• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.223-229
• /
• 2019

Titania modified by 2-ethylimidazole (2-EI) (denoted as $2-EI-TiO_2$) demonstrated visible light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic compounds. $2-EI-TiO_2$ was a bright brown powder that exhibited similar crystallinity and morphology with the control $TiO_2$. A diffuse reflectance spectrum indicated that $2-EI-TiO_2$ absorbs visible light of all wavelengths. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the cationic state of nitrogen species (e.g. Ti-O-N) on the surface of $2-EI-TiO_2$. Visible light-illuminated $2-EI-TiO_2$ degraded $10{\mu}M$ 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) by approximately 85% in 4 h. The photochemical activity of $2-EI-TiO_2$ was selective in targeting the organic compound. The repeated use of $2-EI-TiO_2$ decreased the photocatalytic activity for the 4-CP degradation. Experiments using radical scavengers and oxidant probes revealed that the oxidation by photogenerated holes is responsible for the degradation of organic compounds by illuminated $2-EI-TiO_2$ and the role of $^{\bullet}OH$ is negligible.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.67 no.1
• /
• pp.33-41
• /
• 2023

Nanocrystallne WO₃ and MoO₃ with several different sizes and crystal structures were prepared by simple acid precipitation and subsequent heat treatment. The photochromic (PC) properties of these samples were comparatively investigated in powder state by monitoring diffuse reflectance spectral changes after bandgap irradiation. The PC effect of hexagonal WO₃ and monoclinic WO₃ strongly depended upon crystallite size rather than crystal structure. The smaller the crystallite size, the better the PC effect. However, orthorhombic WO·H₂O and MoO₃ having hexagonal and orthorhombic structures did not follow this trend. One consistent result for all WO₃ and MoO₃ samples is that the heat treatment in air, which changes crystallinity, whether it changes the crystal structure or only the crystallite size, reduces the PC effect. Since the thermal treatment reduces the surface oxygen defect sites, we believe that the PC effect of WO₃ and MoO₃ depends critically on the surface oxygen defect sites that serve as deep trap sites for photogenerated electrons and oxygen radical holes. We also found that the proton insertion claimed by double charge injection model is not critical for the PC effect.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.16-20
• /
• 2016

In this work, we describe the synthesis and infrared light reflecting characteristics of $TiO_2$/mica hybrid composites. $TiO_2$/mica composite materials were obtained by the hydrolysis and condensation reaction of titanium isopropoxide in an aqueous solution of acetic acid in the presence of mica particles. Amorphous phase of $TiO_2$ on the surface of mica was converted to the crystalline rutile phase via anatase phase by heat treatment ($600-1000^{\circ}C$, 1-3 h) of $TiO_2$/mica composite materials, and the size of crystals was controlled by heat treatment conditions. Physicochemical properties of mica and $TiO_2$/mica composites were investigated using FE-SEM, ED-XRF, and PXRD. The solar reflectance of $TiO_2$/mica composites in the near IR region (780~2,500 nm) measured using a diffuse reflectance NIR spectrophotometer was 88.6%, which is rather higher than that of calcined pure mica (86.6%). Therefore, $TiO_2$/mica composites can be used as NIR light reflective pigments.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
• /
• 2001.06a
• /
• pp.1523-1523
• /
• 2001

The wine industry requires practical methods for objectively measuring the composition of both red wine grapes on the vine to determine optimal harvest time; and of freshly harvested grapes for efficient allocation to vinery process streams for particular red wine products, and to determine payment of contract grapegrowers. To be practical for industry application these methods must be rapid, inexpensive and accurate. In most cases this restricts the analyses available to measurement of TSS (total soluble solids, predominantly sugars) by refractometry and pH by electropotentiometry. These two parameters, however, do not provide a comprehensive compositional characterization for the purpose of winemaking. The concentration of anthocyanin pigment in red wine grapes is an accepted indicator of potential wine quality and price. However, routine analysis for total anthocyanins is not considered as a practical option by the wider wine industry because of the high cost and slow turnaround time of this multi-step wet chemical laboratory analysis. Recent work by this ${group}^{l,2}$ has established the capability of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to provide rapid, accurate and simultaneous measurement of total anthocyanins, TSS and pH in red wine grapes. The analyses may be carried out equally well using either research grade scanning spectrometers or much simpler reduced spectral range portable diode-array based instrumentation. We have recently expanded on this work by collecting thousands of red wine grape samples in Australia. The sample set spans two vintages (1999 and 2000), five distinct geographical winegrowing regions and three main red wine grape varieties used in Australia (Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot). Homogenized grape samples were scanned in diffuse reflectance mode on a FOSE NIR Systems6500 spectrometer and subject to laboratory analysis by the traditional methods for total anthocyanins, TSS and pH. We report here an analysis of the correlations between the NIR spectra and the laboratory data using standard chemometric algorithms within The Unscrambler software package. In particular, various subsets of the total data set are considered in turn to elucidate the effects of vintage, geographical area and grape variety on the measurement of grape composition by NIR spectroscopy. The relative ability of discrete calibrations to predict within and across these differences is considered. The results are then used to propose an optimal calibration strategy for red wine grape analysis.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.21 no.10
• /
• pp.573-579
• /
• 2011

Highly textured Ag, Al and Al:Si back reflectors for flexible n-i-p silicon thin-film solar cells were prepared on 100-${\mu}m$-thick stainless steel substrates by DC magnetron sputtering and the influence of their surface textures on the light-scattering properties were investigated. The surface texture of the metal back reflectors was influenced by the increased grain size and by the bimodal distribution that arose due to the abnormal grain growth at elevated deposition temperatures. This can be explained by the structure zone model (SZM). With an increase in the deposition temperatures from room temperature to $500^{\circ}C$, the surface roughness of the Al:Si films increased from 11 nm to 95 nm, whereas that of the pure Ag films increased from 6 nm to 47 nm at the same deposition temperature. Although Al:Si back reflectors with larger surface feature dimensions than pure Ag can be fabricated at lower deposition temperatures due to the lower melting point and the Si impurity drag effect, they show poor total and diffuse reflectance, resulting from the low reflectivity and reflection loss on the textured surface. For a further improvement of the light-trapping efficiency in solar cells, a new type of back reflector consisting of Ag/Al:Si bilayer is suggested. The surface morphology and reflectance of this reflector are closely dependent on the Al:Si bottom layer and the Ag top layer. The relationship between the surface topography and the light-scattering properties of the bilayer back reflectors is also reported in this paper.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2013.02a
• /
• pp.669-669
• /
• 2013

Hierarchical N doped TiO2 nanostructured catalyst with micro, meso and macro porosity have been synthesized by a facile self-formation route using ammonia and titanium isopropoxide precursor. The samples were calcined in different calcination temperature ranging from $300^{\circ}C$ to $800^{\circ}C$ at slow heating rate ($5^{\circ}C$/min) and designated as NHPT-300 to NHPT-800. $TiO_2$ nanostructured catalyst have been characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopy methods to explore the structural, electronic and optical properties. UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra confirmed the red shift and band gap narrowing due to the doping of N species in TiO2 nanoporous catalyst. Hierarchical macro porosity with fibrous channel patterning was observed (confirmed from FESEM) and well preserved even after calcination at $800^{\circ}C$, indicating the thermal stability. BET results showed that micro and mesoporosity was lost after $500^{\circ}C$ calcination. The photocatalytic activity has been evaluated for methanol oxidation to formaldehyde in visible light. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is attributed to combined synergetic effect of N doping for visible light absorption, micro and mesoporosity for increase of effective surface area and light harvestation, and hierarchical macroporous fibrous structure for multiple reflection and effective charge transfer.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.31 no.11
• /
• pp.1019-1024
• /
• 2009

Visible-light-active $TiO_2-_xN_x$ nanoparticles with a homogeneous anatase crystalline structure were successfully prepared through a hydrolysis of $TiCl_4$ with ammonia solution. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), $N_2$-sorption, and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) techniques. The light absorption onset shifted from 390 nm on pure $TiO_2$ to the visible region at 530 nm on nitrogen-doped $TiO_2$. A clear decrease in the band gap was deduced from the DRS results. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated from the photodegradation of congo red solution under visible light irradiation. The photocatalyst showed the highest photocatalytic activity at an optimal value of nitrogen doping concentration. This was suggested that the nitrogen doping should have an important effects on the improvement of photocatalytic activity.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.55-75
• /
• 2010

An ion-exchanged reaction of $MnCl_2$ with Al-incorporated solid core/mesoporous shell silica (AlSCMS) followed by calcinations generated manganese species, where average oxidation state of manganese ion is 3+, in the mesoporous materials. Dehydration results in the formation of $Mn^{2+}$ ion species, which can be characterized by electron spin resonance (ESR). The chemical environments of the manganese centers in Mn-AlSCMS were investigated by diffuse reflectance, UV-VIS and ESR spectroscopic methods. Upon drying at 323 K, part of manganese is oxidized to higher oxidation state ($Mn^{3+}$ and $Mn^{4+}$) and further increase in (average) oxidation state takes place upon calcinations at 823 K. It was found that the manganese species on the wall of the Mn-AlSCMS were transformed to tetrahedral $Mn^{3+}$ or $Mn^{4+}$ and further changed to square pyramid by additional coordination to water molecules upon hydration. The oxidized $Mn^{3+}$ or $Mn^{4+}$ species on the surfaces were reversibly reduced to $Mn^{2+}$ or $Mn^{3+}$ species or lower valances by thermal process. Mn(II) species I with a well resolved sextet was observed in calcined, hydrated Mn-AlSCMS, while Mn (II) species II with g = 5.1 and 3.2 observed in dehydrated Mn-AlSCMS. Both species I and II are considered to be non-framework Mn(II).

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.1832-1836
• /
• 2014

A deep understanding of the metallic silver catalysts formation process on oxide support and the formation mechanism is of great scientific and practical meaning for exploring better catalyst preparing procedures. Herein the thermal decomposition process of supported silver catalyst with silver oxalate as the silver precursor in the presence of ethylenediamine and ethanolamine is carefully investigated by employing a variety of characterization techniques including thermal analysis, in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The formation mechanism of supported silver particles was revealed. Results showed that formation of metallic silver begins at about $100^{\circ}C$ and activation process is essentially complete below $145^{\circ}C$. Formation of silver was accompanied by decomposition of oxalate group and removal of organic amines. Catalytic performance tests using the epoxidation of ethylene as a probe reaction showed that rapid activation (for 5 minutes) at a relatively low temperature ($170^{\circ}C$) afforded materials with optimum catalytic performance, since higher activation temperatures and/or longer activation times resulted in sintering of the silver particles.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.21 no.11
• /
• pp.1321-1331
• /
• 2012

To date, carbon and nitrogen co-doped photocatalysts (CN-$TiO_2$) for environmental application focused mainly on the aqueous phase to investigate the decomposition of water pollutants. Accordingly, the present study explored the photocatalytic performance of CN-$TiO_2$ photocatalysts for the purification of indoor-level gas-phase aromatic species under different operational conditions. The characteristics of prepared photocatalysts were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning emission microscope, diffuse reflectance UV-VIS-NIR analysis, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. In most cases, the decomposition efficiency for the target compounds exhibited a decreasing trend as input concentration (IC) increased. Specifically, the average decomposition efficiencies for benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene (BTEX) over a 3-h process decreased from 29% to close to zero, 80 to 5%, 95 to 19%, and 99 to 32%, respectively, as the IC increased from 0.1 to 2.0 ppm. The decomposition efficiencies obtained from the CN-$TiO_2$ photocatalytic system were higher than those of the $TiO_2$ system. As relative humidity (RH) increased from 20 to 95%, the decomposition efficiencies for BTEX decreased from 39 to 5%, 97 to 59%, 100 to 87%, and 100 to 92%, respectively. In addition, as the stream flow rates (SFRs) decreased from 3.0 to 1.0 L $min^{-1}$, the average efficiencies for BTEX increased from 0 to 58%, 63 to 100%, 69 to 100%, and 68 to 100%, respectively. Taken together, these findings suggest that three (IC, RH, and SFR) should be considered for better BTEX decomposition efficiencies when applying CN-$TiO_2$ photocatalytic technology to purification of indoor air BTEX.