• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2006

Lithium titanium oxide $(Li_4Ti_5O_{12})$ with spinel-framework structures as anode material for lithium-ion battery was prepared by sol-gel and high energy ball milling (HEBH) method. According to the X-ray diffraction (XRD), Particle Size Analyses(PSA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, uniformly distributed $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ particles with grain sizes of 100 nm were observed. Half cells, consisting of $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ as working electrode and lithium foil as both counter and reference electrodes showed the high performance of high rate discharge capacity and 173 mAh/g at 0.2C in the range of $1.0\sim2.5 V$. Furthermore, the crystalline structure of $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ didn't transform during the lithium intercalation and deintercalation process.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.330-336
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• 2015

Photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) in aqueous solution was investigated using $TiO_2$ nanoparticles (Degussa P25) in this study. After a 3 hr photocatalytic reaction (${\lambda}=365nm$ and $I=3mW\;cm^{-2}$, $[TiO_2]=2.0g\;L^{-1}$), 98% of BPA ($1.0{\times}10^{-5}M$) was degraded and 89% of the total organic carbon was removed. In addition, BPA degradation by photolytic, hydrolytic and adsorption reactions was found to be 2%, 5% and 13%, respectively. The reaction rate of BPA degradation by photocatalysis decreased with increasing concentration of methanol that is used as a hydroxyl radical scavenger. This indicates that the reaction between BPA and hydroxyl radical was the key mechanism of BPA degradation. The pseudo-first-order reaction rate constant for this reaction was determined to be $7.94{\times}10^{-4}min^{-1}$, and the time for 90% BPA removal was found to be 25 min. In addition, acute toxicity testing using Daphnia magna neonates (< 24 h old) was carried out to evaluate the reduction of BPA toxicity. Acute toxicity (48 hr) to D. magna was decreased from 2.93 TU (toxic unit) to non-toxic after photocatalytic degradation of BPA for 3 hr. This suggests that there was no formation of toxic degradation products from BPA photocatalysis.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.403-408
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• 2012

Gelatin/Ag nanoparticle (AgNP) biocomposite was synthesized using the solution plasma process (SPP) that has been recently introduced as an effective method for synthesis of nanoparticles. In this study, gelatin/AgNP biocomposite was synthesized using various concentrations of Ag precursor ($AgNO_3$) and gelatin in the range of 1-5 mM and 1-3% (w/w), respectively, without using any chemical reducing agent. Physical properties of the gelatin/AgNP biocomposites were analyzed using EDS, FE-SEM, and TEM. The results indicated that spherical AgNPs with approximately 12~20 nm in diameter were synthesized successfully in the gelatin matrix by SPP. As the concentration of gelatin was increased (3%, w/w), disperse stability of AgNP was improved and micro-pores of gelatin became smaller and denser in the 3D scaffold. Bactericidal activity of the AgNPs was examined against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli by measuring zone of growth inhibition and decrease in colony forming unit (CFU). CFUs of S. aureus and E. coli were decreased approximately to 56% and 0%, respectively, by the gelatin/AgNP biocomposite, Ag5G3.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.307-318
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• 2020

Conventional perfluorinated sulfonic acid membrane, Nafion is widely used for vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB). It is desired to prevent vanadium ion permeation through a membrane to retain the capacity, and to keep the cell efficiency of a VRFB. Highly proton conductive and chemically stable Nafion membranes, however, suffer from high vanadium permeation, which induce the reduction in charge and discharge capacity by side reactions of vanadium ions. In this study, to resolve the issue, silica nanoparticles, which are functionalized with 3-aminopropyl group (fS) are introduced to enhance the long-term performance of a VRFB by lowering vanadium permeation. It is expected that amine groups on silica nanoparticles are converted to positive ammonium ion, which could deteriorate positively charged vanadium ions' crossover by Gibbs-Donnan effect. There is reduction in proton conductivity may due to acid-base complexation between fS and Nafion side chains, but ion selectivity of proton to vanadium ion is enhanced by introducing fS to Nafion membranes. With the composite membranes of Nafion and fS, VRFBs maintain their discharge capacity up to 80% at a high current density of 150 mA/㎠ during 200 cycles.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.77-88
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• 2015

Soil column experiments were evaluated effects of silver nanoparticles (i.e., 0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/L) on the microbial viability which is strongly associated with the degradation of organic matter, pharmaceutically active compounds(PhACs) and biological oxidation of nitrogenous compounds during river bank filtration. The addition of silver nanoparticles resulted in almost no change in the aqueous matrix. However, the intact cell concentration decreased with addition of silver nanoparticles from 2.5 to 10 mg/L, which accounted for 76% to 82% reduction compared to that of control (silver nanoparticles free surface water). The decrease in adenosine triphosphate was more pronounced; thus, the number and active cells in aqueous phase were concurrently decreased with added silver nanoparticles. Based on the florescence excitation-emission matrix and liquid chromatograph - organic carbon detection analyses, it shows that the removal of protein-like substances was relatively higher than that of humic-like substances, and polysaccharide was substantially reduced. But the extent of those substances removed during soil passage was decreased with the increasing concentration of silver nanoparticles. The attenuation of ionic PhACs ranged from 55% to 80%, depending on the concentration of silver nanoparticles. The attenuation of neutral PhACs ranged between 72% and 77%, which was relatively lower than that observed for the ionic PhACs. The microbial viability was affected by silver nanoparticles, which also resulted in inhibition of nitrifiers.

• Clean Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2015

Indium-Tin-Oxide (ITO) is a material that is widely used for transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs). Indium (In), chief element of the ITO, is expected to be depleted in the near future owing to its high cost and limited reserves. To overcome the issue, ITO has to be retained by recycling redundant ITO targets after manufacturing processes. In this article, we proposed an efficient recycling way of the redundant ITO targets with investigation of the current recycling tendencies in domestic and foreign countries. As a result, it was revealed that only In is recycled from the redundant targets in domestic and Japan. As well, fabrication of TCEs is being researched with ITO nanoparticles solutions. However, since the TCEs fabricated with ITO target is superior to those with other materials, it is thought that establishment of regeneration technology of ITO itself is demanded for an efficient recycling and fabrication of ITO target.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2009

Nanotechnology, one of the technologies that forms the core of the recent scientific innovation, is used much in our real lives. Especially products that use nano silver are being sold, with its positive characteristics resulting from the antibacterial effects of both nano materials and silver. But critiques have pointed out that nano silver diffused into everyday life too quickly as we do not have done any comprehensive research about the material, and worry that nano silver will affect the ecology adversely. Therefore, this research focuses on investigating the toxicity of silver nanoparticles first. To compare the effects of exposure to silver nanoparticles at pre-somite stage and somite stage(10 hours after fertilization), we exposed zebrafish embryos to silver nanoparticles(15, 30 ppt) during embryogenesis, and then checked the details of catalase enzyme activity. The hatch rate decreased in the silver nanoparticles exposed groups(15 and 30 ppt); furthermore, the hatched fishes had an abnormal notochord, damaged eyes and curved tail. The catalase activities of the 15 ppt exposed group at somite stage increased relative to those in the control group. Therefore, the silver nanoparticles could seriously damage the development of zebrafish embryos. Especially, exposure to silver nanoparticles at somite stage did severer damage than exposure since pre-somite stage did.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.215-222
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• 2010

The market size of engineered nanoparticles is rapidly increasing due to the fast application of nanotechnologies into different industries and consumer products. The development of new technology and materials has improved human's quality of life, but it also entails the possibility of exposure to new materials. In this study, we compared the distribution in the body by the inflow of silver nanoparticles having another diameter and shape at 1 h or 24 h after injection via the tail vein. And, we compared the cell composition and cytokine concentration in BAL fluid, and histopathological changes. As results, discharge of silver nanoparticles having small diameter and sphere shape was more rapid than that of big diameter or plate shape. It is estimated that the toxicity in liver and lung was proportional to accumulation level. The persistence of inflammation was also longer in mice treated with plate shape. Consequently, we suggest that the first choice of silver nanoparticles having small diameter and sphere shape in applying is desirable.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.571-579
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• 2013

The aggregation behaviors of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) nanoparticles were investigated. Time-resolved dynamic light scattering (DLS) was used to study the initial aggregation of AgNPs and $TiO_2$ over a range of mono (NaCl) and divalent ($CaCl_2$) electrolyte concentrations. The effects of pH, initial concentration of NPs and natural organic matters (NOM) on the aggregation of NPs were also investigated. The aggregation of both nanoparticles showed classical Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) type behavior. Divalent electrolyte was more efficient in destabilize the AgNPs and $TiO_2$ than monovalent electrolyte. The effect of pH on the aggregation of AgNPs was not significant. But the aggregation rate of $TiO_2$ was much higher with increasing pH. Higher NPs concentration leads to faster aggregation. Natural organic matter (NOM) was found to substantially hinder the aggregation of both AgNPs and $TiO_2$. This study found that the aggregation behavior of AgNPs and $TiO_2$ are closely associated with environmental factors such as ionic strength, pH, initial concentration of NPs and NOM.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.550-558
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• 2021

In a radiotracer study, the bioaccumulation and efflux of metals in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) exposed to soil spiked with ZnO and Ag nanoparticles (AgNP) were compared to those exposed to soil spiked with ionic Zn and Ag. Additionally, the bioavailability and chemical mobility of nano- and ionic metals in the soil were estimated using the sequential extraction method and compared to the bioaccumulation factor(BAF). The BAF for ZnO (0.06) was 31 times lower than that for Zn ions (1.86), suggesting that ZnO was less bioavailable than the ionic form in contaminated soil. In contrast, the BAFs for two types of AgNPs coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (0.12) or citrate (0.11) were comparable to those of ionic Ag (0.17). The sequential extraction of metals from the soil suggests that the chemically mobile fractions in the Zn ion treatment were higher(35%) than those (<20%) in the Ag ion treatment, which was consistent with the greater BAFs in the former than the latter. However, the chemical mobility in the ZnO treatments did not predict bioavailability. The efflux rates of Ag (3.2-3.8% d^-1) in the worms were 2-3×those(1.2-1.7% d^-1) for Zn.