• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.93-98
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• 2010

In this work, the electrochemical properties of surface treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were studied. Nitrogen and oxygen functional groups of the MWNTs were introduced by urea and acidic treatment, respectively. The surface functional groups of the MWNTs were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements and zeta-potential method. The characteristics of $N_2$ adsorption isotherm at 77 K, specific surface area, and total pore volumes were investigated by BET eqaution, BJH method and t-plot method. Electrochemical properties of the functionalized MWNTs were accumulated by cyclic voltammetry at the scan rates of 50 $mVs^{-1}$ and 100 $mVs^{-1}$ in 1M $H_2SO_4$ as electrolytes. As a result, the functionalized MWNTs led to an increase of capacitance as compared with pristine MWNTs. It was found that the increase of capacitance for urea treated MWNTs was attributed to the increase in density of surface functional groups, resulting in improving the wettability between electrode materials and charge species.

• Carbon letters
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• v.25
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• pp.103-112
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• 2018

Hierarchically porous, chemically activated carbon materials are readily derived from biomass using hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and chemical activation processes. In this study, empty fruit bunches (EFB) were chosen as the carbon source due to their sustainability, high lignin-content, abundance, and low cost. The lignin content in the EFB was condensed and carbonized into a bulk non-porous solid via the HTC process, and then transformed into a hierarchical porous structure consisting of macro- and micropores by chemical activation. As confirmed by various characterization results, the optimum activation temperature for supercapacitor applications was determined to be $700^{\circ}C$. The enhanced capacitive performance is attributed to the textural property of the extremely high specific surface area of $2861.4m^2\;g^{-1}$. The prepared material exhibited hierarchical porosity and surface features with oxygen functionalities, such as carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, suitable for pseudocapacitance. Finally, the as-optimized nanoporous carbons exhibited remarkable capacitive performance, with a specific capacitance of $402.3F\;g^{-1}$ at $0.5A\;g^{-1}$, a good rate capability of 79.8% at current densities from $0.5A\;g^{-1}$ to $10A\;g^{-1}$, and excellent life cycle behavior of 10,000 cycles with 96.5% capacitance retention at $20A\;g^{-1}$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.100-103
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• 2004

In this work, the effects of oxy-fluorination on surface characteristics of carbon fibers were investigated in mechanical interfacial properties of carbon fibers-reinforced composites. The surface properties of the carbon fibers were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), FT-IR. and contact angle measurements. And their mechanical interfacial properties of the composites were studied in interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and critical stress intensity factor $(K_{IC})$. As experimental results, the $F_{1S}/C_{1S}$ ratio of carbon fiber surfaces was increased by oxy-fluorination, due to the development of the oxygen containing functional groups. The mechanical interfacial properties of the composites, including ILSS and $K_{IC}$, had been improved in the oxy-fluorination on fibers. These results could be explained that the oxy-fluorination was resulted in the increase of the adhesion between fibers and matrix in a composite system.

• Carbon letters
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2011

In the present study, the removal of Pb (II) ions on oxidized activated carbons (ACs) was investigated. ACs were derived from activation of indigenous cotton stalks waste with potassium hydroxide (KOH) in two-stage process. The KOH-ACs were subjected to liquid-phase oxidation with hot $HNO_3$ and one untreated sample was included for comparison. The obtained carbons were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), slurry pH and $N_2$-adsorption at 77 K, respectively. Adsorption capacity of Pb (II) ions on the resultant carbons was determined by batch equilibrium experiments. The experimental results indicated that the oxidation with nitric acid was associated with a significant increase in mass of yield as well as a remarkable reduction in internal porosity as compared to the untreated carbon. The AC-800N revealed higher adsorption capacity than that of AC-800, although the former sample exhibited low surface area and micropore volume. It was observed that the adsorption capacity enhancement attributed to pore widening, the generation of oxygen functional groups and potassium containing compounds leading to cation-exchange on the carbon surface. These results show that the oxidized carbons represented prospective adsorbents for enhancing the removal of heavy metals from wastewater.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2005

The objective of this paper is to compare the surface features of two kinds of activated caron fiber (ACF) treated with potassium and the variation of their properties by phosphoric acid pre-treatment. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicate that activated carbon fiber containing potassium species show better performance for metal and metal salts by pre-treatment with phosphoric acid. In order to present the causes of the differences in surface properties and specific surface area after the samples were treated with phosphoric acid, pore structure and surface morphology were investigated by adsorption analysis and SEM. For the chemical composition microanalysis for potassium leading of the activated carbon fibers pre-treated with phosphoric acid, samples were analyzed by EDX. Finally, the type and quality of oxygen groups were determined from the method proposed by Boehm.

• Carbon letters
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.305-313
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• 2009

In this study, the adsorption of toxic pollutants onto cetyltrimethylammonium kaolin (CTAB-Kaolin) is investigated. The organo-kaolin is synthesized by exchanging cetyltrimethylammonium cations (CTAB) with inorganic ions on the surface of kaolin. The chemical analysis, the structural and textural properties of kaolin and CTAB-kaolin were investigated using elemental analysis, FTIR, SEM and adsorption of nitrogen at $-196^{\circ}C$. The kinetic adsorption and adsorption capacity of the organo-kaolin towards o-xylene, phenol and Cu(II) ion from aqueous solution was investigated. The kinetic adsorption data of o-xylene, phenol and Cu(II) are in agreement with a second order model. The equilibrium adsorption data were found to fit Langmuir equation. The uptake of o-xylene and phenol from their aqueous solution by kaolin, CTAB-kaolin and activated carbon proceed via physisorption. The removal of Cu(II) ion from water depends on the surface properties of the adsorbent. Onto kaolin, the Cu(II) ions are adsorbed through cation exchange with $Na^+$. For CTAB-kaolin, Cu(II) ions are mainly adsorbed via electrostatic attraction with the counter ions in the electric double layer ($Br^-$), via ion pairing, Cu(II) ions removal by the activated carbon is probably related to the carbon-oxygen groups particularly those of acid type. The adsorption capacities of CTAB-kaolin for the investigated adsorbates are considerably higher compared with those of unmodified kaolin. However, the adsorption capacities of the activated carbons are by far higher than those determined for CTAB-kaolin.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2010

Modifying surface of activated carbon for the electrode of EDLC with an organic electrolyte was investigated to improve the electrochemical performance of EDLC by the microwave radiation. Three kinds of activated carbons, prepared activated carbon from petroleum cokes and pitch cokes and commercial activated carbon BP-25, were used for this study. For all investigated activated carbons, hydrophilic functional groups-containing oxygen disappeared from the surface of activated carbon as microwave radiation. And as microwave radiation time was increased, the specific surface area and total pore volume of activated carbons were reduced and average pore diameter were increased. From theses effects, interfacial resistance of EDLC with the modified activated carbon electrode was drastically decreased, and discharge capacitance was increased although the specific surface area of activated carbon was reduced by this microwave radiation.

• Carbon letters
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.108-114
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• 2007

In this work, activated carbon (AC) after $HNO_3$ modification was used as the support during the production of supported $TiO_2$ to increase the high deposition efficiency and the photocatalytic activity. The results of $N_2$ adsorption showed that the BET surface area of samples decreased with an increasing of the concentration of $HNO_3$ due to the penetration of $TiO_2$. From XRD data, a single crystal structure of anatase peak was observed in diffraction patterns for the AC coated with titanium complexes. From the SEM results, almost all particles were aggregated with each other at the carbon surface and AC was covered with $TiO_2$ particles in all of the samples. The EDX spectra show the presence of C, O, Ti and other elements. It was also observed a decreasing of amount of C content with increasing Ti and O content from the EDX. The results of FT-IR revealed that the modified AC contained more surface oxygen bearing groups than that of the original AC. The effect of surface acidity and basity calculated from Boehm titration method was also evaluated from correlations as a function of NaOH, $NaHCO_3$, and $Na_2CO_3$ uptake. The surface modification of AC by $HNO_3$ leads to an increase in the catalytic efficiency of AC/$TiO_2$ catalysts, and the catalytic efficiency increases with increasing of $HNO_3$ concentration.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.499-504
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• 2000

The effect of anodic oxidation on high strength PAN-based carbon fibers has been studied in terms of surface functionality and surface energetics of the fiber surfaces, resulting in improving the mechanical properties of composites. According to FT-IR and XPS measurements, it reveals that the oxygen functional groups on fiber surfaces induced by an anodic oxidation largely influence the surface energetics of fibers or the mechanical interfacial properties of composites, such as the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of composites. According to the contact angle measurements based on the wicking rate of a test liquid, it is observed that anodic oxidation does lead to an increase in surface free energy of the carbon fibers, mainly due to the increase of its specific (or polar) component. From the surface energetic point of view, it is found that good wetting plays an important role in improving the degree of adhesion at interfaces between fiber and epoxy resin matrix of the resulting composites. Also, a direct linear relationship is shown between 01s/01s ratio and ILSS or between specific component and ILSS of the composites for this system.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.592-599
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• 2013

In this study, polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based porous carbon nanofibers were prepared from PAN polymer solution by electrospinning and KOH activation with various concentrations, and the characterization of pore structures and carbon dioxide adsorption was investigated. Manufactured PAN-based activated carbon nanofibers tend to decrease diameter and increase surface oxygen functional groups depending on the increasing concentration of KOH solution. In addition, according to the results of nitrogen adsorption for pore properties analysis, it indicated increase of the specific surface area in conformity with increasing concentration of KOH solution. Micropore volume of treated activated carbon nanofibers (ANCF) by 4 M KOH was the largest compared with other samples and mesopore volume of treated ANCF by 8 M KOH was the largest volume, respectively. The concentration of KOH effects textural and surface properties, as represented by BET and XPS, which enhance carbon dioxide adsorption capacity at 0 and $25^{\circ}C$.