• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.497-502
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• 2019

Metal oxide nanostructures are promising materials for advanced applications, such as high sensitive gas sensors, and high capacitance lithium-ion batteries. In this study, tin oxide (SnO) nanostructures were grown on a Si wafer substrate using a two-zone horizontal furnace system for a various substrate temperatures. The raw material of tin dioxide ($SnO_2$) powder was vaporized at $1070^{\circ}C$ in an alumina crucible. High purity Ar gas, as a carrier gas, was flown with a flow rate of 1000 standard cubic centimeters per minute. The SnO nanostructures were grown on a Si substrate at $350{\sim}450^{\circ}C$ under 545 Pa for 30 minutes. The surface morphology of the as-grown SnO nanostructures on Si substrate was characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Raman spectroscopy was used to confirm the phase of the as-grown SnO nanostructures. As the results, the as-grown tin oxide nanostructures exhibited a pure tin monoxide phase. As the substrate temperature was increased from $350^{\circ}C$ to $424^{\circ}C$, the thickness and grain size of the SnO nanostructures were increased. The SnO nanostructures grown at $450^{\circ}C$ exhibited complex polycrystalline structures, whereas the SnO nanostructures grown at $350^{\circ}C$ to $424^{\circ}C$ exhibited simple grain structures parallel to the substrate.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.81-86
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• 2019

Metal oxide/graphene composites have been known as promising functional materials for advanced applications such as high sensitivity gas sensor, and high capacitive secondary battery. In this study, tin dioxide ($SnO_2$) nanostructures were grown on chemically synthesized graphene nanosheets using a two-zone horizontal furnace system. The large area graphene nanosheets were synthesized on Cu foil by thermal chemical vapor deposition system with the methane and hydrogen gas. Chemically synthesized graphene nanosheets were transferred on cleaned $SiO_2$(300 nm)/Si substrate using the PMMA. The $SnO_2$ nanostuctures were grown on graphene nanosheets at $424^{\circ}C$ under 3.1 Torr for 3 hours. Raman spectroscopy was used to estimate the quality of as-synthesized graphene nanosheets and to confirm the phase of as-grown $SnO_2$ nanostructures. The surface morphology of as-grown $SnO_2$ nanostructures on graphene nanosheets was characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). As the results, the synthesized graphene nanosheets are bi-layers graphene nanosheets, and as-grown tin oxide nanostructures exhibit tin dioxide phase. The morphology of $SnO_2$ nanostructures on graphene nanosheets exhibits complex nanostructures, whereas the surface morphology of $SnO_2$ nanostructures on $SiO_2$(300 nm)/Si substrate exhibits simply nano-dots. The complex nanostructures of $SnO_2$ on graphene nanosheets are attributed to functional groups on graphene surface.

• Clean Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.286-292
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• 2020

This study confirmed the effect of the Cu/CeO2-X catalyst on the CO oxidation activity at low temperature through the catalyst's structure and reaction characteristics. The catalyst was prepared by the wet impregnation method. Cu/CeO2_X catalysts were manufactured by loading Cu (active metal) using CeO2 (support) formed at different calcination temperatures (300-600 ℃). Manufactured Cu/CeO2_X catalysts were evaluated for the low-temperature activity of carbon monoxide. The Cu/CeO2_300 catalyst showed an activity of 90% at 125 ℃, but the activity gradually decreased as the calcination temperature of the CeO2-X and Cu/CeO2_600 catalysts showed an activity of 65% at 125 ℃. Raman, XRD, H2-TPR, and XPS analysis confirmed the physicochemical properties of the catalysts. Based on the XPS analysis, the lower the calcination temperature of the CeO2 was, the higher the unstable Ce3+ species (non-stoichiometric species) ratio became. The increased Ce3+ species formed a solid solution bond between Cu and CeO2-X, and it was confirmed by the change of the CeO2 peak in Raman analysis and the reduction peak of the solid solution structure in H2-TPR analysis. According to the result, the formation of the solid solution bond between Cu and Ce has been enhanced by the redox properties of the catalysts and by CO oxidation activity at low temperatures.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.100-105
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• 2021

Recently, all-solid-state batteries have attracted much attention to improve safety of rechargeable lithium batteries, but the solid-state batteries of conductive ceramics or solid polymer electrolytes show poor electrochemical properties because of several problems such as high interfacial resistance and undesired reactions. To solve the problems of the reported all-solid-state batteries, a hybrid solid electrolyte is suggested, in this study, NASICON-type nanoparticle Li_1.5Al_0.5Ti_1.5P₃O₁₂ (LATP) conductive ceramic, PVdF-HFP, and a carbonate-based liquid electrolyte were composited to prepare a quasi-solid electrolyte. The hybrid solid electrolyte has a high voltage stability of 5.6 V and shows an suppress effect of lithium dendrite growth in the stripping-plating test. The LiNi_0.83Co_0.11Mn_0.06O₂ (NCM811)-based battery with the hybrid solid electrolyte exhibits a high discharge capacity of 241.5 mAh/g at a high charge-cut-off voltage of 4.8V and stable electrochemical reaction. The NCM811-based battery also shows 139.4 mAh/g discharge capacity without short circuit or explosion at 90℃. Therefore, the LATP-based hybrid solid electrolyte can be an effective solution to improve the safety and electrochemical properties of rechargeable lithium batteries.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.19-25
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• 2022

In this study, tungsten carbide (WC) powder was prepared using a novel recycling process for hard metal sludge that does not use ammonium paratungstate. Instead of ammonia, acid was used to remove the sodium and crystallized tungstate, resulting in the formation of tungstic acid (H₂WO₄). The WC powder was successfully synthesized by the carbothermal reduction of tungstic acid through H₂O decomposition, reduction of WO₃ to W, and formation of WC. The carbon content and holding time at the carbothermal reduction temperature were optimized to remove free carbon from the WC powder. As a result, most of the free carbon in the WC powder prepared from sludge was removed, and the content of free carbon in the synthesized WC powder was lower than that in commercial WC powder. Moreover, the crystallite size of WC prepared from H₂WO₄ was much smaller than that of commercial micron-sized WC powder produced from APT. The small crystallite size of WC induces grain growth during the sintering of the WC-Co composite; thus, a WC-Co composite with large WC grains was fabricated using the WC powder prepared from H₂WO₄. The large WC grains affected the mechanical properties of the WC-Co composite. Further, due to the large grain size, the WC-Co composite fabricated from H₂WO₄ exhibited a higher toughness than that of the WC-Co composite prepared from commercial WC powder.

• Clean Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.163-171
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• 2023

Hydrogen has been gaining a lot of attention as a possible clean energy source that can aid in reaching carbon neutrality. Currently, hydrogen production has relied on the steam reforming of fossil fuels. However, due to the carbon dioxide emissions caused by this process, hydrogen production based on the steam reforming of bio-oil derived from biomass has been proposed as an alternative approach. In order to use this alternative approach efficiently, one of the key issues that must be overcome is that the complexity of bio-oil, which has a large molecular weight and diverse functional groups of hydrocarbons, promotes the catalytic deactivation of nickel-based catalysts. In this review, research efforts to improve nickel-based catalysts for the steam reforming of bio-oil have been discussed in terms of the active phase, support, and promoters. The active phases are involved in activating C-C and C-H bonds of high-molecular-weight hydrocarbons, and noble and transition metals can be utilized. In terms of the support and promoters, the catalytic deactivation of Ni-based catalysts can be inhibited by utilizing reactive lattice oxygen for support or by suppressing the acidity. The development of active and stable Ni-based reforming catalysts plays a critical role in clean hydrogen production based on bio-oils.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.415-421
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• 2009

A study was performed to investigate the isobaric effects of impurities in isotope measurement of gadolinium by TIMS. Especially, the ratio of $^{155}Gd/^{158}Gd$ showed the higher value than that of natural gadolinium and also decreased as the measuring time increased. This phenomenon is considered to be due to the oxide form of La ($LaO^+$, m/z=155) causing to create a serious bias on the measurement of $^{155}Gd$ abundance by La as an impurity, and due to $LaO^+$ produced more than the $Gd^+$ in the early time which disappears as the time goes on because of lower melting point and ionization potential of La than Gd. Although isobaric effects from Ba($BaO^+$), Ce($CeO^+$), Sm($SmO^+$), La($LaO^+$), and $K_4{^+}$(m/z=156)-cluster were detected even when blank rhenium filaments were used, these could be avoided by preconditioning(baking out) the filament. And we found that the measurement of $GdO^+$ instead of $Gd^+$ is more suitable in avoiding the isobaric effect from impurities such as La, Ce and Ba in the measurement of Gd isotope only in case of absence or extremely low level of Yb, Sm, Dy, Er, Lu.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.612-618
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• 2023

Modern society spends more than 80% of its daily life indoors, emphasizing the need for attention to indoor air pollution due to the improvement in living standards. In this study, the performance and reaction characteristics of the Pt/TiO₂ catalysts prepared by liquid-phase reduction for the removal of formaldehyde (HCHO), one of the indoor air pollutants, at room temperature without the need for additional light or heat were investigated. As a result, it showed that catalysts prepared by the same method showed approximately 40~80% various activities depending on the type of TiO₂. XRD, BET, and XPS analyses were performed to investigate the particle size, crystal structure, specific surface area, and O/Ti molar ratio of the support material, and it revealed that the correlation between the properties and performance was insignificant. To explore the oxidation reaction pathway of formaldehyde (HCHO), in situ DRIFT analysis using carbon monoxide and H₂-TPR was perfomed. The results revealed that the performance was demonstrated by the oxidation state of the active metal and the adsorption-desorption characteristics of the adsorbate species.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.359-370
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• 2009

Arsenic and heavy metals leached out as a result of oxidation of tailings exposed to the surface pose a serious environmental contamination of mine areas. This study investigated how arsenic behavior is controlled by a variety of processes, such as oxidation of sulfides and formation or alteration of secondary minerals, based on mineralogical methods. The study was carried out using the tailing samples obtained from Nakdong mine located in Jeongseongun, Gangwondo. After separating magnetic and non-magnetic minerals using pretreated tailing samples, each mineral sample was classified according to their colors and metallic lusters observed by the stereoscopic microscope. Subsequently, the mineralogical properties were determined using various instrumental analyses, such as x-ray diffractometer (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA). The literature review confirmed that various ore minerals were identified in the Nakdong ore deposits. In this study, however, there were observed a few original ore minerals as well as secondary and/or tertiary minerals newly formed as a result of weathering including oxidation. In particular, we did not recognize pyrrhotite which has been known to originally exist in a large abundance, but peculiarly colloform-type iron (oxy)hydroxides were identified, which indicates most of pyrrhotite has been altered by rapid weathering due to its large reactivity. In addition, a secondary scorodites filling the fissure of weathered primary arsenopyrites were identified, and it is speculated that arsenic is immobilized through such a alteration reaction. Also, we observed tertiary iron (oxy)hydroxides were formed as a result of re-alteration of secondary jarosites, and it suggests that the environment of tailing has been changed to high pH from low pH condition which was initiated and developed by oxidation reactions of diverse primary ore minerals. The environmental change is mainly attributed to interactions between secondary minerals and parental rocks around the mine. As a result, not only was the stability of secondary minerals declined, but tertiary minerals were newly formed. As such a process goes through, arsenic which was immobilized is likely to re-dissolve and disperse into surrounding environments.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2016

The objectives of this study were to recover silica and iron oxides and $CO_2$ sequestration using serpentine via various acid dissolution and pH swing processes. Serpentine collected from Guhang-myeon in S. Korea were mainly composed of antigorite and magnetite consisting of $SiO_2$ (45.3 wt.%), MgO (41.3 wt.%), $Fe_2O_3$ (12.2 wt.%). Serpentine pulverized ($${\leq_-}75{\mu}m$$) and then dissolved in 3 different acids, HCl, $H_2SO_4$, $HNO_3$. Residues treated with acidic solution were recovered from the solution (step 1). And then the residual solution containing dissolved serpentine was titrated using $NH_4OH$. And pH of the solution increased up to pH=8.6 to obtain reddish precipitates (step 2). After recovery of the precipitates, the residual solution reacted with $CO_2$ and then pH increased up to pH=9.5 to precipitate white materials (step 3). The mineralogical characteristics of the original sample and harvested precipitates were examined by XRD, and TEM-EDS analyses. ICP-AES analysis was also used to investigate solution chemistry. The dissolved ions were Mg, Si, and Fe. The antigorite became noncrystralline silica after acid treatment (step 1). The precipitate at pH=8.6 was mainly amorphous iron oxide, of which size ranged from 2 to 10 nm and mainly consisting of Fe, O, and Si (step 2). At pH=9.5, nesquehonite [$Mg(HCO_3)(OH){\cdot}2(H_2O)$] and lasfordite [$MgCO_3{\cdot}H_2O$] were formed after reaction with $CO_2$ (step 3). The size of carbonated minerals was ranged from 1 to $6{\mu}m$. These results indicated that the acid treatment of serpentine and pH swing processes for the serpentine can be used for synthesis of other materials such as silica, iron oxides and magnesium carbonate. Also, This process may be useful for the precursor synthesis and $CO_2$ sequestration via mineral carbonation.