• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 2012

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibers have been widely used due to their unique chemical, electrical, and mechanical properties. Electron beam irradiation has been extensively employed as means of altering properties of polymeric materials. Electron beam irradiation can induce chemical reactions in materials without any catalyst. Electron beam irradiation may be useful in accelerating the thermal compression stabilization of PAN nanofibers. To investigate the irradiation effect on PAN fibers, PAN nanofibers were irradiated by electron beam at 1,000~5,000 kGy. Irradiated and non-irradiated PAN nanofibers were heated at 180 and $220^{\circ}C$ without applying pressure for 15 min. Then 1 metric ton has been applied for 5 min. SEM images have been found that the fiber kept its morphological behavior after the hot pressing up to electron beam irradiated 1,000 kGy. DSC thermograms showed that the peak temperatures of the exothermic reactions were found to decrease with increasing electron beam irradiation doses and temperature. FT-IR spectra have been found to decrease $C{\equiv}N$ stretch band with increasing the electron beam irradiation dose. These results indicate that the modification of PAN via reactions such as cyclization is significantly enhanced by electron beam irradiation and thermal compression technique.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.94-98
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• 2021

In this study, pure and Co3O4/CoFe2O4-loaded Indium oxide (In2O3) nanofibers were synthesized by the electrospinning of an Indium/Polyvinylpyrrolidone precursor solution containing cobalt and iron bimetallic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks and subsequent heat treatment. The ethanol, toluene, p-xylene, benzene, carbon monodxide, and hydrogen gas sensing characteristics of the solution were measured at 250-400 ℃. 0.5 at%-Co3O4/CoFe2O4-loaded In2O3 nanofibers exhibited extreme response (resistance ratio - 1) to 5 ppm of ethanol (210.5) at 250 ℃ and excellent selectivity over the interfering gases. In contrast, pure In2O3 nanofibers exhibited relatively low responses to all the analyte gases and low selectivity above 250-400 ℃. The superior response and selectivity toward ethanol is explained by the catalytic roles of Co3O4 and CoFe2O4 in gas sensing reaction and the electronic sensitization induced by the formation of p (Co3O4/CoFe2O4)-n (In2O3) junctions.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.285-295
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• 2022

Creation of plastic deformation under seismic loads, is one of the most serious subjects in RC structures with steel bars which reduces the life threatening risks and increases dissipation of energy. Shape memory alloy (SMA) is one of the best choice for the relocating plastic hinges. In a challenge to study the seismic response of concrete moment resisting frame (MRF), this article investigates numerically a new type of concrete frames with nano fiber reinforced polymer (NFRP) and shape memory alloy (SMA) hinges, simultaneously. The NFRP layer is containing carbon nanofibers with agglomeration based on Mori-Tanaka model. The tangential shear deformation (TASDT) is applied for modelling of the structure and the continuity boundary conditions are used for coupling of the motion equations. In SMA connections between beam and columns, since there is phase transformation, hence, the motion equations of the structure are coupled with kinetic equations of phase transformation. The Hernandez-Lagoudas theory is applied for demonstrating of pseudoelastic characteristics of SMA. The corresponding motion equations are solved by differential cubature (DC) and Newmark methods in order to obtain the peak ground acceleration (PGA) and residual drift ratio for MRF-2%. The main impact of this paper is to present the influences of the volume percent and agglomeration of nanofibers, thickness and length of the concrete frame, SMA material and NFRP layer on the PGA and drift ratio. The numerical results revealed that the with increasing the volume percent of nanofibers, the PGA is enhanced and the residual drift ratio is reduced. It is also worth to mention that PGA of concrete frame with NFRP layer containing 2% nanofibers is approximately equal to the concrete frame with steel bars.

• Carbon letters
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.217-220
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• 2009

In this study, porous electrospun carbon fibers were prepared by electrospinning with PAN and $MgCl_2$, as a MgO precursor. MgO was selected as a substrate because of its chemical and thermal stability, no reaction with carbon, and ease of removal after carbonization by dissolving out in acidic solutions. $MgCl_2$ was mixed with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) solution as a precursor of MgO with various weight ratios of $MgCl_2$/PAN. The average diameter of porous electrospun carbon fibers increased from 1.3 to 3 ${\mu}m$, as the $MgCl_2$ to PAN weight ratio increased. During the stabilization step, $MgCl_2$ was hydrolyzed to MgOHCl by heat treatment. At elevated temperature of 823 K for carbonization step, MgOHCl was decomposed to MgO. Specific surface area and pore structure of prepared electrospun carbon fibers were decided by weight ratio of $MgCl_2$/PAN. The amount of hydrogen storage increased with increase of specific surface area and micropore volume of prepared electrospun carbon fibers.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.819-825
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• 2018

Porous nanofibers comprising hollow ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ nanospheres were prepared by applying both template method and Kirkendall diffusion effect to electrospinning process. During heat-treatment processes, the solid Fe nano-metals formed by initial heat-treatment in the carbon matrix were converted into the hollow structured ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ nanospheres. In particular, PS nanobeads added in the spinning solution were decomposed and formed numerous channels in the composite, which served as a good pathway for Kirkendall diffusion gas. The resulting porous nanofibers comprising hollow ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ nanospheres were applied as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The discharge capacities of the nanofibers for the 30th cycle at a high current density of $1.0A\;g^{-1}$ was $776mA\;h\;g^{-1}$. The good lithium ion storage property was attributed to the synergetic effects of the hollow ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ nanospheres and the interstitial nanovoids between the nanospheres. The synthetic method proposed in this study could be applied to the preparation of porous nanofibers comprising hollow nanospheres with various composition for various applications, including energy storage.

• Carbon letters
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.108-114
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• 2008

We have demonstrated the feasibility of using electrospinning method to fabricate long and continuous composite nanofiber sheets of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) incorporated with zinc oxide (ZnO). Such PAN/ZnO composite nanofiber sheets represent an important step toward utilizing carbon nanofibers (CNFs) as materials to achieve remarkably enhanced physico-chemical properties. In an attempt to derive these advantages, we have used a variety of techniques such as field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution X-ray diffraction (HR-XRD) to obtain quantitative data on the materials. The CNFs produced are in the diameter range of 100 to 350 nm after carbonization at $1000^{\circ}C$. Electrical conductivity of the random CNFs was increased by increasing the concentration of ZnO. A dramatic improvement in porosity and specific surface area of the CNFs was a clear evidence of the novelty of the method used. This study indicated that the optimal ZnO concentration of 3 wt% is enough to produce CNFs having enhanced electrical and physico-chemical properties.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.226-231
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• 2020

Polyvinyl pyrrolidone nanofibers including nickel, zinc, and iron precursors were fabricated via the electrospinning method. To convert as-spun nanofibers to Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 oxide nanof ibers which is capable of shielding an electromagnetic wave, heat treatment conditions were optimized. To obtain the heat treatment condition that can exclude amorphous carbon black and secondary crystal phase, samples were taken at each temperature while the calcination process and analyzed. According to the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, the Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 crystal phase started to appear from 300℃, but it was confirmed through energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis that heat treatment of 500℃ or more was required to remove most of the carbon black. When the calcination temperature exceeds 650℃, crystal nuclei starts to grow and the fiber surface condition becomes rough, so it was confirmed that the heat treatment conditions should be selectively determined according to the application field.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.458-464
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• 2021

Tungsten disulfide (WS₂), a typical 2D layerd structure, has received much attention as a pseudocapacitive material because of its high theoretical specific capacity and excellent ion diffusion kinetics. However, WS₂ has critical limits such as poor long-term cycling stability owing to its large volume expansion during cycling and low electrical conductivity. Therefore, to increase the high-rate performance and cycling stability for pseudocapacitors, well-dispersed WS₂ nanoparticles embedded in carbon nanofibers (WS₂-CNFs), including mesopores and S-doping, are prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and sulfurizaiton. These unique nanocomposite electrodes exhibit a high specific capacity (159.6 F g^-1 at 10 mV s^-1), excellent high-rate performance (81.3 F g^-1 at 300 mV s^-1), and long-term cycling stability (55.9 % after 1,000 cycles at 100 mV s^-1). The increased specific capacity is attributed to well-dispersed WS₂ nanoparticles embedded in CNFs that the enlarge active area; the increased high-rate performance is contributed by reduced ion diffusion pathway due to mesoporous CNFs and improved electrical conductivity due to S-doped CNFs; the long-term cycling stability is attributed to the CNFs matrix including WS₂ nanoparticles, which effectively prevent large volume expansion.

• Clean Technology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.258-266
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• 2024

Rechargeable Li-SnO₂ batteries suffer from issues such as poor electronic/ionic conductivity and huge volume changes. In order to overcome these inherent limitations, this study designed a cell with a unique hierarchical structure, denoted as SnO₂@PCNF. The SnO₂@PCNF cell design incorporates in-situ generated SnO₂ nanoparticles strategically positioned within N-doped porous carbon nanofibers (PCNF). The in-situ generated SnO₂ nanoparticles can alleviate strains during cycling and shorten the pathway for the ions and electrons, improving the utilization of active materials. Moreover, the N-doped PCNF establishes a continuously conductive network to further increase the electrical conductivity and also buffers the significant volume changes that occur during charging and discharging. The resulting SnO₂@PCNF cell exhibits outstanding electrochemical performance and stable cycling characteristics. Notably, a reversible capacity of 520 mAh g^-1 was achieved after 100 cycles at 70 mA g^-1. Even under a higher current density of 1 A g^-1, the cell maintained a capacity retention of 393 mAh g^-1 after 1,000 cycles. These results highlight the SnO₂@PCNF cell's exceptional cycling stability and superior rate capability.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.493-496
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• 2008

Composite electrodes consisting of $CoMnO_2$ and carbon nanofibers(vapor grown carbon nanofiber, VGCF) with high electrical conducivity($CoMnO_2$/VGCF) were prepared on a porous nickel foam substrate as a current collector and their supercapacitive properties were investigated using cyclic voltammetry in 1 M KOH aqueous solution. The $CoMnO_2$/VGCF electrode exhibited high specific capacitance value of 630 F/g at 5 mV/s and excellent capacitance retention of 95% after $10^4$ cycles, indicating that the used VGCF played the important roles in reducing the interfacial resistance in the composite electrode to improve supercapacitive performance.