{13}$ nanoparticles with the size of 20-30 nm has been prepared via thermolysis of a colloidal antimony pentoxide tetrahydrate ($Sb_2O_5{\cdot}4H_2O$) suspension. The $Sb_6O_{13}$ electrode showed good semiconducting properties applicable to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs); the energy band gap was estimated to be $3.05{\pm}0.5$ eV and the position of conduction band edge was close to those of $TiO_2$ and ZnO. The DSSC assembled with the $Sb_6O_{13}$ photoelectrode and a conventional ruthenium-dye (N719) exhibited the overall photo-current conversion efficiency of 0.74% ($V_{oc}$ = 0.76 V, $J_{sc}=1.99\;mAcm{-2}$, fill factor = 0.49) under AM 1.5, $100\;mWcm^{-2}$ illumination.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2017

The friction pendulum system(FPS) is a kind of seismic isolation devices for isolating structures from an earthquake. To analyze the effect of friction materials used in the friction pendulum system, fragility analysis of LNG tank with seismic isolation system was conducted. In this study, titanium dioxide($TiO_2$) nanoparticles were incorporated into polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF) matrix to produce friction materials attached to the FPS. The base moment of the concrete outer tank and the acceleration of the structure were evaluated from different mixing ratios of constituents for the friction materials. The seismic fragility curves were developed based on two types of limit state. It is confirmed that evaluation of combined fragility curves with several limit states can be applied to select the optimum friction material satisfying the required performance of the FPS for various infrastructure.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.251-260
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• 2011

$TiO_2$- and $SiO_2$-supported $Co_3O_4$, Pt and $Co_3O_4$-Pt catalysts have been studied for CO and $C_3H_8$ oxidations at temperatures less than $250^{\circ}C$ which is a lower limit of light-off temperatures to oxidize them during emission test cycles of gasoline-fueled automotives with TWCs (three-way catalytic converters) consisting mainly of Pt, Pd and Rh. All the catalysts after appropriate activation such as calcination at $350^{\circ}C$ and reduction at $400^{\circ}C$ exhibited significant dependence on both their preparation techniques and supports upon CO oxidation at chosen temperatures. A Pt/$TiO_2$ catalyst prepared by using an ion-exchange method (IE) has much better activity for such CO oxidation because of smaller Pt nanoparticles, compared to a supported Pt obtained via an incipient wetness (IW). Supported $Co_3O_4$-only catalysts are very active for CO oxidation even at $100^{\circ}C$, but the use of $TiO_2$ as a support and the IW technique give the best performances. These effects on supports and preparation methods were indicated for $Co_3O_4$-Pt catalysts. Based on activity profiles of CO oxidation at $100^{\circ}C$ over a physical mixture of supported Pt and $Co_3O_4$ after activation under different conditions, and typical light-off temperatures of CO and unburned hydrocarbons in common TWCs as tested for $C_3H_8$ oxidation at $250^{\circ}C$ with a Pt-exchanged $SiO_2$ catalyst, this study may offer an useful approach to substitute $Co_3O_4$ for a part of platinum group metals, particularly Pt, thereby lowering the usage of the precious metals.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.240-246
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• 2023

This study was performed to convert NO_x in atmosphere by photochemical reaction utilizing the eco-friendly solar energy. The mortar specimen coated with photocatalyst was fabricated and the photochemical conversion efficiency of NO_x was analyzed. The photocatalyst coated concrete was fabricated by first adding TiO₂ photocatalyst on the bottom of mold first and next adding cement mortar and, then, curing the concrete mortar. The grease was sprayed on the bottom of mold in advance so that the concrete can be demolded easily after curing. The conversion efficiencies of NO_x by photochemical reactions were investigated systematically by changing the process variable conditions of amount of TiO₂ coating, UV-A light intensity, total gas flow rate, relative humidity and initial NO_x concentration. It was confirmed that the photocatalyst coated concrete fabricated in this study could convert NO_x successfully for various process conditions in atmosphere. In future, we believe this research result can be utilized as basic data to design the infrastructure of building, tunnel and road for controlling efficiently the air pollutants such as NO_x, SO_x, and VOCs.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.2765-2768
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• 2013

The effect of $TiO_2$ nanorods (TNR) and nanoparticles (TNP) composite photoelectrodes and the role of TNR to enhance the energy conversion efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was investigated. The 5% TNR content into the TNP photoelectrode significantly increased the short-circuit current density ($J_{sc}$) and the open-circuit potential ($V_{oc}$) with the overall energy conversion efficiency enhancement of 13.6% compared to the pure TNP photoelectrode. From the photochemical and impedemetric analysis, the increased $J_{sc}$ and $V_{oc}$ for the 5% TNR/TNP composite photoelectrode was attributed to the scattering effect of TNR, reduced electron diffusion path and the suppression of charge recombination between the composite photoelectrode and electrolyte or dye.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.337-343
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• 2020

In this paper, we focused on the self-healing concrete using new nano-capsules. Three types of nano-capsules with respect to availability, high strength and temperature tolerance are used; type 1 is URF and polyethylene (PE) as shell and nano titanium oxide (TiO₂) as core, type 2 is URF and PE as shell and nano silica oxide (SiO₂) as core, type 3 is PE as shell and nano silica oxide (SiO₂) as core. The concrete samples mixed by nano-capsules with three percents of 0.5, 1 and 1.5. Based on experimental tests and the compressive strength of samples, the URF-PE-SiO₂ is selected for additional tests of compressive strength before and after recovery, ultrasonic test, ion chlorine and water penetration depths. After careful investigation, it is concluded that the optimum value of URF-PE-SiO₂ nano-capsules is 0.5% since leads to higher compressive strength, ultrasonic test, ion chlorine and water penetration depths.

• 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.