• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.279-288
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• 2007

We have studied a method for the preparation of $ACF/TiO_2$ composites involving the penetrationof titanium n-butoxide (TNB) solution into activated carbon fiber. It was focused on the characterization of $TiO_2$ formed in prorous carbon was which increased with surface functional groups by hydrochloric acid treatment. The conversion of TNB to $TiO_2$ for the acid treatment effect must be important for the preparationof $ACF/TiO_2$ composites. From the characterization of surface properties, both the BET surface area and the total pore volume decreased as the distribution of $TiO_2$ on the activated carbon fiber surfaces after acid treatments.The changes in XRD pattern showed the typical anatase type on $ACF/TiO_2$ composite for the sample named FT, FT1 and FT2 treated with 0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 M, respectively. However, XRD patern of FT3 treated with 0.5M showed mixed amatase-rutile structure. According to the results of SEM micrographs, the titanium complexe particles were irregularly distributed around carbon. And some large clusters were found when an amount of acid treatment increased. The EDX results of $ACF/TiO_2$ composites showed the presence of C, O and P with strong Ti peaks. Finally, the excellent photocatalytic activity of the $ACF/TiO_2$ composites between relative concentration($c/c_o$) of MB (methylene blue) and UV irradiation time could be attributed to the both effects between photocatalysis of the formation of titania complexes and adsorptivity of the activated carbon fiber.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.150-156
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• 2008

Pitch-binded activated carbon fiber(ACF)/$TiO_2$ composite photocatalysts were prepared by Carbon Tetra Chloride (CTC) solvent mixing method with different mixing ratios of anatase to ACF. The result of the textural surface properties demonstrated that there is a slight increase in the Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) surface area of composites with an increase of the amount of ACF. The surfaces structure morphologies of the composites were observed using an Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). In the XRD patterns for all ACF/$TiO_2$ composites, the diffraction peaks showed the formation of anatase crystallites. The EDX spectra showed the presence of C, O and Si with strong Ti peaks. Most of these samples were richer in carbon and major Ti metal than any other elements. From the photo-decomposition results, the excellent activity of the ACF/$TiO_2$ composites between c/$c_0$ for methylene blue and UV irradiation time could be attributed to both the effects of the photocatalysis of the supported $TiO_2$ and adsorptivity of activated carbon fiber and another carbon derived from pitch.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.561-567
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• 2009

The Fe-ACF/$TiO_2$ composites were prepared by a sol-gel method and were characterized by nitrogen adsorption, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX). The Fe-ACF/$TiO_2$ composites were developed for the decomposition of organic dyes by using a UV lamp. The decomposition effect was investigated under various conditions, such as three selected non-biodegradable organic dyes like Methylene Blue (MB), Methyl Orange (MO), Rhodamine B (Rh.B), and in the presence of Fe and hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$). The photocatalytic activity was derived from possible combination effects, such as (1) adsorption of ACF, (2) generation of electron/hole by $TiO_2$, (3) photo-Fenton reaction of Fe, and (4) oxidation of $Fe^{2+}\;to\;Fe^{3+}\;by\;H_2O_2$.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.139-144
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• 2014

Activated carbon fiber (ACF) was modified with MnS nanoparticles to prepare MnS-ACF, and it was employed for preparation of MnS-$ACF/TiO_2$ composites with titanium (IV) n-butoxide (TNB). The properties of MnS-$ACF/TiO_2$ composites were characterized by XRD, SEM, and EDX. EDX results showed the presence of C, O, and Ti as major elements and traces of the metal elements Mn and S. The photocatlytic activity was evaluated by degradation of methyl blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dye. The results demonstrated that as-prepared samples could effectively photodegrade MB and MO under UV irradiation. Subsequently, the decomposition of MB solution showed the combined effects of adsorptions by ACF and enhanced photocatalytic effect by $TiO_2$. Finally, the photocatalytic effect increased due to photo-induced-electron absorption effect by ACF and electron trap effect by comodified MnS nanoparticles.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.225-232
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• 2010

In present study, a conventional sol-gel method was used to prepare Fe-ACF/$TiO_2$ composites, a kind of composite photocatalysts, whose capability was evaluated by degrading methylene blue (MB) solution. The particle size, surface structure, crystal phase and elemental identification of the composites prepared were characterized by BET, SEM, XRD and EDX, respectively. The spectra of MB concentration degraded under visible light were obtained by UV/Vis spectrophotometer. These obtained spectra demonstrated the photocaltalytic activity from removal concentrations of MB. It was considered that these photonic activities are induced by a strong synergetic reaction among ACF, $TiO_2$ and Fe in the composite photocatalysts under visible light.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.343-348
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• 2016

Manganese and $TiO_2$ grown on Activated Carbon Fiber (ACF) was synthesized by hydrothermal method. The prepared composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The catalytic behavior was investigated through the decomposition of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) as standard dyes under visible light. The degradation performance of the degraded standard dye solutions was determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. This enhanced photocatalytic activity arises from the positive synergetic effect among the Mn, $TiO_2$ and ACF in this heterogeneous photocatalyst. The process contributes to the release of abundant photocatalytic sites of Mn and $TiO_2$ and improves the photocatalytic efficiency. The excellent adsorption and photocatalytic effect with the explanation of the synergetic mechanism are very useful not only for fundamental research but also for potential practical applications.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.269-274
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• 2013

ACF and ZnO modified $TiO_2$ composite materials (ZnO-ACF/$TiO_2$) were prepared by a sol-gel method. The composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. A methyl orange (MO) solution under visible light irradiation was used to determine the photocatalytic activity. The degradation of the MO was determined using UV spectrophotometers. An increase in the photocatalytic activity was observed and attributed to an increase of the photo-absorption effect by the ZnO and the cooperative effect of the ACF.

• Carbon letters
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• v.27
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• pp.64-71
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• 2018

$TiO_2$-doped activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were successfully prepared as capacitive deionization (CDI) electrode materials by facile ultrasonication-assisted process. ACFs were treated with titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) and isopropyl alcohol solutions of different concentrations and then calcinated by ultrasonication without heat-treatment. The results show that a certain amount of anatase $TiO_2$ was present on the ACF surface. The specific capacitance of the $TiO_2$-doped ACF electrode was remarkably improved (by 93.8% at scan rate of $50mV\;s^{-1}$) over that of the untreated ACF electrode, despite decreases in the specific surface area and total pore volume upon $TiO_2$ doping. From the CDI experiments, the salt adsorption capacity and charge efficiency of the sample with TTIP percent concentration of 15% were found to considerably increase by 71.9 and 57.1%, respectively. These increases are attributed to the improved wettability of the electrode, which increases the number of surface active sites and facilitates salt ion diffusion in the ACF pores. Additionally, the Ti-OH groups of $TiO_2$ act as electrosorption sites, which increases the electrosorption capacity.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.282-287
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• 2011

ACF and $WO_3$ modified $TiO_2$ composites (ACF/$WO_3$/$TiO_2$) were prepared using a sol-gel method. The composites were characterized by Brunauer.Emmett.Teller (BET) surface area measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. A methyl orange (MO) solution under visible light irradiation was used to determine the photocatalytic activity. The degradation of the MO was determined using UV/Vis spectrophotometry. An increase in photocatalytic activity was observed and attributed to an increase of the photo-absorption effect by the $WO_3$ and the cooperative effect of the ACF.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.433-438
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• 2010

Fe-carbon/$TiO_2$ composites were prepared by a sol-gel method using AC, ACF, CNT and $C_{60}$ as carbon precursors and were characterized by means of BET surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The activity of the prepared photocatalysts was investigated by degradation reaction of methylene blue (MB) irradiated with UV lamp. Effects of different carbon sources and irradiation time on photocatalytic activity were also investigated. The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of the Fe-carbon/$TiO_2$ composites was much higher than that of pristine $TiO_2$ and Fe/$TiO_2$ composites. The prominent photocatalytic activity of Fecarbon/$TiO_2$ composites could be attributed to both the effects of photo-adsorption and electron transfer by carbon substrate. In addition, the higher photocatalytic activity of Fe-carbon/$TiO_2$ composites can be compared with that of carbon/$TiO_2$ and Fe /$TiO_2$ composites due to cooperative effects between Fe and carbon.