• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.198-203
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• 2013

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) have been extensively studied because of their promising low-cost alternatives to conventional semiconductor based solar cells. DSSCs consist of molecular dye at the interface between a liquid electrolyte and a mesoporous wide-bandgap semiconductor oxide. Most efforts for high conversion efficiencies have focused on dye and liquid electrolytes. However, interface engineering between dye and electrode is also important to reduce recombination and improve efficiency. In this work, for interface engineering, we deposited semiconducting ferroelectric $BiFeO_3$ with bandgap of 2.8 eV on $TiO_2$ nanoparticles and nanotubes. Photovoltaic properties of DSSCs were characterized as a function of thickness of $BiFeO_3$. We showed that ferroelectric $BiFeO_3$-coated $TiO_2$ electrodes enable to increase overall efficiency of DSSCs, which was associated with efficient electron transport due to internal electric field originating from electric polarization. It was suggested that engineering the dye-$TiO_2$ interface using ferroelectric materials as inorganic modifiers can be key parameter for enhanced photovoltaic performance of the cell.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.1020-1027
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• 1999

Heteropoly acid(HPW) catalysts supported on three different carriers, an amorphous silica, MCM-41 and MCM-48, with different loadings and calcination temperatures have been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen physorption, infrared spectroscopy, and $^{31}P$ magic angle spinning NMR. From the result of IR and NMR, it was shown that HPW retains the Keggin structure on the supported catalysts. No HPW crystal phase was developed even at HPW loadings as high as 35 wt % on the MCM-41 and 65 wt % MCM-48. Thus, HPW appeared to form finely dispersed species. In the hydrolysis reaction of di, bis, tri-pentaerythritol, HPW/MCM-41, 48 exhibited higher catalytic activity than $HPW/SiO_2$ or HPW.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.82-87
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• 2013

Preliminary studies on the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles including nanoporous carbon materials have been done via a direct carbonization process from resol, ferric nitrate and triblock copolymer F127. The results show that the nanoporous magnetite/carbon ($Fe_3O_4$/carbon) with a low $Fe_3O_4$ content (1 wt%) possesses an ordered 2-D hexagonal (p6mm) structure, uniform nanopores (3.6 nm), high surface areas (up to 635 $m^2/g$) and pore volumes (up to 0.48 $cm^3/g$). Magnetite nanoparticles with a small particle size (10.2 nm) were confined in the matrix of amorphous carbon frameworks with superparamagnetic property (7.7 emu/g). The nanoporous magnetite/carbon showed maximum adsorption amount (995 mg/g) of ibuprofen after 24 h at room temperature. The nanoporous magnetite/carbon was separated from solution easily by using a magnet. The nanoporous magnetite/carbon material is a good adsorbent for hydrophobic organic drug molecules, i.e. ibuprofen.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.3629-3633
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• 2011

The effect of a dense $TiO_2$ blocking layer prepared using the sol-gel method on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells was studied. The blocking layer formed directly on the working electrode, separated it from the electrolyte, and prevented the back transfer of electrons from the electrode to the electrolyte. The dyesensitized solar cells were prepared with a working electrode of fluorine-doped tin oxide glass coated with a blocking layer of dense $TiO_2$, a dye-attached mesoporous $TiO_2$ film, and a nano-gel electrolyte, and a counter electrode of Pt-deposited FTO glass. The gel processing conditions and heat treatment temperature for blocking layer formation affected the morphology and performance of the cells, and their optimal values were determined. The introduction of the blocking layer increased the conversion efficiency of the cell by 7.37% for the cell without a blocking layer to 8.55% for the cell with a dense $TiO_2$ blocking layer, under standard illumination conditions. The short-circuit current density ($J_{sc}$) and open-circuit voltage ($V_{oc}$) also were increased by the addition of a dense $TiO_2$ blocking layer.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.309-314
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• 2020

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is concerned with promoting oral infection due to its low antibacterial activity. To overcome this, the nanoparticles of Ag-MSN, nGO, and CNP were mixed with MMA liquid in a weight ratio of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0% compared to resin powder using Orthocryl from Dentarum, a calibration resin, and then instructed by the manufacturer. Accordingly, a specimen for calibration was prepared by mixing PMMA: MMA (1.2: 1) ratio, and physical properties of the calibration resin, antifungal experiments, and statistical analysis were performed. As a result of antibacterial experiments, the antibacterial properties of Ag-MSN increased. In nGO, the antibacterial adhesive effect increased hydrophilicity, not a change in surface roughness. The higher the CNP concentration, the higher the antibacterial activity. This suggests its potential usefulness as an antibacterial dental material for orthodontic devices and temporary restorations.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.458-464
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• 2021

Tungsten disulfide (WS₂), a typical 2D layerd structure, has received much attention as a pseudocapacitive material because of its high theoretical specific capacity and excellent ion diffusion kinetics. However, WS₂ has critical limits such as poor long-term cycling stability owing to its large volume expansion during cycling and low electrical conductivity. Therefore, to increase the high-rate performance and cycling stability for pseudocapacitors, well-dispersed WS₂ nanoparticles embedded in carbon nanofibers (WS₂-CNFs), including mesopores and S-doping, are prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and sulfurizaiton. These unique nanocomposite electrodes exhibit a high specific capacity (159.6 F g^-1 at 10 mV s^-1), excellent high-rate performance (81.3 F g^-1 at 300 mV s^-1), and long-term cycling stability (55.9 % after 1,000 cycles at 100 mV s^-1). The increased specific capacity is attributed to well-dispersed WS₂ nanoparticles embedded in CNFs that the enlarge active area; the increased high-rate performance is contributed by reduced ion diffusion pathway due to mesoporous CNFs and improved electrical conductivity due to S-doped CNFs; the long-term cycling stability is attributed to the CNFs matrix including WS₂ nanoparticles, which effectively prevent large volume expansion.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.17-18
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• 2011

Plasma in liquid phase has attracted great attention in the last few years by the wide domain of applications in material processing, decomposition of organic and inorganic chemical compounds and sterilization of water. The plasma in liquid is characterized by three main regions which interact each - other during the plasma operation: the liquid phase, which supply the plasma gas phase with various chemical compounds and ions, the plasma in the gas phase at atmospheric pressure and the interface between these two regions. The most complex region, but extremely interesting from the fundamental, chemical and physical processes which occur here, is the boundary between the liquid phase and the plasma gas phase. In our laboratory, plasma in liquid which behaves as a glow discharge type, is generated by using a bipolar pulsed power supply, with variable pulse width, in the range of 0.5~10 ${\mu}s$ and 10 to 30 kHz repetition rate. Plasma in water and other different solutions was characterized by electrical and optical measurements. Strong emissions of OH and H radicals dominate the optical spectra. Generally water with 500 ${\mu}S/cm$ conductivity has a breakdown voltage around 2 kV, depending on the pulse width and the repetition rate of the power supply. The characteristics of the plasma initiated in ultrapure water between pairs of different materials used for electrodes (W and Ta) were investigated by the time-resolved optical emission and the broad-band absorption spectroscopy. The deexcitation processes of the reactive species formed in the water plasma depend on the electrode material, but have been independent on the polarity of the applied voltage pulses. Recently, Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy method was employed to investigate the chemistry in the liquid phase and at the interface between the gas and the liquid phases of the solution plasma system. The use of the solution plasma allows rapid fabrication of the metal nanoparticles without being necessary the addition of different reducing agents, because plasma in the liquid phase provides a reaction field with a highly excited energy radicals. We successfully synthesized gold nanoparticles using a glow discharge in aqueous solution. Nanoparticles with an average size of less than 10 nm were obtained using chlorauric acid solutions as the metal source. Carbon/Pt hybrid nanostructures have been obtained by treating carbon balls, synthesized in a CVD chamber, with hexachloro- platinum acid in a solution plasma system. The solution plasma was successfully used to remove the template remained after the mesoporous silica synthesis. Surface functionalization of the carbon structures and the silica surface with different chemical groups and nanoparticles, was also performed by processing these materials in the liquid plasma.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2002

Pine bark was carbonized by using a small-scale experimental kiln and three different types of large-scale kilns (simple (400-$500^{\circ}C$), improved (600-$700^{\circ}C$) and special kiln (800-$1,000^{\circ}C$). The physical properties and pore structures of the bark charcoals prepared were analyzed. When the bark was carbonized at various temperatures ranging from 500 to $900^{\circ}C$in the presence of nitrogen, carbonization yield decreased rapidly with increasing carbonization temperature and it remained constant from 700 to $900^{\circ}C$. The carbonization yield of the bark was 16 - 18% higher than that of pine wood. The BET specific surface areas and iodine values increased with a decrease in carbonization yield. The BET specific surface areas of the bark charcoals reached about 400 -$500m^2／g$ for carbonization yield of 32-40%. The pine wood charcoal prepared at $600^{\circ}C$ for 30 min resulted in a more microporous structure, whereas the bark charcoal prepared at the same condition was more mesoporous. The carbonization yields and physical properties such as iodine values and BET specific surface areas of bark charcoals prepared by using the large-scale kilns were very similar to those of the small-scale kiln. The results indicated that the pine bark could be used as starting material to produce good quality charcoal having a large specific surface area and a high carbonization yield.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.543-548
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• 2015

Si/C/CNF composites as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries were examined to improve the capacity and cycle performance. Si/C/CNF composites were prepared by the fabrication process including the synthesis and magnesiothermic reduction of SBA-15 to obtain Si/MgO by ball milling and the carbonization of phenol resin with CNF and HCl etching. Prepared Si/C/CNF composites were then analysed by BET, XRD, FE-SEM and TGA. Among SBA-15 samples synthesized at reaction temperatures between 50 and $70^{\circ}C$, the SBA-15 at $60^{\circ}C$ showed the largest specific surface area. Also the electrochemical performances of Si/C/CNF composites as an anode electrode were investigated by constant current charge/discharge test, cyclic voltammetry and impedance tests in the electrolyte of LiPF6 dissolved in mixed organic solvents (EC : DMC : EMC = 1 : 1 : 1 vol%). The coin cell using Si/C/CNF composites (Si : CNF = 97 : 3 in weight) showed better capacity (1,947 mAh/g) than that of other composition coin cells. The capacity retention ratio decreased from 84% (Si : CNF = 97 : 3 in weight) to 77% (Si : CNF = 89 : 11 in weight). It was found that the Si/C/CNF composite electrode shows an improved cycling performance and electric conductivity.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.305-311
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• 2021

Effects of chitosan as a mesopore directing agent of SAPO-34 catalysts were investigated to improve the catalytic lifetime in DTO reaction. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherm and NH₃-temperature programmed desorption (TPD). The modified SAPO-34 catalysts prepared by varying the added amount of chitosan showed the same cubic morphology and chabazite structure as the conventional SAPO-34 catalyst. As the added amount of chitosan increased to 3 wt%, the surface area, mesopore volume and concentration of weak acid sites of modified SAPO-34 catalysts increased. The modified SAPO-34 catalysts showed enhanced catalytic lifetime and high selectivity for light olefins in the DTO reaction. In particular, the SAPO-CHI 3 catalyst (3 wt%) exhibited the longest catalytic lifetime than that of the conventional SAPO-34. Therefore, it was confirmed that chitosan was a suitable material as a mesopore directing agent to delay deactivation of the SAPO-34 catalyst.