• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.275-282
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• 2024

In this work, we investigated the photo-degradation performance of MnO₂-SiC fiber-TiO₂ (MnO₂-SiC-TiO₂) ternary nanocomposite according to visible light excitation utilizing methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) as standard dyes. The photocatalytic physicochemical characteristics of this ternary nanocomposite were described by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), tunneling electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), photocurrent and cyclic voltammogram (CV) test. Photolysis studies of the synthesized MnO₂-SiC-TiO₂ composite were conducted using standard dyes of MB and MO under UV light irradiation. The experiments revealed that the MnO₂-SiC-TiO₂ exhibits the greatest photocatalytic dye degradation performance of around 20 % with MB, and of around 10 % with MO, respectively, within 120 min. Furthermore, MnO₂-SiC-TiO₂ showed good stability against photocatalytic degradation. The photocatalytic efficiency of the nanocomposite was indicated by the adequate photocatalytic reaction process. These research results show the practical application potential of SiC fibers and the performance of a photocatalyst composite that combines these fibers with metal oxides.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.92-97
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• 2024

To improve the efficiency of water splitting systems for hydrogen production, the high overvoltages of electrochemical reactions caused by catalysts in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER, Oxygen Evolution Reaction) must be reduced. Among them, LDH (Layered Double Hydroxide) compounds containing transition metal such as Ni, are attracting attention as catalyst materials that can replace precious metals such as platinum that are currently used. In this study, nickel foam, an inexpensive metallic porous material, was used as a support, and NiCo LDH (Layered Double Hydroxide) nanocrystals were synthesized through a hydrothermal synthesis process. In addition, changes in the shape, crystal structure, and water decomposition characteristics of the Mo-doped NiCo LDH nanocrystal samples synthesized by doping Mo to improve OER properties were observed.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 2007

In this work, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber was prepared by electrospinning methods from dimethyl formamide solutions with various conditions, such as 8~20 kV applied voltage, 5~15 wt% PAN concentration, and 15 cm tip-to-collector distance (TCD). The nanofibers were stabilized by oxidation at $250^{\circ}C$ for 1 h, and then subsequently carbonized at $800{\sim}1000^{\circ}C$ for 1 h. The structured characteristics of the nanofibers before and after carbonization were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The resulting diameter distribution and morphologies of the nanofiber were evaluated by scanning electron microscope analysis. The electrochemical behaviors of the nanofiber were observed by cyclic voltammetry tests. From the results, the diameter of electrospinning nanofibers was predominantly influenced by the concentration of polymer solution and the applied voltage. The average diameter of the fibers was decreased with increasing the polymer concentration up to 10wt%. It was also found that the nanofibers with uniform diameter distribution and fine diameter could be achieved at 15kV input voltage and 15 cm TCD.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.696-701
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• 2012

Non-aqueous processes have been developed for stable management and reuse of spent fuels. Nowadays, a plan for the management of spent fuel is being sought focusing on a non-aqueous process in Korea. Named as pyroprocessing, it includes an electrolytic reduction process using molten salt at high temperature for the spent fuels, which provides metallic product for a following electro-refining process. The electrolytic reduction process utilizes electrochemical reaction producing Li to convert oxides into metals in high temperature LiCl medium. Various kinds of elements in the spent fuels would be distributed in the system according to their respective reactivity with the reductant, Li, and the medium, LiCl. This study elucidates the reactions of the elements to understand the behavior of composite elements on the spent fuels by thermodynamic calculations. Uranium and transuranic are reduced into their metallic forms while rare-earth oxides, except for Eu, are stable against the reaction at a process temperature. This study also covers the tendency of reactions with respect to the temperature and, finally, estimates radioactivity and heat load on the distributed phases based on the reference spent fuel characteristics.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.454-463
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• 2006

refractory organic compounds in aqueous solution are not readily removed by the existing conventional wastewater treatment process. In recent years, the sonolysis and electrochemical oxidation process had been shown to be promising for wastewater treatment due to the effectiveness and easiness in operation. This study was performed to investigate the characteristics of sonolytic and electrolytic decomposition as the basic data for development of the wastewater treatment process. Trichloroethylene(TCE) and 2,4- dichlorophenol(2,4-DCP) were used as the samples, and their destruction efficiency were measured with various operating parameters, such as initial solution concentration, initial solution pH, reaction temperature, sonic power and current density. Also, the decomposition mechanism conformed indirectly with the effect of NaHCO3 as a radical scavenger on the decomposition reaction. Thermal decompositon reaction is predominant for TCE but thermal and radical decompositon reactions were dominant for 2,4-DCP. Results showed that the destruction efficiencies of all samples were above 65% within 120 minutes by sonolysis and electrolysis at the same time, and were increased with increasing initial concentration, sonic power and current density. Destruction efficiency of TCE was high in the acidic solution, but 2,4-DCP showed high destruction efficiency in basic solution.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.44-51
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• 1998

In this work, the in-situ viscoelastic characteristics of electropolymerized polypyrrole (PPy) thin film were investigated in the electrolyte solutions of $NaClO_4$, $LiClO_4$, and $KClO_4$ by using quartz crystal analyzer (QCA). One side of quartz crystal was used as a working electrode mounted in a special fabricated QCA electrochemical ceil. The resonant frequency and resonant resistance diagram (F-R diagram) was used to interpret the viscoelastic characteristics of Pby thin film and compared with AFM photograph. The resonant frequency, resonant resistance, and current were measured to analyze the redox reaction behaviors when the cyclic voltammetry was performed using AT-cut quartz crystal electrode coated with galvanostatically polymerized Ppy film. The result suggests that the Ppy film polymerized onto the crystal behaves as a rigid elastic layer at the initial stage of electropolymerization, while the film becomes a viscoelastic layer the polymerization proceeds further. At the same time, the film thickness increases and some morphological changes take place due to the penetration of electrolyte solution into the film. These phenomena take place when cyclic voltammetry was performed using different electrolyte solution compared with polymerization process.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2017

KAERI is conducting research on spent cladding hulls and additive metals to generate a solidification host matrix for the noble metal fission product waste in anode sludge from the electro-refining process to minimize the volume of waste that needs to be disposed of. In this study, alloy compositions Zr-17Cr, Zr-22Cr, and Zr-27Cr were prepared with or without eight noble metals representing fuel waste using induction melting. The microstructures of the resulting alloys were characterized and electrochemical corrosion tests were conducted to evaluate their corrosion characteristics. All the compositions had better corrosion characteristics than other Zr-based alloys that were evaluated for comparison. Analysis of the leach solution after the corrosion test of the Zr-22Cr-8NM specimen indicated that the noble metals were not leached during corrosion under 500 mV imposed voltage, which simulates a highly oxidizing disposal environment. The results of this study confirm that Zr-Cr based compositions will likely serve as chemically stable waste forms.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.333-343
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• 2004

Statement of problem: In its preceding work, change in surface characteristics were investigated in consideration that both microtopograpy and macroscopic configuration of implants surface are two of the most important factors, in that they can construct agreeable environment by raising surface energy, to affect osseointegration and biocompatibility explained by cell proliferation. Purpose: This study focused on examining cytocompatibility of dental implants materials Ti-Ag alloys, of which mechanical and electrochemical superiority to cp-Ti or Ti6Al4V were verified, in comparison with that of cp-Ti, and Ti6Al4V. Materials and methods: In this regard, MTT tests for L-929, the fibroblast connective tissues and cell proliferation tests for osteoprogenitor cells, MC3T3-E1 were performed on cp-Ti, Ti6Al4V, and Ti-Ag alloys following thermal oxidation according to appropriate heat treatment temperature(untreated, 400, 600, $800^{\circ}C$) and heat treatment duration(untreated, 0.5, 1, 4 hr). Results: The MTT tests on fibroblasts L-929 resulted in cell viability of over 90% in all experimental group entities, where, especially, the 100% of the viability for Ti-Ag alloys specimens accounted for the slightest adverse effect of ions release from those alloys on the cell. In MC3T3-E1 proliferation tests, the population of cells in the experimental group was roughly increased as experimentation proceeded, after two to four days. Proliferation showed highest viability for most of specimens, including Ti2.0Ag, treated at $600^{\circ}C$. Conclusion: In conclusion, it is the heat treatment temperature, not the duration that has considerable effects on thermal oxidation of specimens. Ti-Ag alloys treated at $600^{\circ}C$ proved to have the best surface morphology as well as cytocompatibility when compared with Ti or Ti6Al4V for short-term biocompatibility tests.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.403-407
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• 2005

In this work, the solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) composites, which are composed of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), mesoporous mobil crystalline material-41 (MCM-41), and lithium salt, are prepared in order to investigate the influence of MCM-41 contents on the ionic conductivity of the composites. The crystallinity of the SPE composites was evaluated using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The ionic conductivity of the SPE composites was measured by the frequency response analyzer (FRA). As a result, the addition of MCM-41 into the polymeric mixture prohibited the growth of PEO crystalline domain due to the mesoporous structures of the MCM-41. The $P(EO)_{16}LiClO_4$/MCM-41 electrolytes show an increased ion conductivity as a function of MCM-41 content up to 8 $wt\%$ and a slightly decreased conductivity over 8 $wt\%$. These ion conductivity characteristics are dependent on a change of polymer crystallinity in the presence of MCM-41 system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2012.10a
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• pp.1000-1002
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• 2012

The material with superior biocompatibility and physical-chemical stability is required to fabricate high sensitive biosensors. Many kinds of biomaterials have been evaluated to apply for bioindustry. Recently, carbon based diamond and graphene thin films have been focal pointed as bio applications and their possibility is partially evaluated. Diamond thin film has many advantages for electrochemical and biological applications, such as wide potential window (3.0~3.5V), low background current and chemical-physical stability. And graphene film has many advantages as biomaterial, chemical-physical stability and conductivity. In this work, we have cultured human nerve cell (SH-SY5Y) on the nanocrystalline diamond, mirocrystalline diamond, graphene film and cell culture dish. We use MTT assay to evaluate the characteristics of cell culture on the substrates. As a result, nerve cell is well cultured on the carbon based diamond and graphene films as similar as cell culture dish. We expect that carbon materials have been applied for bioindustry such as biosensors.