• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.305-309
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• 2014

When sunlight irradiates a boron-doped p-type solar cell, the formation of BsO2i decreases the power-conversion efficiency in a phenomenon named light-induced degradation (LID). In this study, we used boron-doped p-type Cz-Si solar cells to monitor this degradation process in relation to irradiation wavelength, intensity and duration of the light source, and investigated the reliability of the LID effects, as well. When halogen light irradiated a substrate, the LID rate increased more rapidly than for irradiation with xenon light. For different intensities of halogen light (e.g., 1 SUN and 0.1 SUN), a lower-limit value of LID showed a similar trend in each case; however, the rate reached at the intensity of 0.1 SUN was three times slower than that at 1 SUN. Open-circuit voltage increased with increasing duration of irradiation because the defect-formation rate of LID was slow. Therefore, we suppose that sufficient time is needed to increase LID defects. After a recovery process to restore the initial value, the lower-limit open-circuit voltage exhibited during the re-degradation process showed a trend similar to that in the first degradation process. We suggest that the proportion of the LID in boron-doped p-type Cz-Si solar cells has high correlation with the normalized defect concentrations (NDC) of BsO2i. This can be calculated using the extracted minority-carrier diffusion-length with internal quantum efficiency (IQE) analysis.

• Journal of Applied Reliability
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.71-80
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• 2009

This paper discusses the service life prediction methods for CFRP bar for concrete reinforcement using accelerated degradation tests. The relationship between performance degradation and the rate of a failure-causing chemical reaction is assumed for the temperature accelerated degradation tests. Methods of obtaining acceleration factors and predicting service life of the CFRP bar using the degradation model are presented.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.19-32
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• 2021

Photovoltaic (PV) panels are generally treated as the most dependable components of PV systems; therefore, investigations are necessary to understand and emphasize the degradation of PV cells. In almost all specific deprivation models, humidity and temperature are the two major factors that are responsible for PV module degradation. However, even if the degradation mode of a PV module is determined, it is challenging to research them in practice. Long-term response experiments should thus be conducted to investigate the influences of the incidence, rates of change, and different degradation methods of PV modules on energy production; such models can help avoid lengthy experiments to investigate the degradation of PV panels under actual working conditions. From the review, it was found that the degradation rate of PV modules in climates where the annual average ambient temperature remained low was -1.05% to -1.16% per year, and the degree of deterioration of PV modules in climates with high average annual ambient temperatures was -1.35% to -1.46% per year; however, PV manufacturers currently claim degradation rates of up to -0.5% per year.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2012

We demonstrated that reductive degradation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (Royal Demolition Explosive, RDX) can be enhanced by bio-reduced iron-bearing soil minerals (IBSMs) using Shewanella putrefaciens CN32 (CN32). The degradation kinetic rate constant of TNT by bio-reduced magnetite was the highest (0.0039 $h^{-1}$), followed by green rust (0.0022 $h^{-1}$), goethite (0.0017 $h^{-1}$), lepidocrocite (0.0016 $h^{-1}$), and hematite (0.0006 $h^{-1}$). The highest rate constant was obtained by bio-reduced lepidocrocite (0.1811 $h^{-1}$) during RDX degradation, followed by magnetite (0.1700 $h^{-1}$), green rust (0.0757 $h^{-1}$), hematite (0.0495 $h^{-1}$), and goethite (0.0394 $h^{-1}$). Significant increase of Fe(II) was observed during the reductive degradation of TNT and RDX by bio-reduced IBSMs. X-ray diffraction and electron microscope analyses were conducted for identification of degradation mechanism of TNT and RDX in this study. 4-amino-dinitrotoluene were detected as products during TNT degradation, while Hexahydro-1-nitroso-3,5-dinitro-1,3,5-triazine, Hexahydro-1,3-dinitroso-5-nitro-1,3,5triazine, and Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitroso-1,3,5-triazine were observed during RDX degradation.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.676-680
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• 2006

The biodegradable $\beta$-tricalcium phosphate ($\beta$-TCP)/poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) composites were synthesized by in situ polymerization with microwave energy. The degradation behavior of $\beta$-TCP/PLGA composite was investigated by soaking in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 4 weeks. The molecular weight of the $\beta$-TCP/PLGA composites decreased with soaking time until week 2, whereas the loss rate of molecular weight reduced after week 2. The incubation time was needed for the degradation of the $\beta$-TCP, indicating that the $\beta$-TCP should be detached from the PLGA matrix and then degraded into SBF solution. The studies of mass loss of the composites with the soaking time revealed that the degradation behavior of PLGA would be processed with the transformation from the polymer to the oligomer followed by the degradation. Morphological changes, whisker-like, due to transformation and degradation of polymer in the composites were observed after week 2. On the basis of the results, it found that the degradation behavior of $\beta$-TCP/PLGA composites was influenced by the $\beta$-TCP content in the composites and the degradation rate of the composites could be controlled by the initial molecular weight of PLGA in the composites.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.324-330
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• 2018

In this study, we examined the effects of carrier oil type (MCT oil: MO, corn oil: CO, palm oil: PO), pH of dispersion solution, and antioxidants on the chemical degradation of ${\beta}$-carotene in oil-in-water nanoemulsions. The pH of the emulsion had a significant influence on the stability of ${\beta}$-carotene, which showed rapid degradation in emulsions at low pH value and relatively higher stability at high pH values. The influence of the carrier oil type on ${\beta}$-carotene stability was assessed. The rate of ${\beta}$-carotene degradation increased in the following order: CO > PO > MO. The effect of antioxidants on ${\beta}$-carotene degradation was monitored during storage at $25^{\circ}C$ for 4 weeks. The rate of ${\beta}$-carotene degradation decreased upon addition of water-soluble (ascorbic acid) or oil-soluble (tocopherol) antioxidants. In general, tocopherol was more effective than ascorbic acid in reducing ${\beta}$-carotene degradation. To utilize this nanoemulsion for producing acidic beverages, adding a higher concentration of antioxidants is required.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.30-35
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• 2015

This study analyzed the variations in the performance and operation of a 200 kW class micro gas turbine according to performance degradation of compressor and turbine. An in-house code, developed by the present authors and presented in the first part of these series of papers, were used for the analysis. The degradation of compressor and turbine were simulated by modifications in the their performance maps: mass flow rate, pressure ratio and efficiency were decreased from the reference values. Firstly, the variations in the operating conditions (air flow rate, pressure ratio) were predicted for the full load condition. Then, the same analysis were performed for a wide partial load operating range. The change in engine's performance (power output and efficiency) due to the component degradation was predicted. In addition, the change in the compressor surge margin, which is an important indicator for safe engine operation, was evaluated.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.425-431
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• 1996

The enzymatic characteristics of Alcaligenes latus were investigated by measuring the variations of various enzyme activities related to biosynthesis and degradation of poly-${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) during cultivation. All PHB biosynthetic enzymes, ${\beta}$-ketothiolase, acetoacetyl-CoA reductase, and PHB synthase, were activated gradually at the PHB accumulation stage, and the PHB synthase showed the highest value among three enzymes. This indicates that the rate of PHB biosynthesis is mainly controlled by either ${\beta}$-ketothiolase or acetoacetyl-CoA reductase rather than PHB synthase. The enzymatic activities related to the degradation of PHB were also measured, and the degradation of PHB was controlled by the activity of PHB depolymerase. The effect of supplements of metabolic regulators, citrate and tyrosine, was also investigated, and the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was increased by metabolic regulators, especially by tyrosine. The activities of ${\beta}$-ketothiolase and acetoacetyl-CoA reductase were also activated by citrate and tyrosine, while the activity of PHB depolymerase was depressed. The increased rate and yield of PHB biosynthesis by metabolic regulators may be due to the increment of acetyl-CoA concentration either by the repression of the TCA cycle by citrate through product inhibition or by the activation of sucrose metabolism by the supplemented tyrosine.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.999-1007
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• 2013

Electrochemical degradation of phenol was evaluated at DSA (dimensionally stable anode), JP202 (Ru, 25%; Ir, 25%; other, 50%) electrode for being a treatment method in non-biodegradable organic compounds such as phenol. Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of applied current (1.0~4.0 A), electrolyte type (NaCl, KCl, $Na_2SO_4$, $H_2SO_4$) and concentration (0.5~3.0 g/L), initial phenol concentration (12.5~100.0 mg/L) on phenol degradation and $UV_{254}$ absorbance as indirect indicator of by-product degraded phenol. It was found that phenol concentration decreased from around 50 mg/L to zero after 10 min of electrolysis with 2.5 g/L NaCl as supporting electrolyte at the current of 3.5 A. Although phenol could be completely electrochemical degraded by JP202 anode, the degradation of phenol COD was required oxidation time over 60 min due to the generation of by-products. $UV_{254}$ absorbance can see the impact of as an indirect indicator of the creation and destruction of by-product. The initial removal rate of phenol is 5.63 times faster than the initial COD removal rate.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.711-717
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• 2019

The application of advanced oxidation for the treatment of oil refinery wastewater under UV radiation by using nanoparticles of titanium dioxide was investigated. Synthetic wastewater prepared from phenol crystals; Power Glide SAE40 motor vehicle oil and water was used. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on the Box-Behnken design was employed to design the experimental runs, optimize and study the interaction effects of the operating parameters including catalyst concentration, run time and airflow rate to maximize the degradation of oil (SOG) and phenol. The analysis of variance and the response models developed were used to evaluate the data obtained at a 95% confidence level. The use of the RSM demonstrated the graphical relationship that exists between individual factors and their interactive effects on the response, as compared to the one factor at time approach. The obtained optimum conditions of photocatalytic degradation are the catalyst concentration of 2 g/L, the run time of 30 min and the airflow rate of 1.04 L/min. Under the optimum conditions, a 68% desirability performance was obtained, representing 81% and 66% of SOG and phenol degradability, respectively. Thus, the hydrocarbon oils were readily degradable, while the phenols were more resistant to photocatalytic degradation.