• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.1128-1134
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• 2010

Nanocarbon supported Fe/$TiO_2$ composite catalysts were prepared using CNTs (carbon nanotubes) and $C_{60}$ (fullerene) as nanocarbon sources by a modified sol-gel method. The Fe/$TiO_2$-nanocarbon composites were characterized by the BET surface area, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and UV-vis spectra. In comparison with non-nanocarbon doped Fe/$TiO_2$ composites, the nanocarbon supported Fe/$TiO_2$ composites had higher absorption ability with a larger specific surface area, and showed higher photocatalytic activity during the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light. The reasons for the obvious increase of photocatalytic activity indicated that the photoactivity not only benefits from nanocarbon introduced, but also relates to the cooperative effect of the Fe as a dopant.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.28 no.A
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• pp.19-22
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• 2008

In recent years, much attention has been paid to "Photocatalytic oxidation" as an alternative technique, where the pollutants are degraded by UV-irradiation in the presence of a semiconductor suspension such as titanium dioxide. $TiO_2$ is the most often used photocatalyst due to its considerable photocatalytic activity, high stability, non-environmental impact and low cost. 1n this research, the photocatalytic degradation of humic acid, acetaldehyde and methylene blue in $UV/TiO_2$ systems has been stydied. The effect of calcination temperature for manufacturing of $TiO_2$ photocatalysts and type of photocatalysts on photodegradation has been investigated. Photocatalysts with various metal ions(Mn, Fe, Cu and Pt) loading are tested to evaluate the effects of metal ions impurities on photodegradation. The photodegradation efficiency with $Pt-TiO_2$ or $Fe-TiO_2$ or $Cu-TiO_2$ is higher than Degussa P-25 powder. However, the photodegradation efficiency with $Mn-TiO_2$ is lower than Degussa P-25 powder. The photocatalytic properties of the nanocrystals were strongly dependent upon the crystallinity, particle size, standard reduction potential of various transition metal and electronegativity of various transition metal. As a result photocatalysts with various metal ion loading evaluated the effect of photodegradation.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.136-141
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• 2010

ACF/ZnO photocatalyst was synthesized by a sol-gel method using activated carbon fiber (ACF) and Zn $(NO_3)_2$ as precursors. Samples were characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller measurements (BET), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The XRD results showed that ACF/ZnO composites only included a hexagonal phase by heat-treated temperature at $400^{\circ}C$, $500^{\circ}C$, $600^{\circ}C$, and $700^{\circ}C$. The SEM analysis revealed that the ACF/ZnO composites did not exhibit any morphological changes of the catalyst surface according to the different heat-treated temperatures. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was tested for degradation of methylene blue (MB) solutions under ultraviolet (UV) light and ultrasonication respectively. The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of ACF/ZnO composites heat-treated at $500^{\circ}C$ was higher than other samples, which is ascribed to the fine distribution of ZnO particles on the surface of the ACF. In addition, an ultrasound of low power (50 W) was used as an irradiation source to successfully induce ACF/ZnO composites to perform sonocatalytic degradation of MB. Results indicated that the sonocatalytic method in the presence of ACF/ZnO composites is an advisable choice for the treatments of organic dyes.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.286-300
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• 2016

$MoS_2$ precursors were synthesized by reacting thioacetamide ($C_2H_5NS$) with sodium molybdate dihydrate ($Na_2MoO_4{\cdot}2H_2O$) in aqueous HCl solution. $MoS_2$ nanoparticles were prepared from dried $MoS_2$ precursors by calcination in an electric furnace at $700^{\circ}C$ for 2 h under an inert argon atmosphere. $MoS_2-C_{60}$ nanocomposites were obtained by heating $MoS_2$ nanoparticles and fullerene ($C_{60}$) together in an electric furnace at $700^{\circ}C$ for 2 h. Their morphological and the structural properties were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The $MoS_2$ nanoparticles and $MoS_2-C_{60}$ nanocomposites were used as catalysts in the reductions of 2-, 3-, and 4-nitrophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride. The photocatalytic activities of the $MoS_2$ nanoparticles and $MoS_2-C_{60}$ nanocomposites were evaluated in the degradation of organic dyes (brilliant green, methylene blue, methyl orange, and rhodamine B) under ultraviolet light (254 nm).

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.433-438
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• 2010

Fe-carbon/$TiO_2$ composites were prepared by a sol-gel method using AC, ACF, CNT and $C_{60}$ as carbon precursors and were characterized by means of BET surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The activity of the prepared photocatalysts was investigated by degradation reaction of methylene blue (MB) irradiated with UV lamp. Effects of different carbon sources and irradiation time on photocatalytic activity were also investigated. The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of the Fe-carbon/$TiO_2$ composites was much higher than that of pristine $TiO_2$ and Fe/$TiO_2$ composites. The prominent photocatalytic activity of Fecarbon/$TiO_2$ composites could be attributed to both the effects of photo-adsorption and electron transfer by carbon substrate. In addition, the higher photocatalytic activity of Fe-carbon/$TiO_2$ composites can be compared with that of carbon/$TiO_2$ and Fe /$TiO_2$ composites due to cooperative effects between Fe and carbon.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.144-154
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• 2005

The use of ozone gained acceptance in the production of ultrapure water because of its powerful oxidizing ability. Ozone is currently used to deactivate microorganisms and remove organic contaminants. However, interest also exists in using radical species, which arc stronger oxidants than ozone, in such processes. One means of producing radical species is by corona discharge. This work investigates the use of a novel pulseless corona-discharge system for the removal of organic substances in ultrapure water production. The method combines corona discharge with electrohydrodynamic spraying of oxygen, forming microbubbles. Experimental results show that pulseless corona discharge effectively removes organics, such as phenol and methylene blue, in deionized water. The corona-discharge method is demonstrated to be comparable to the direct use of ozone at a high-applied voltage. The results also show that a minimum applied voltage exists for operation of the corona-discharge method. In this work, the minimum applied voltage is approximately 4.5 kV. The kinetic rate or phenol degradation in the reactor is modeled. Modeling results show that the dominant species of the pulseless corona-discharge reactor are hydroxyl radical and aqueous electron. Several radical species produced in the pulseless corona-discharge process are identified experimentally. The. major species are hydroxyl radical, atomic hydrogen species, and ozone.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 2019

Well-crystalline $SnO_2$ nanoparticles of 4-5 nm size with different In contents were synthesized by hydrothermal process at relatively low temperature and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), microRaman spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Indium incorporation in $SnO_2$ lattice is seen to cause a lattice expansion, increasing the average size of the nanoparticles. The fundamental phonon vibration modes of $SnO_2$ lattice suffer a broadening, and surface modes associated to particle size shift gradually with the increase of In content. Incorporation of In drastically enhances the PL emission of $SnO_2$ nanoparticles associated to deep electronic defect levels. Although In incorporation reduces the band gap energy of $SnO_2$ crystallites only marginally, it affects drastically their dye degradation behaviors under UV illumination. While the UV degradation of methylene blue (MB) by undoped $SnO_2$ nanoparticles occurs through the production of intermediate byproducts such as azure A, azure B, and azure C, direct mineralization of MB takes place for In-doped $SnO_2$ nanoparticles.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.1589-1595
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• 2010

In order to effective degradation of organic dye both under visible light or ultrasonic irradiation, the MWCNTs (multiwalled carbon nanotube) deposited with Fe and $TiO_2$ were prepared by a modified sol-gel method. The Fe/$TiO_2$-MWCNT catalyst was characterized by surface area of BET, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy. The low intensity visible light and low power ultrasound was as an irradiation source and the methylene blue (MB) was choose as the model organic dye. Then degradation experiments were carried out in present of undoped $TiO_2$, Fe/$TiO_2$ and Fe/$TiO_2$-MWCNT catalysts. Through the degradation of MB solution, the results showed the feasible and potential use of Fe/$TiO_2$-MWCNT catalyst under visible light and ultrasonic irradiation due to the enhanced formation of reactive radicals as well as the possible visible light and the increase of ultrasound-induced active surface area of the catalyst. After addition of $H_2O_2$, the MB degradation rates have been accelerated, especially with Fe/$TiO_2$-MWCNT catalyst, in case of that the photo-Fenton reaction occurred. The sonophotocatalysis was always faster than the respective individual processes due to the more formation of reactive radicals as well as the increase of the active surface area of Fe/$TiO_2$-MWCNT catalyst.

• Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.2283-2289
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• 2018

$TiO_2$ microspheres were successfully synthesised by simple solution phase method by using various amount of titanium butoxide as precursor. The prepared $TiO_2$ were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis diffuse reflectance absorption spectra (UV-DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD analysis revealed that the as-synthesized $TiO_2$ microsphere poses an anatase phase. The photocatalytic degradation experiments were carried out with three different dyes, such as methylene blue, brilliant black, reactive red-120 for four hours under UV light irradiation. The results show that $TiO_2$ morphology had great influence on photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes. The experimental results of dye mineralization indicated the concentration was reduced by a high portion of up to 99% within 4 hours. On the basis of various characterization of the photocatalysts, the reactions involved to explain the photocatalytic activity enhancement due to the concentration of titanium butoxide and morphology include a better separation of photogenerated charge carriers and improved oxygen reduction inducing a higher extent of degradation of aromatics.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.291-296
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• 2021

Recently, there has been increasing demand for advancing photocatalytic techniques that are capable of the efficient removal of organic pollutants in water. TiO₂, a representative photocatalytic material, has been commonly used as an effective photocatalyst, but it is rather expensive and an alternative is required that will fulfill the requirements of both high performing photocatalytic activities and cost-effectiveness. In this work, ZnO, which is more cost effective than TiO₂, was synthesized by using a microreactor-assisted nanomaterials (MAN) process. The process enabled a continuous production of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with a flower-like structure with high uniformity. In order to resolve the limited light absorption of ZnO arising from its large band gap, Ag NPs were uniformly decorated on the flower-like ZnO surface by using the MAN process. The plasmonic effect of Ag NPs led to a broadening of the absorption range toward visible wavelengths. Ag NPs also helped inhibit the electron-hole recombination by drawing electrons generated from the light absorption of the flower-like ZnO NPs. As a result, the Ag-ZnO nanocomposites showed improved photocatalytic activities compared with the flower-like ZnO NPs. The photocatalytic activities were evaluated through the degradation of methylene blue (MB) solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the successful synthesis of Ag-ZnO nanocomposites with high uniformity. Ag-ZnO nanocomposites synthesized via the MAN process offer the potential for cost-effective and scalable production of next-generation photocatalytic materials.