• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.13 no.1 s.54
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• pp.33-38
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• 2006

The effect of Cu content on microstructure and mechanical properties of nano-sized Cu dispersed $Al_2O_3(Al_2O_3/Cu)$ nanocomposites was investigated. The nanocomposites with Cu content of 2.5 to 10 vol% were prepared by reduction and hot-pressing of $Al_2O_3/CuO$ powder mixtures. The nanocomposites with Cu content of 2.5 and 5vol% exhibited the maximum fracture strength of 820MPa and enhanced toughness compared with monolithic $Al_2O_3$. The strengthening was mainly attributed to the refinement of $Al_2O_3$ matrix grains. The toughening mechanism was discussed by the observed microstructural feature based on crack bridging.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.3239-3243
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• 2014

We have developed a simple method for tuning the morphologies of $Cu_2O$ microcrystals. $Cu_2O$ microcrystals were prepared by precipitation at room temperature from a mixture of $Cu(CH_3COO)_2{\cdot}H_2O$, N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl ethylenediamine (TMEDA), ascorbic acid, and polyethylene glycol (PEG). TMEDA was used to promote the formation of copper-TMEDA complexes. A variety of $Cu_2O$ microcrystal morphologies were obtained simply by varying the concentrations of TMEDA and ascorbic acid. Aggregated $Cu_2O$ microspheres are formed at higher concentrations of ascorbic acid in the absence of TMEDA. Aggregated $Cu_2O$ microcubes are formed at lower concentrations of ascorbic acid and higher concentrations of TMEDA. The crystal growth mechanism of these $Cu_2O$ morphologies is explained.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 1997

Structurally, the rare earth cuprate superconductor of Nd2-xCexCuO4-$\delta$ has T' structure and has been known as having a quite complicated microstructural phenomena, so far. In order to be superconductivity, both small amount of cation substitution of Nd3+ by Ce4+ and oxygen reduction are required. In the present study the crystallographic study on the structural transition for the Nd2-xCexCuO4-$\delta$ crystal has been con-ducted by observing the CBED (Convergent Beam Electron Diffraction) pattern with STEM(Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope). Three different samples of Nd2CuO3,Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4 and Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO3.965 were prepared by solid-state sintering and their CBED patterns were observed by STEM to study the structural transition accompanying the substitution of Ce and the reduction of oxygen. Experimental HOLZ lines of these samples were compared with those plotted by a computer-programmed simulation to de-termine the lattice parameter of Nd2-xCexCuO4-$\delta$ crystal.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.604-610
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• 2016

We report on the fabrication and characterization of a novel $Cu_2O/CuO$ heterojunction structure with CuO nanorods embedded in $Cu_2O$ thin film as an efficient photocathode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar water splitting. A CuO nanorod array was first prepared on an indium-tin-oxide-coated glass substrate via a seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method; then, a $Cu_2O$ thin film was electrodeposited onto the CuO nanorod array to form an oxide semiconductor heterostructure. The crystalline phases and morphologies of the heterojunction materials were examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, as well as Raman scattering. The PEC properties of the fabricated $Cu_2O/CuO$ heterojunction photocathode were evaluated by photocurrent conversion efficiency measurements under white light illumination. From the observed PEC current density versus voltage (J-V) behavior, the $Cu_2O/CuO$ photocathode was found to exhibit negligible dark current and high photocurrent density, e.g. $-1.05mA/cm^2$ at -0.6 V vs. $Hg/HgCl_2$ in $1mM\;Na_2SO_4$ electrolyte, revealing the effective operation of the oxide heterostructure. The photocurrent conversion efficiency of the $Cu_2O/CuO$ photocathode was estimated to be 1.27% at -0.6 V vs. $Hg/HgCl_2$. Moreover, the PEC current density versus time (J-T) profile measured at -0.5 V vs. $Hg/HgCl_2$ on the $Cu_2O/CuO$ photocathode indicated a 3-fold increase in the photocurrent density compared to that of a simple $Cu_2O$ thin film photocathode. The improved PEC performance was attributed to a certain synergistic effect of the bilayer heterostructure on the light absorption and electron-hole recombination processes.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.1241-1246
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• 2010

Ternary Cu/ZnO/$Al_2O_3$ catalysts were prepared by a co-precipitation method. The precursor structures were monitored during the aging. The first precipitate structure was amorphous georgeite, which transformed into the unknown crystalline structure. The transition crystalline structure was assigned to the crystalline georgeite, which was suggested with elemental analysis, IR and XRD. The final structure of precursors was malachite. The Cu surface area of the resulting Cu/ZnO/$Al_2O_3$ was maximized to be 30.6 $m^2$/g at the aging time of 36 h. The further aging rapidly decreased Cu surface areas of Cu/ZnO/$Al_2O_3$. ZnO characteristic peaks in oxide samples almost disappeared after 24 h aging, indicating that ZnO was dispersed in around bulk CuO. TOF of the prepared catalysts of the Cu surface area ranges from 13.0 to 30.6 $m^2/g_{cat}$ was to be 2.67 ${\pm}$ 0.27 mmol/$m^2$.h in methanol synthesis at the condition of $250^{\circ}C$, 50 atm and 12,000 mL/$g_{cat}$. h irrespective of the XRD and TPR patterns of CuO and ZnO structure in CuO/ZnO/$Al_2O_3$. The pH of the precipitate solution during the aging time can be maintained at 7 by $CO_2$ bubbling into the precipitate solution. Then, the decrease of Cu surface area by a long aging time can be prevented and minimize the aging time to get the highest Cu surface area.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2018

Beside several advantages, the PV power generation as a clean energy source, is still below the supply level due to high power generation cost. Therefore, the interest in fabricating low-cost thin film solar cells is increasing continuously. $Cu_2O$, a low cost photovoltaic material, has a wide direct band gap of ~2.1 eV has along with the high theoretical energy conversion efficiency of about 20%. On the other hand, it has other benefits such as earth-abundance, low cost, non-toxic, high carrier mobility ($100cm^2/Vs$). In spite of these various advantages, the efficiency of $Cu_2O$ based solar cells is still significantly lower than the theoretical limit as reported in several literatures. One of the reasons behind the low efficiency of $Cu_2O$ solar cells can be the formation of CuO layer due to atmospheric surface oxidation of $Cu_2O$ absorber layer. In this work, atomic layer deposition method was used to remove the CuO layer that formed on $Cu_2O$ surface. First, $Cu_2O$ absorber layer was deposited by electrodeposition. On top of it buffer (ZnO) and TCO (AZO) layers were deposited by atomic layer deposition and rf-magnetron sputtering respectively. We fabricated the cells with a change in the deposition temperature of buffer layer ranging between $80^{\circ}C$ to $140^{\circ}C$. Finally, we compared the performance of fabricated solar cells, and studied the influence of buffer layer deposition temperature on $Cu_2O$ based solar cells by J-V and XPS measurements.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.246-250
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• 2004

We have investigated the effects of boron added to Cu film on the Cu-Ti reaction and microstructural evolution of Cu(B) alloy film during annealing of Cu(B)/Ti/$SiO_2$/Si structure. The result were compared with those of Cu(B)/$SiO_2$ structure to identify the effects of Ti glue layers on the Boron behavior and the result grain growth of Cu(B) alloy. The vacuum annealing of Cu(B)/Ti/$SiO_2$ multilayer structure allowed the diffusion of B to the Ti surface and forming $TiB_2$ compounds at the interface. The formed $TiB_2$ can act as a excellent diffusion barrier against Cu-Ti interdiffusion up to $800^{\circ}C$. Also, the resistivity was decreased to $2.3\mu$$\Omega$-cm after annealing at $800^{\circ}C$. In addition, the presence of Ti underlayer promoted the growth Cu(l11)-oriented grains and allowed for normal growth of Cu(B) film. This is in contrast with abnormal growth of randomly oriented Cu grains occurring in Cu(B)/$SiO_2$ upon annealing. The Cu(B)/Ti/$SiO_2$ structure can be implemented as an advanced metallization because it exhibits the low resistivity, high thermal stability and excellent diffusion barrier property.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.228-234
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• 1996

BzCuO2 의 생성 자유에너지를 이중 이온교환된 Ba2+-$\beta$/$\beta$"-AI2O3를 전해질로 사용하여 다음과 같은 생성셀로부터 측정하였다. Au(po2=10-3)/Au+BaCuO2+CuO// Ba2+-$\beta$/$\beta$"-Au이 갈바닉셀에서 BzCuO2 의 임의의 생성식과 생성자유에너지는 다음과 같다. BaO+CuO=BaCuO2 $\Delta$fGo/kJ.mol-1=-77.3-3.3x10-3T/K.3x10-3T/K.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.291-302
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• 2004

The CuO/$3AL_2O_3{\cdot}2SiO_2$ catalyst impregnated ceramic candle filters for nitrogen oxides removal were prepared by porous mullite($3AL_2O_3{\cdot}2SiO_2$) support and CuO catalyst deposited on this support to achieve uniformly dispersed CuO deposition, which are impregnated into the pores of available alumino-silicate ceramic candle filter. The CuO/3$AL_2O_3{\cdot}2SiO_2$ catalyst impregnated ceramic candle filters were characterized by XRD, BET, air permeability, pore size, SEM and catalytic tests in the reduction of NOx by NH$_3$. The observed effects of CuO/3$AL_2O_3{\cdot}2SiO_2$ impregnated ceramic candle filters in SCR reaction are as follows : (1) when the content of CuO catalyst increased further, activity of NO increased. (2) NO conversion at first increased with temperature and then decreased at high temperatures (above 40$0^{\circ}C$), possibly due to the occurrence of the ammonia oxidation reaction. (3) In pilot plant test for 3 months, NO conversion was greater than 90%.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.410-421
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• 1993

Phase equilibria and reaction paths of the superconducting phases and other compatible phases at $850^{\circ}C$ in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system were studied. $Bi_2O_3$ was added to $Sr_2CaCu_2O_x$ by 5% up to 40 mole% Bi in the pseudo-binary $Bi_2O_3-(Sr_2CaCu_2O_x)$ system and the heat treated samples were analysed using XRD. SEM, EDS. and DT A. When Bi contents were greater than 35 mole% Bi, liquid phase was formed which was compatible with $Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_8$ phase. The m.p. of $Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_8$ phase decreased as the content of (Sr+Ca)decreased. $Bi_{2+x}Sr_2CaCu_2O_8$ phase first segregated out of liquid phase around $Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_8$ phase during cooling of liquid phase.