• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.963-968
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• 2009

Liquid crystal (LC; E7 and/or ML-0249)-embedded, poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-co-HFP)-based, polymer electrolytes were prepared for use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The electrolytes contained 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (PMII), tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI), and iodine ($I_2$), which participate in the $I_3^-/I^-$ redox couple. The incorporation of photochemically stable PVdF-co-HFP in the DSSCs created a stable polymer electrolyte that resisted leakage and volatilization. DSSCs, with liquid crystal(LC)-embedded PVdF-co-HFP-based polymer electrolytes between the amphiphilic ruthenium dye N719 absorbed to the nanocrystalline $TiO_2$ photoanode and the Pt counter electrode, were fabricated. These DSSCs displayed enhanced redox couple reduction and reduced charge recombination in comparison to that fabricated from the conventional PVdF-co-HFP-based polymer electrolyte. The behavior of the polymer electrolyte was improved by the addition of optimized amounts of plasticizers, such as ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC). The significantly increased short-circuit current density ($J_{sc}$, $14.60\;mA/cm^2$) and open-circuit voltage ($V_{oc}$, 0.68 V) of these DSSCs led to a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.42% and a fill factor of 0.65 under a standard light intensity of $100\;mW/cm^2$ irradiation of AM 1.5 sunlight. A DSSC fabricated by using E7-embedded PVdF-co-HFP-based polymer electrolyte exhibited a maximum incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 50%.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.126-134
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• 2016

To produce renewable biomethane from biogas, the properties of physical absorbents such as water, methanol, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), poly(ethylene glycol) dimethylether (PEGDME), and propylene carbonate (PC) were studied, and PC was applied to membrane contactor systems. Among physical absorbents, PC exhibited a high contact angle of $58.3^{\circ}$ on polypropylene surface, and a PC/water mixture (5 wt%) increased the contact angle to $90^{\circ}$. Furthermore, the PC/water mixture presented higher $CO_2$ absorption capacities (0.148-0.157 mmol/g) than that of water (0.121 mmol/g), demonstrating a good property as an absorbent for membrane contactors. Actual operations in membrane contactors using the PC/water mixture resulted in $CO_2$ removal of 98.0-97.8% with biomethane purities of 98.5-98.3%, presenting a strong potential for biogas treatment. However, the PC/water mixture yielded moderate improved in $CO_2$ removal and methane recovery, as compared with water in the membrane contactor operation. This is originated from insufficient desorption processes to reuse absorbent and low $CO_2$ flux of the PC/water absorbent. Thus, it is requiring optimizations of membrane contactor technology including development of absorbent and improvement of operation process.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.56-64
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• 1996

C,H,OH system is widely used for producing synthetic beverages and pharmaceuticals. Calcium hydroxide suspension was used to callhol the morphology of calcium carbonate, and the charactenstics of the formahan and crystsllizatian of calcium cilrbonate by adding ethylenc glycol were determined A reaclor was made with attaching a ceramic bubble plate, and lhe eleclrical conductivity was continously monitored during the rcaction with CO, gas. A part of the suspension was separated and powdered at the transition point. XRD and electron microscopic observation showed that the intermedmte and final products were vilterite, ;~r;lganite and calcite. In this study, the volumc of the ethylene glycol added to CH,OH was fixed a1 10 vol\ulcornerh. The valumc of the suspension was 500 ml, and the changes oi characteristics were shdied along with variims cnntents(l0-50 g) of calcium hydroxide. Except m the case of 10 g of calcium hydroxide at the crystallization stagc, all of products showed gelation. Tne marc the calcium hydroxide the shorter the formation time. Alsa. the farmalion of spherical valcrile ivas obsemcd when 30 g Ca(OH), was added. Tne vaterite(a compound material) can bc synthesised under alnbienl pressure and lempcmhre m a C,H,OH system by morphology control. Even though the vateritc was meta-stable phasc and could bc changed to calcitc easily, the stable and spherical vateritc was observed by using G5 glass fillers and vacuum dricrs.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.1313-1318
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• 2006

The mechanism fur the surface film formation was studied by in situ Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) observation of a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) basal plane surface during cyclic voltammetry at a slow scan-rate of 0.5 mV $s^{-1}$ in 1 moi $dm^{-3}$ (M) $LiPF_6$ dissolved in a mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC). Decomposition of the electrolyte solution began at a potential around 2.15 V vs. $Li^+$/Li on step edges. In the potential range 0.95-0.8 V vs. $Li^+$/Li, flat areas (hill-like structures) and large swelling appeared on the surface. It is considered that these two features were formed by the intercalation of solvated lithium ions and their decomposition beneath the surface, respectively. At potentials more negative than 0.80 V vs. $Li^+$/Li, particle-like precipitates appeared on the basal plane surface. After the first cycle, the thickness of the precipitate layer was 30 nm. The precipitates were considered to be decomposition of the lithium salt ($LiPF_6$) and solvent molecules (EC and DEC), and to have an important role in suppressing further solvent decomposition on the basal plane.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.164-171
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• 2010

Recently, the waste of Polycarbonate(PC) is increase with the increase in demand of a polycarbonate. It is concerned with producing a new material and diol monomer, bishydroxyethyl ether of bisphenol A(BHE-BPA) through depolymerization of the polycarbonate waste at recycling. BHE-BPA can be used as a good raw material for the synthesis of polycarbonate type polyurethane. PC particles were depolymerized with base-catalyst NaOH, solvent EG, and ethylene carbonate(EC) was formed during the PC depolymerziation. EC was added to promote the conversion from bispenol-A to BHE-BPA. The characteristics of depolymeraion of polycarbonate as well as conversion of bispenol-A to BHE-BPA were investigated. BHE-BPA yield of 92% was obtained at temperature $220^{\circ}C$, 10% catalyst/PC mole ratio, 20 mmol of EC. BHE-BPA purity of better than 99% was achieved by crystallization of BHE-BPA.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1072-1080
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• 2005

The extraction characteristics of heavy metals(HM) from a contaminated soil at existing lead smelters were investigated with ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid(EDTA), citrate and HCl as washing solutions. EDTA was more effective for Pb than for other heavy metals. As the mol ratio of EDTA/HM increased, the removal efficiency of heavy metals became higher. When the mol ratio of EDTA/HM approached to 6.5, it removed Pb most effectively. Citrate was effective especially in extracting Zn. The removal efficiency of HCl was comparatively high in almost all heavy metals, and at 0.3N concentration it was the highest. After soil washing process by the use of EDTA, the great part of exchangeable fractions and most of heavy metals of weakly adsorbed like carbonate fraction were extracted. For washing with citrate and HCl, four heavy metals showed the similar exchange of chemical partitioning and the exchangeable fractions of Pb which has weakly adsorbed to soil were more increased than before the process. As removal efficiency of citrate washing process depends upon the distribution of non-detrital fractions, so it can be contended that only the amount of non-detrital fractions could be removed from all the heavy metal content. EDTA and HCl could remove most of non-residual fractions in all heavy metals except Zn. As a result of EDTA washing, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure(TCLP) concentration of the processed soil met the USEPA Pb limit of 5.0 mg/L.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.641-653
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to confirm the antifungal activity, plant growth-promoting activity, and mineral solubilizing activity of 18 types of bacteria isolated purely from rhizosphere soil. The potential of isolates of the genus Bacillus and Pseudomonas as biocontrol agents was confirmed through the antifungal activity of these isolates. This activity has been determined to be due to various hydrolytic enzymes on the cell wall of plant pathogenic fungi and the production of siderophores in isolates. In addition, most of the isolates have been found to have aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase production activity, indole-3-acetic acid production activity, and nitrogen fixation activity. These characteristics are believed to have a positive effect on root development, growth, and the productivity of crops via a reduction in the concentration of ethylene under conditions of environmental stress, to which plants are commonly exposed. In addition, on testing for the solubilizing activity of the isolates for phosphoric acid, silicon, calcium carbonate, and zinc, some isolates were found to have mineral solubilizing activities. Inoculation of these isolates during plant growth is expected to assist plant growth by converting nutrients necessary for growth into usable forms that can be absorbed by plants. The 18 isolated strains can be used as biocontrol agents due to their antifungal activity, plant growthpromoting activity, and mineral solubilizing activity.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.243-249
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• 2006

Porous polymer gel electrolytes (PGEs) based on poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VdF-co-HFP)) as a polymer matrix and polyvinylpyrolidone (PVP) as a pore-forming agent were prepared and electrochemical properties were investigated for an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) in order to increase a permeability of an electrolyte into the PGE. Propylene carbonate (PC) and ethylene carbonate (EC) as plasticizers, and tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate ($TEABF_4$) as a supporting salt for the PGE were used. EDLC unit cells were assembled with the PGE and electrode comprising BP-20 and MSP-20 as activated carbon powders, Super P as a conducting agent, and P(VdF-co-HFP)/PVP as a mixed binder. Ion conductivity of PGEs increased with an increased PVP content and was the best at 7 wt% PVP, whereas electrochemical characteristics such as AC-ESR of unit cell were better in 3 wt%. And electrochemical characteristics of the unit cell with PGE were the best at a 33 : 33 weight ratio of PC to EC. Specific capacitance of a mixed plasticizer system of PE and EC was higher than that of pure PC. Ion conductivity of PGEs with a film thickness of $20{\mu}m$ was higher, but electrochemical characteristics of unit cells were higher for a $50{\mu}m$ membrane thickness. Also, the unit cell has shown the highest capacitance of 31.41 F/g and more stable electrochemical performance when PGE and electrode were hot pressed. Consequently, the optimum composition ratio of PGE for EDLCs was 23 : 66 : 11 wt% such as P(VdF-co-HFP) : PVP = 20 : 3 wt% and PC : EC = 44 : 22 wt%. In this case, $3.17{\times}10^{-3}S/cm$ of ion conductivity was achieved at the $50{\mu}m$ thickness of PGE for EDLCs. And the electrochemical characteristics of unit cells were $2.69{\Omega}$ of DC-ESR, 28 F/g of specific capacitance, and 100% of coulombic efficiency.