• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.649-666
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• 2023

In the current scenario, conventional concrete faces a substantial challenge in the modern era of the construction industry. Today's structures are massive, featuring innovative designs and strict time constraints. Conventional concrete does not provide the required compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, toughness, and cracking resistance. As a result, most of engineers and professionals prefer to use ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), based on its wide advantages. Several advantages like mechanical and durability properties of UHPC provides dominant properties than the traditional concrete. Mix proportions of UHPC consists of higher powder content which provides maximum hydration and pozzolanic reaction, thereby contributing to the enhancement of the UHPC properties. Apart from that the nanomaterials provides the filler behavior, which will further improve the density. Enhanced density and mechanical properties lead to improved durability properties against water absorption and other typical chemicals. Nanomaterials are the most adopted materials for various applications, ranging in size from 0.1 nanometers to 100 nanometers. This article explores the effects of nanomaterial application in UHPC as a replacement for cementitious material or as an additive in the UHPC mix. The physical and durability properties modifications and improvements of UHPC, as well as negative effects, limitations, and shortcomings, are also analyzed.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.21-30
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• 2023

Solar cells, converting abundant solar energy into electrical energy, are considered crucial for sustainable energy generation. Recent advancements focus on nanoparticle-enhanced solar cells to overcome limitations and improve efficiency. These cells offer two potential efficiency enhancements. Firstly, plasmonic effects through nanoparticles can improve optical performance by enhancing absorption. Secondly, nanoparticles can improve charge transport and reduce recombination losses, enhancing electrical performance. However, factors like nanoparticle size, placement, and solar cell structure influence the overall performance. This study evaluates the performance of silver nanoparticles incorporated in a p-i-n structure of perovskite solar cells, generated via aerosol state by the evaporation and condensation system. The silver nanoparticles deposited between the hole transport layer and transparent electrode form nanoparticle embedded transport layer (NETL). The evaluation of the optoelectronic properties of perovskite devices using NETL demonstrates their potential for improving efficiency. The findings highlight the possibility of nanoparticle incorporation in perovskite solar cells, providing insights for sustainable energy generation.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

For higher sensitivity in ultraviolet (UV) and even vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) detection of silicon-based sensors, a sandwich-structured film sensor based on Ag Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) was designed and fabricated. This film sensor was composed of a Ag nanoparticles (NPs) layer, SiO2 buffer and fluorescence layer by physical vapour deposition and thermal annealing. By tuning the annealing temperature and adding the SiO2 layer, the resonance absorption wavelength of Ag NPs matched with the emission wavelength of the fluorescence layer. Due to the strong plasmon resonance coupling and electromagnetic field formed on the surface of Ag NPs, the radiative recombination rate of the luminescent materials and the number of fluorescent molecules in the excited state increased. Therefore, the fluorescent emission intensity of the sandwich-structured film sensor was 1.10-1.58 times at 120-200 nm and 2.17-2.93 times at 240-360 nm that of the single-layer film sensor. A feasible method is provided for improving the detection performance of UV and VUV detectors.

• Plant Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.32-41
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• 2021

Recently, air environmental issues such as fine dust have rapidly emerged as national issues, and intensive environmental regulations are being applied to coal-fired power plants. This study introduces the case of improving the performance of desulfurization facilities for removing sulfur oxides and dust, which are the main air pollutant emitters of coal-fired power plants, and conducted four case studies to improve the performance of 1,000 MW power plants currently in operation and carried out construction. Liquid ratio was increased by remodeling the absorption tower of desulfurization facilities, and vaporization reaction was promoted by increasing the flow rate of oxidized air. In addition, the gas heater leakage rate was improved to improve the efficiency of final desulfurization facilities. It is expected that performance improvement work considering harmony with existing facilities will satisfy the regulations(25ppm of sulfur oxides, 5mg/Sm³) that will be applied from 2023, and can be referred to other thermal power plants for review and application.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2015

In this study, an n-ZnO/p-Si heterojunction diode with embedded Ag nanoparticles was fabricated to investigate the possible improvement of light trapping via the surface plasmon resonance effect for solar cell applications. The Ag nanoparticles were fabricated by the physical sputtering method. The acquired current-voltage curves and optical absorption spectra demonstrated that the application of Ag nanoparticles in the n-ZnO/p-Si interface increased the photo current, particularly in specific wavelength regions. The results indicate that the enhancement of the photo current was caused by the surface plasmon resonance effect generated by the Ag nanoparticles. In addition, minority carrier lifetime measurements showed that the recombination losses caused by the Ag nanoparticles were negligible. These results suggest that the embedding of Ag nanoparticles is a powerful method to improve the performance of n-ZnO/p-Si heterojunction solar cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.221-221
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• 2012

Small-molecule organic photovoltaic cells have recently attracted growing attention due to their potential for the low-cost fabrication of flexible and lightweight solar modules. The PVP/Ag nanoparticles were synthesized by the reaction of poly vinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and silver nitrate at $150^{\circ}C$. In the reaction, the size of the nanoparticles was controlled by relative mole fractions between PVP and Ag. The PVP/Ag nanoparticles with various sizes were then spin coated on the patterned ITO glass prior to the deposition of the PEDOT:PSS hole transport layer. The scattering of the incident light caused by these incorporated nanoparticles resulted in an increase in the path length of the light through the active layer and hence the enhancement of the light absorption. This scattering effect increased as the size of the nanoparticles increased, but it was offset by the decrease in total transmittance caused by the non-transparent nanoparticles. As a result, the maximum power conversion efficiency, 0.96% which was the value enhanced by 14% compared to the cell without incorporation of nanoparticles, was obtained when the mole fraction of PVP:Ag was 24:1 and the size of the nanoparticles was 20~40 nm.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.295-295
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• 2016

Recently, TCO films with low carrier concentration, high mobility and high work function are proposed beneficial as front electrode in HIT solar cell due to free-carrier absorption in NIR wavelength region and low Schottky barrier height in the front TCO/a-Si:H(p) interface. We report high transmittance and work function zirconium-doped indium tin oxide (ITO:Zr) films with various plasma (Ar/O2 and Ar) conditions. The role of (Ar/O2) plasma was to enhance the work function of the ITO:Zr films whereas the pure Ar plasma based ITO:Zr showed good electrical properties. The RF magnetron sputtered ITO:Zr films with low resistivity and high transmittance were employed as front electrode in HIT solar cells, yield the best performance of 18.15% with an open-circuit voltage of 710 eV and current density of 34.63 mA/cm2. The high work function ITO:Zr films can be used to modify the front barrier height of HIT solar cell.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.2883-2888
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• 2013

To enhance the power conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), the surface of titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) photoelectrode was modified by hydroxylation treatment with $NH_4OH$ solution at $70^{\circ}C$ for 6 h. The $NH_4OH$ solutions of various concentrations were used to introduce the hydroxyl groups on $TiO_2$ surface. As the concentration of $NH_4OH$ was increased, the short-circuit current density ($J_{SC}$) value and conversion efficiency of solar cells were increased because the amount of adsorbed dye molecules on $TiO_2$ surface was increased. As a result of the surface modification to introduce hydroxyl groups, the concentration of adsorbed dye on the $TiO_2$ surface could be improved up to 32.61% without the changes of morphology, surface area and pore volume of particles. The morphology, the specific surface area, the pore volume and the chemical states of $TiO_2$ surface were characterized by using FE-SEM, $N_2$ adsorption-desorption isotherms and XPS measurements. The amount of adsorbed dye and the performance of fabricated cells were analyzed by using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and solar simulator.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.300-305
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• 2020

Corrosion of reinforcement steel rebar is a serious problem in a wide range of concrete application for buildings and infrastructures. Hydrophobizing surface treatments, such as self-assembled monolayer coating, edible oil-impregnation and silicone oil-impregnation were applied to solidified concrete. The hydrophobizing of concrete significantly reduces an absorption and transportation of water toward a steel rebar in concrete, so that the corrosion resistance of the steel rebar. In particular, the silicone oil-impregnation not only forms the hydrophobic monolayer on the concrete but also fills the inter-connected pores of concrete, thus the corrosion of steel rebar is significantly inhibited compared to the self-assembled monolayer coating and edible oil-impregnation. Therefore, the silicone oil-impregnation can be a promising candidate for preventing corrosion of steel rebar in concrete for durable performance and safety.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.413-413
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• 2012

Lead sulfide (PbS) Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are promising material for the photovoltaic device due to its various outstanding properties such as tunable band-gap, solution processability, and infrared absorption. More importantly, PbS CQDs have large exciton Bohr radius of 20 nm due to the uniquely large dielectric constants that result in the strong quantum confinement. To exploit desirable properties in photovoltaic device, it is essential to fabricate a device exhibiting stable performance. Unfortunately, the performance of PbS NQDs based Schottky solar cell is considerably degraded according to the exposure in the air. The air-exposed degradation originates on the oxidation of interface between PbS NQDS layer and metal electrode. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance the stability of Schottky junction device by inserting a passivation layer. We investigate the effect of insertion of passivation layer on the performance of Schottky junction solar cells using PbS NQDs with band-gap of 1.3 eV. Schottky solar cell is the simple photovoltaic device with junction between semiconducting layer and metal electrode which a significant built-in-potential is established due to the workfunction difference between two materials. Although the device without passivation layer significantly degraded in several hours, considerable enhancement of stability can be obtained by inserting the very thin LiF layer (<1 nm) as a passivation layer. In this study, LiF layer is inserted between PbS NQDs layer and metal as an interface passivation layer. From the results, we can conclude that employment of very thin LiF layer is effective to enhance the stability of Schottky junction solar cells. We believe that this passivation layer is applicable not only to the PbS NQDs based solar cell, but also the various NQDs materials in order to enhance the stability of the device.