• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.85 no.4
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• pp.445-459
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• 2023

The current investigation is the first endeavor to apply the full layerwise finite element method (FEM) in free vibration analysis of functionally graded (FG) composite plates reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs) in thermal environment. Unlike the equivalent single-layer (ESL) theories, the layerwise FEM focuses on all three-dimensional (3D) effects. The GPLs weight fraction is presumed invariable in each layer but varies through the plate thickness in a layerwise model. The modified Halpin-Tsai model is employed to acquire the effective Young's modulus. The rule of mixtures is applied to specify the effective Poisson's ratio and mass density. First, the current method is validated by comparing the numerical results with those stated in the available works. Next, a thorough numerical study is performed to examine the influence of various factors involving the pattern of distribution, weight fraction, geometry, and size of GPLs, together with the thickness-to-span ratio, thermal environment, and boundary conditions of the plate, on its free vibration behaviors. Numerical results demonstrate that employing a small percentage of GPL as reinforcement considerably grows the natural frequencies of the pure epoxy. Also, distributing more square-shaped GPLs, involving a smaller amount of graphene layers, and vicinity to the upper and lower surfaces make it the most efficient method to enhance the free vibration behaviors of the plate.

• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.108-114
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• 2021

Graphene flakes are generally mass-produced by converting graphene oxide into reduced graphene oxide using chemical or thermal reduction. These graphene flakes can be stacked to form a free-standing graphene paper, which can be used for various applications. However, a graphene paper lacks stretchability, which hinders its application in stretchable devices. In this work, we introduced wrinkles in a graphene paper to make it stretchable. A graphene paper fabricated by vacuum-filtering a graphene dispersion was placed on a pre-stretched adhesive film. When the pre-stretched adhesive film returned to the original state, the graphene paper was wrinkled. The effect of the pre-stretching and wet condition of the graphene papers was experimentally investigated by using scanning electron microscopy. In addition, we observed the change of the period of the wrinkles in the graphene paper depending on the pre-stretching.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.53-59
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• 2014

Palladium (Pd) nanoparticles attached graphene (GR) composite was synthesized for an enhanced glucose biosensor. Aerosol spray pyrolysis (ASP) was employed to synthesize the GR-Pd composite using a colloidal mixture of graphene oxide (GO) and palladium chloride ($PdCl_2$) precursor. The effects of the weight ratio of the Pd/GR on the particle properties including the morphology and crystal structure were investigated. The morphology of GR-Pd composites was generally the shape of a crumpled paper ball, and the average composite size was about $1{\mu}m$. Pd nanoparticles less than 20 nm in diameter were deposited on GR sheets and the Pd nanoparticles showed clear crystallinity. The characteristic of the glucose biosensor fabricated with the as-prepared GR-Pd composite was tested through cyclic voltammetry measurements. The biosensor exhibited a high current flow as well as clear redox peaks, which resulted in a superior ability of the catalyst in terms of an electrochemical reaction. The highest sensitivity obtained from the amperometric response of the glucose biosensor was $14.4{\mu}A/mM{\cdot}cm^2$.

• Ceramist
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.166-177
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• 2020

The wettability is one of the most fundamental properties of a material surface. Especially, graphene, two-dimensional (2D) surface material in which all the carbon atoms are exposed to the environment, is the best choice of template to study about the surface wettability. However, most studies have focused on the mechanical and electrical properties of graphene, not the surface wettability. This review article covers the wettability of graphene and provides recent research regarding the engineering of the surface wettability. This paper would be helpful for researchers working in this field and provides perspective for future carbon-liquid interacting applications.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2017

Cobalt-iron oxides have emerged as alternative electrode materials for supercapacitors because they have advantages of low cost, natural abundance, and environmental friendliness. Graphene loaded with cobalt ferrite ($CoFe_2O_4$) nanoparticles can exhibit enhanced specific capacitance. In this study, we present three-dimensional (3D) crumpled graphene (CGR) decorated with $CoFe_2O_4$ nanoparticles. The $CoFe_2O_4$-graphene composites were synthesized from a colloidal mixture of GO, iron (III) chloride hexahydrate ($FeCl_3{\cdot}6H_2O$) and cobalt chloride hexahydrate ($CoCl_2{\cdot}6H_2O$) respectively, via one step aerosol spray pyrolysis. Size of $CoFe_2O_4$ nanoparticles was ranged from 5 nm to 10 nm when loaded onto 500 nm CGR. The electrochemical performance of the $CoFe_2O_4$-graphene composites was examined. The $CoFe_2O_4$-graphene composite electrode showed the specific capacitance of $253F\;g^{-1}$.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1085-1103
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• 2016

The present paper is aimed to evaluate and compare the effective elastic properties of CNT- and graphene-based nanocomposites using 3-D nanoscale representative volume element (RVE) based on continuum mechanics using finite element method (FEM). Different periodic displacement boundary conditions are applied to the FEM model of the RVE to evaluate various elastic constants. The effects of the matrix material, the volume fraction and the length of reinforcements on the elastic properties are also studied. Results predicted are validated with the analytical and/or semiempirical results and the available results in the literature. Although all elastic stiffness properties of CNT- and graphene-based nanocomposites are found to be improved compared to the matrix material, but out-of-plane and in-plane stiffness properties are better improved in CNT- and graphene-based nanocomposites, respectively. It is also concluded that long nanofillers (graphene as well as CNT) are more effective in increasing the normal elastic moduli of the resulting nanocomposites as compared to the short length, but the values of shear moduli, except $G_{23}$ of CNT nanocomposite, of nanocomposites are slightly improved in the case of short length nanofillers (i.e., CNT and graphene).

• Composites Research
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.375-378
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• 2016

Characteristics of nanocrystalline materials are known substantially dependent on the microstructure such as grain size, crystal orientation, and grain boundary. Thus it is desired to have systematic characterization methods on the various nanomaterials with complex geometries, especially in low dimensional nature. One of the interested nanomaterials would be a pure two-dimensional material, graphene, with superior mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. In this study, mechanical properties of "polycrystalline" graphene were numerically investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. Subdomains with various sizes would be generated in the polycrystalline graphene during the fabrication such as chemical vapor deposition process. The atomic models of polycrystalline graphene were generated using Voronoi tessellation method. Stress strain curves for tensile deformation were obtained for various grain sizes (5~40 nm) and their mechanical properties were determined. It was found that, as the grain size increases, Young's modulus increases showing the reverse Hall-Petch effect. However, the fracture strain decreases in the same region, while the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) rather shows slight increasing behavior. We found that the polycrystalline graphene shows the reverse Hall-Petch effect over the simulated domain of grain size (< 40 nm).

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.381-391
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• 2018

In this work, photocatalytic $CO_2$ reduction over a CdSe-graphene-$TiO_2$ nanocomposite has been studied. The obtained material was successfully fabricated via ultrasonic technique. The physical properties of the as-synthesized materials were characterized by some physical techniques. The $TiO_2$ and CdSe dispersed graphene nanocomposite showed excellent results of strong reduction rates of $CO_2$ compared to the results of bare $TiO_2$ and binary CdSe-graphene. An outstanding point of the combination of CdSe-$TiO_2$ and graphene appeared in the form of great photocatalytic reduction capability of $CO_2$. The photocatalytic activity of the asfabricated composite was tested by surveying for the photoreduction of $CO_2$ to alcohol under UV and visible light irradiation, and the obtained results imply that the as-prepared CdSe-graphene-$TiO_2$ nanocomposite is promising to become a potential candidate for the photocatalytic $CO_2$ reduction.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2015

We report the facile synthesis of graphene-$CdLa_2S_4$ composite through a facile solvothermal method at low temperature. The as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and BET analysis, revealing the uniform covering of the graphene nanosheet with $CdLa_2S_4$ nanocrystals. The as-prepared samples show a higher efficiency for the photocatalytic degradation of typical MB dye compared with P25 and $CdLa_2S_4$ bulk nanoparticles. The enhancement of visible-light-responsive photocatalytic properties by decolorization of Rh.B dye may be attributed to the following causes. Firstly, graphene nanosheet is capable of accepting, transporting and storing electrons, and thus retarding or hindering the recombination of the electrons with the holes remaining on the excited $CdLa_2S_4$ nanoparticles. Secondly, graphene nanosheet can increase the adsorption of pollutants. The final cause is that their extended light absorption range. This work not only offers a simple way to synthesize graphene-based composites via a one-step process at low temperature but also a path to obtain efficient functional materials for environmental purification and other applications.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2014

In this study, the nanofiber composite membrane was prepared by electrospinning method with poly (ancrylonitrile) (PAN) and a dispersed solution of graphene oxide (GO) and $Fe_3O_4$ functionalized graphene oxide (M-GO) in dimethyl formamide (DMF). The pore-diameter of prepared membranes was controlled by change of those layers. It was confirmed with SEM that the nanofiber composite membranes having fiber size of 500 nm were prepared. It was found with Raman spectroscopy and EDS that GO and M-GO were well dispersed on those membranes. Final nanofiber composite membrane showed the similar pore properties ($0.21{\sim}0.24{\mu}m$/pore-size, 40% porosity) with the commercial membrane ($0.27{\mu}m$/pore-size, 55% porosity) and their water-flux results also showed the 200% higher flux than its PAN membrane. From these results, it was expected that the nanofiber composite membrane prepared by electrospinning method could be utilized as a water-treatment membrane.