• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1297-1308
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• 2011

This research investigates the application of ZnO (zinc oxide) nanoparticles and $TiO_2$ (titanium dioxide) nanoparticles to polypropylene nonwoven fabrics via an electrospinning technique for the development of textile materials that can decompose harmful gases. To fabricate uniform ZnO nanocomposite fibers, two types of ZnO nanoparticles were applied. Colloidal $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were chosen to fabricate $TiO_2$ nano- composite fibers. ZnO/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and $TiO_2$/PVA nanocomposite fibers were electrospun under a variety of conditions that include various feed rates, electric voltages, and capillary diameters. The morphology of electrospun nanocomposite fibers was examined with a field-emission scanning electron micro- scope and a transmission electron microscope. Decomposition efficiency of gaseous materials (formaldehyde, ammonia, toluene, benzene, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide) by nanocomposite fiber webs with 3wt% nano-particles (ZnO or $TiO_2$) and 7$g/m^2$ web area density was assessed. This study shows that ZnO nanoparticles in colloid were more suitable for fabricating nanocomposite fibers in which nanoparticles are evenly dispersed than in powder. A heat treatment was applied to water-soluble PVA nanofiber webs in order to stabilize the electrospun nanocomposite fibrous structure against dissolution in water. ZnO/PVA and $TiO_2$/PVA nanofiber webs exhibited a range of degradation efficiency for different types of gases. For nitrogen dioxide, the degradation efficiency was 92.2% for ZnO nanocomposite fiber web and 87% for $TiO_2$ nanocomposite fiber web after 20 hours of UV light irradiation. The results indicate that ZnO/PVA and $TiO_2$/PVA nano- composite fiber webs have possible uses in functional textiles that can decompose harmful gases.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.417-421
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• 2018

$TiO_2$ has excellent photocatalytic properties and several studies have reported the increase in its specific surface area. The structure of $TiO_2$ nanofibers indicates promising improved photocatalytic properties and these nanofibers can thus potentially be applied in air pollution sensors and pollutant removal filters. In this study, a $TiO_2$ nanofiber was fabricated by the electrospinning method. The fabrication processing factors such as the applied voltage, the distance between nozzle and collector, and the inflow rate of solution were controlled. The precursor was titanium (IV) isopropoxide and as-spun $TiO_2$ nanofibers were heated at $450^{\circ}C$ for 2 h to obtain an anatase crystalline structure. The microstructure was analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The anatase phase was observed in the $TiO_2$ nanofibers after heat treatment. The diameter of $TiO_2$ nanofibers increased with the flow rate, but decreased with decreasing applied voltage and nozzle to collector distance. The diameter of $TiO_2$ nanofibers was controlled in the range of 364 nm to 660 nm. These nanofibers are expected to be very useful in photocatalytic applications.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.42-45
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• 2014

Recently, tremendous application utilizing electrospun nanofibers have been actively reported due to its several advantages, such as high surface to volume ratio, simple fabrication and high-throughput manufacturing. In this paper, we developed highly sensitive and consistent nanofiber humidity sensor by electrospinning. The humidity sensor was fabricated by rapid electrospinning (~2 sec) $TiO_2$/PVP/LiCl mixed solution on the micro-interdigitated electrode. In order to evaluate the humidity sensing performances, we measured current response using DC bias voltage under various relative humidity levels. The results show fast response / recovery time and marginal hysteresis as well as long-term stability. In addition, with the aid of micro-interdigitated electrode, we can reduce a total resistance of the sensor and increase the total reaction area of nanofibers across the electrodes resulting in high sensitivity and enhanced current level. Therefore, we expect that the electrospun nanofiber array for humidity sensor can be feasible and promising for diverse humidity sensing application.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.10 no.2 s.31
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• pp.1-6
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• 2006

In this study we proposed on effect of the photodecomcomposition of coated nanofiber by $Pd/TiO_2$ for the removal of formaldehyde gas as indoor air pollutant. The photocatalytic reactor was setup in the inside of rectangular box (volume 2 l), UV lamp and the coating nanofiber with $Pd/TiO_2$. This study investigated the reaction rate and the adsorption constant of Langmuir-Heinshelwood, conversion of formaldehyde gas on temperature ($40^{\circ}C{\sim}80^{\circ}C$), effect of conversion (%) under different concentration, and effect of conversion (%) with humidity level on added $SO_2$ gas. As results, the rate constant (k) and adsorption constant (ft) were 114.94ppmv/min, $0.0036ppmv^{-1}$, respectively. and the conversion (%) of formaldehyde gas on temperature ($40^{\circ}C{\sim}80^{\circ}C$) was decreased to about 24%, compare with the first conversion (%). In conversion effect of increasing humidity levels, the presence of sulfur dioxide further decreased than without sulfur dioxide. the decreasing reason of conversion with presence sulfur dioxide judged as a cause of interference factor on the decrease of contact chance with photocatalysts.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.667-671
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• 2014

In this study, we suggest a facile method to control conditions of single component independently when preparing consisting two-component metal oxides nanofiber by simply dispersing nanoparticles in precursor solution. The well dispersed $SiO_2$ nanoparticles in $TiO_2$ nanofibers were successfully synthesized through a simple electrospinning process. The as-synthesized nanodfibers were investigated via FE-SEM, XRD and EDS for structural studies, furthermore, the analysis of UV-VIS and photocatalytic activity were carried out for demonstrate the effect of $SiO_2$ nanoparticles dispersed in $TiO_2$ nanofibers. As a result, $TiO_2$ nanofibres dispersed with $SiO_2$ nanoparticles have enhanced photocatalytic activity than that of $TiO_2$ nanofibres only. In this strategy, the introduction of $SiO_2$ nanoparticles in $TiO_2$ nanofibers were attribute to enlarge absorption in the visible region (380~440 nm). Additionally, $Br{\o}nsted$ acid sites generated in each metal oxide of Ti and Si increase OH radicals efficiently as well as it limit recombination loss by holding photogenerated electrons for high efficient photocatalytic activity.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.495-498
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• 2008

Photocatalytic water splitting into $H_2$ and $O_2$ using semiconductors has received much attention, especially for its potential application to direct production of $H_2$ for clean energy from water utilizing solar light energy. Since the report of Fujishima and Honda on the water splitting by photoelectrochemical cells, numerous different semiconducting materials have been used as photocatalysts for hydrogen generation from water. Among them, platinized titania significantly accelerates hydrogen production from water. For geometrical improvement of $TiO_2$ particle, porous $TiO_2$ structure was proposed and studied such as nanofiber, nanorod and nototubes. This research focuses on finding out the optimum temperature and electrolyte to produce $H_2$ by solar water splitting.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.118-125
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• 2013

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) composite nanofibers were produced at different $TiO_2$ concentrations (0.5, 1 and 1.5 wt.%) using the electrospinning method. The parameters of electrospinning including polymer contents, voltage and tip-to-collector distance (TCD) were optimized for fabrication process. The study showed that 7.5 wt.% PVA, 15 kV applied voltage and 15 cm TCD are the best condition to obtain uniform PVA/$TiO_2$ nanofibers. $TiO_2$ nanoparticles give significant effect in fiber morphology. $TiO_2$ content increases the diameter of the fibers and roughen the fiber surfaces. The PVA/$TiO_2$ nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.30-34
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• 2007

[ $TiO_2/PVP$ ] nanofibers were electrospun by varying the collector grounding design to improve the axial alignment of fibers. The collectors are composed of two pieces of conductive substrates separated by a gap f3r the uniaxial alignment of fibers (X design). The collectors consisting of two sets of substrates placed by $90^{\circ}$ (XY design) equipped with a timer are also prepared for biaxial alignment of fibers. Both collectors show that the charged nanofibers are stretched to span across the gap between the electrodes. Experimental results reveal that the latter collector is more effective on the directionality of electrospun $TiO_2/PVP$ nanofibers due to the dissipation of accumulated electric charge between the collectors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.1767-1778
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• 2010

This study investigates applying $TiO_2$ (titanium dioxide) nanoparticles to polypropylene nonwoven fabrics via electrospinning for the development of UV-protective materials. To fabricate uniform nanocomposite fibers, three types of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were applied: powder, colloid, and $TiO_2$ coated polymer pellets. $TiO_2$/polyurethane (PU) and $TiO_2$/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanocomposite fibers were electrospun and the morphology was examined using a field-emission scanning electron microscope and a transmission electron microscope. Layered fabric systems with electrospun $TiO_2$ nanocomposite fiber webs were developed at various concentrations of $TiO_2$ in a range of the web area density. The effects of $TiO_2$ concentration and web area density on UV-protective properties were examined. When $TiO_2$ colloid was added into a PVA polymer solution, uniform nanocomposite fiber webs in which $TiO_2$ particles were evenly dispersed were produced. Water-soluble PVA nanofiber webs were given a heat treatment to stabilize the electrospun PVA fibrous structure against dissolution in water. $TiO_2$/PVA nanoeomposite fiber webs with 2wt% $TiO_2$ and 3.0g/$m^2$ web area density exhibited an ultraviolet protection factor of greater than 50, indicating excellent UV protection.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2015

In this study, chlorophylls were been extracted from common local plants, deposited on polypropylene (PP) substrate using various approaches, and the oxygen generation effect of the chlorophylls were investigated. The loading of chlorophylls on the substrates was achieved by dipping and spraying methods, where the spraying coating showed overall better results regarding oxygen generation from the combustion experiments in the closed vessel or in the isolated vacuum oven cell than those of dip coating. In addition, a composite substrate was prepared by nylon6/6 nanofiber on the PP substrate, and it exhibited an increase in the activation of chlorophylls. In the case of samples containing titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$), the reaching time of oxygen concentration from 16% to 21% and the combustion test using a candle for a sample with 50% chlorophylls showed similar results to those of a sample without $TiO_2$. As such, combining a spray coating and $TiO_2$ incorporation into gas separation membrane systems are expected to be useful to understand the fundamentals of material properties for their applications as oxygen generation membranes and air filtration systems.