• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.20 no.9
• /
• pp.483-487
• /
• 2010

To fabricate $TiO_2$ nanoparticle-based dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) at a low-temperature, DSSCs were fabricated using hydropolymer and ZnO nanoparticles composites for the electron transport layer around a low-temperature ($200^{\circ}C$). ZnO nanoparticle with 20 nm and 60 nm diameter were used and Pt was deposited as a counter electrode on ITO/glass using an RF magnetron sputtering. We investigate the effect of ZnO nanoparticle concentration in hydropolymer and ZnO nanoparticle solution on the photoconversion performance of the low temperature fabricated ($200^{\circ}C$) DSSCs. Using cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,20 bipyridy1-4,40 dicarboxylato) ruthenium (II) bis-tetrabutylammonium (N719) dye as a sensitizer, the corresponding device performance and photo-physical characteristics are investigated through conventional physical characterization techniques. The effect of thickness of the ZnO photoelectrode and the morphology of the ZnO nanoparticles with the variations of hydropolymer to ZnO ratio on the photoconversion performance are also investigated. The morphology of the ZnO layer after sintering was examined using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). 60 nm ZnO nanoparticle DSSCs showed an incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) value of about 7% higher than that of 20 nm ZnO nanoparticle DSSCs. The maximum parameters of the short circuit current density ($J_{sc}$), the open circuit potential ($V_{oc}$), fill factor (ff), and efficiency ($\eta$) in the 60 nm ZnO nanoparticle-based DSSC devices were 4.93 mA/$cm^2$, 0.56V, 0.40, and 1.12%, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2013.08a
• /
• pp.77.2-77.2
• /
• 2013

In this talk, I will briefly review recent results of my group related to application of atomic layer deposition (ALD) for fabricating environmental catalysts and organic solar cells. ALD was used for preparing thin films of TiO2 and NiO on mesporous silica with a mean pore size of 15 nm. Upon depositing TiO2 thin films of TiO2 using ALD, the mesoporous structure of the silica substrate was preserved to some extent. We show that efficiency for removing toluene by adsorption and catalytic oxidation is dependent of mean thickness of TiO2 deposited on silica, i.e., fine tuning of the thickness of thin film using ALD can be beneficial for preparing high-performing adsorbents and oxidation catalysts of volatile organic compound. NiO/silica system prepared by ALD was used for catalysts of chemical conversion of CO2. Here, NiO nanoparticles are well dispersed on silica and confiend in the pore, showing high catalytic activity and stability at 800oC for CO2 reforming of methane reaction. We also used ALD for surface modulation of buffer layers of organic solar cell. TiO2 and ZnO thin films were deposited on wet-chemically prepared ZnO ripple structures, and thin films with mean thickness of ~2 nm showed highest power conversion efficiency of organic solar cell. Moreover, performance of ALD-prepared organic solar cells were shown to be more stable than those without ALD. Thin films of oxides deposited on ZnO ripple buffer layer could heal defect sites of ZnO, which can act as recombination center of electrons and holes.

• Advances in environmental research
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.213-223
• /
• 2018

Continuous input into the aquatic ecosystem and persistent structures have created concern of antibiotics, primarily due to the potential for the development of antimicrobial resistance. Degradation kinetics and mineralization of vancomycin B (VAN-B) by photocatalysis using $TiO_2$ and ZnO nanoparticles was monitored at natural pH conditions. Photocatalysis (PC) efficiency was followed by means of UV absorbance, total organic carbon (TOC), and HPLC results to better monitor degradation of VAN-B itself. Experiments were run for two initial VAN-B concentrations ($20-50mgL^{-1}$) and using two catalysts $TiO_2$ and ZnO at different concentrations (0.1 and $0.5gL^{-1}$) in a multi-lamp batch reactor system (200 mL water volume). Furthermore, a set of toxicity tests with Daphnia magna was performed to evaluate the potential toxicity of oxidation by-products of VAN-B. Formation of intermediates such as chlorides and nitrates were monitored. A rapid VAN-B degradation was observed in ZnO-PC system (85% to 70% at 10 min), while total mineralization was observed to be relatively slower than $TiO_2-PC$ system (59% to 73% at 90 min). Treatment efficiency and mechanism of degradation directly affected the rate of transformation and by-products formation that gave rise to toxicity in the treated samples.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.34 no.8
• /
• pp.377-386
• /
• 2024

The surface of titanium (Ti) dental implants was modified by applying a zinc (Zn)-doped titanium dioxide (TiO₂) coating. Initially, the Ti surfaces were etched with NaOH, followed by a hydrolysis co-condensation using tetrabutyl titanate (TBT, Ti(OC₄H₉)₄) and zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O), with ammonia water (NH₃·H₂O) acting as a hydroxide anion source. The morphology and chemical composition of the Zn-doped TiO₂-coated Ti plates were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Synthesis temperatures were carefully adjusted to produce anatase Zn-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles with a bipyramidal structure and approximate sizes of 100 nm. Wettability tests and cell viability assays demonstrated the biomedical potential of these modified surfaces, which showed high biocompatibility with a survival rate of over 95 % (p < 0.05) and improved wettability. Corrosion resistance tests using potentiodynamic polarization reveal that Zn-TiO₂-treated samples with an anatase crystal structure exhibited a lower corrosion current density and more noble corrosion potential compared to samples coated with a rutile structure. This method offers a scalable approach that could be adapted by the biomaterial industry to improve the functionality and longevity of various biomedical implants.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.108-114
• /
• 2012

Salicylic acid degrades at different rates under UV-A light on $TiO_2$, ZnO, CuO, $Fe_2O_3$, $Fe_3O_4$ and $ZrO_2$ nanocrystals and all the oxides exhibit sustainable photocatalysis. While ZnO-photocatalysis displays Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics the others follow first order on [salicylic acid]. The degradation on all the oxides enhance with illumination intensity. Dissolved oxygen is essential for the photodegradation. ZnO is the most efficient photocatalyst to degrade salicylic acid. Besides serving as the effective photocatalyst to degrade salicylic acid it also acts as a bactericide and inactivates E.coli even in absence of direct light.

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

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.29-37
• /
• 2022

To verify the fate and transport of engineered nanoparticles (ENP), it is essential to understand its interactions with organic matter. Previous research has shown that dissolved organic matter (DOM) can increase particle stability through steric repulsion. However, the majority of the research has been focused on model organic matter such as humic or fulvic acids, lacking the understanding of organic matter found in field conditions. In the current study, organic matter was sampled from wastewater treatment plants to verify the stability of engineered nanoparticles (ENP) under field conditions. To understand how different types of organic matter may affect the fate of ENP, wastewater was sampled and separated based on their size; as small organic particular matter (SOPM) and large organic particular matter (LOPM), and dissolved organic matter (DOM). Each size fraction of organic matter was tested to verify their effects on nano-zinc oxide (nZnO) and nano-titanium oxide (nTiO₂) stability. For DOM, critical coagulation concentration (CCC) experiments were conducted, while sorption experiments were conducted for organic particulates. Results showed that under field conditions, the surface charge of the particles did not influence the stability. On the contrary, surface charge of the particles influenced the amount of sorption onto particulate forms of organic matter. Results of the current research show how the size of organic matter influences the fate and transport of different ENPs under field conditions.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.261-271
• /
• 2015

Toxicity results of metals, nanoparticles (NPs), and soils contaminated with metals were introduced on this review. Following methods were used: seed germination, bioluminescence, enzyme activity, and mutation. In general, different sensitivities were observed, depending on types of bioassays and pollutants. Among tested seeds, sensitivities of Lactucus and Raphanus were greater than others. Of single metal exposure, effect by As(III) was greater than others, and high revertant mutation ratio (5.1) was observed at 1 mg/L arsenite, indicating high mutagenicity. No general pattern was observed on the effect of metal mixture, but synergistic effect was observed with seeds. In case of soils, no correlation was observed between total metal contents and toxicity. Toxicity of NPs was observed as follows: CuO > ZnO > NiO > $TiO_2$, $Fe_2O_3$, $Co_3O_4$. Especially, no considerable effects were observed by $TiO_2$, $Fe_2O_3$, and $Co_3O_4$ under tested concentration (max. 1,000 mg/L). The evaluation results of interactive toxic effects using various bioassays may comprise a useful tool for the bioassessment of various environmental pollutants.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2003.11a
• /
• pp.120-120
• /
• 2003

The metallic oxide nanomaterials including ZnO, Ga$_2$O$_3$, TiO$_2$, and SnO$_2$ have been synthesized by a number of methods including laser ablation, arc discharge, thermal annealing procedure, catalytic growth processes, and vapor transport. We have been interested in preparing the nanomaterials of Ga$_2$O$_3$, which is a wide band gap semiconductor (E$_{g}$ =4.9 eV) and used as insulating oxide layer for all gallium-based semiconductor. Ga$_2$O$_3$ is stable at high temperature and a transparent oxide, which has potential application in optoelectronic devices. The Ga$_2$O$_3$ nanoparticles and nanobelts were produced using GaN single crystals, which were grown by flux method inside SUS$^{TM}$ cell using a Na flux and exhibit plate-like morphologies with 4 ~ 5 mm in size. In these experiments, the conventional electric furnace was used. GaN single crystals were pulverized in form of powder for the growth of Ga$_2$O$_3$ nanomaterials. The structure, morphology and composition of the products were studied mainly by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM).).

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.309-315
• /
• 2018

In the present work, we synthesize nano-sized ZnO, $SnO_2$, and $TiO_2$ powders by hydrothermal reaction using metal chlorides. We also examine the energy-storage characteristics of the resulting materials to evaluate the potential application of these powders to dye-sensitized solar cells. The control of processing parameters such as pressure, temperature, and the concentration of aqueous solution results in the formation of a variety of powder morphologies with different sizes. Nano-rod, nano-flower, and spherical powders are easily formed with the present method. Heat treatment after the hydrothermal reaction usually increases the size of the powder. At temperatures above $1000^{\circ}C$, a complete collapse of the shape occurs. With regard to the capacity of DSSC materials, the hydrothermally synthesized $TiO_2$ results in the highest current density of $9.1mA/cm^2$ among the examined oxides. This is attributed to the fine particle size and morphology with large specific surface area.