• Advances in nano research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.67-79
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• 2015

Air stable nanoparticles were prepared from cobalt sulphate using tetra butyl ammonium bromide as surfactant and sodium borohydride as reductant at room temperature. The cobalt nanocolloids in aqueous medium were found to be efficient catalysts for the degradation of toxic organic dyes. Our present study involves degradation of Methylene Blue and Rhodamine-B using cobalt nanoparticles and easy recovery of the catalyst from the system. The recovered nanoparticles could be recycled several times without loss of catalytic activity. Palladium nanoparticles prepared from palladium chloride and the same surfactant were found to degrade the organic dyes effectively but lose their catalytic activity after recovery. The cause of dye colour discharge by nanocolloids has been assigned based on our experimental findings.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.3586-3590
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• 2013

We present here an efficient and simple method for preparation of highly active heterogeneous ZnO photocatalyst (graphene oxide-zinc oxide: GO-ZnO), specifically by deposition of ZnO nanoparticles onto thiolated GOs. The resultant GO-ZnO sample was characterized by TEM, XRD, Auger, XPS, and Raman measurements, revealing that the size-similar and quasi-spherical ZnO nanoparticles were anchored to the thiolated GO surfaces. The average particle diameter was about 2.5 nm. In the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) under ultraviolet (UV) light, GO-ZnO exhibited remarkably enhanced photocatalytic efficiency compared with thiolated GO and pure ZnO particles. This strong photocatalytic performance of GO-ZnO can be attributed to the suppression of electron recombination and the enhancement of mass transportation. The results showed that thiolated GO is the preferable supporting material.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2018

The degradation of methylene blue (MB) in an aqueous solution by nano-metallic particles (NMPs) was studied to evaluate the possibility of applying NMPs to remove MB from the wastewater. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the synthesized NMPs before and after the reaction. The effects of the NMP dosage, the initial pH, the initial concentration of MB and the amount of $H_2O_2$ on the MB degradation outcomes were studied. The highest removal rate of MB was achieved to be 100% with an initial MB concentration of 5 mg/L, followed by 99.6% with an initial concentration of 10 mg/L under the following treatment conditions: dose of NMP of 0.15 g/L, concentration of $H_2O_2-100mM$ and a temperature of $25^{\circ}C$. The SEM analysis revealed that the nano particles were not spherical in shape. FTIR spectra shows occurrence of metal oxides on the surfaces of the NMPs. The XPS analyses results represent that Fe, Zn, N, Ca, C and O were occurred on the surfaces of the NMPs. The degradation of MB was suitable for the pseudo-first-order kinetics.

• Nano
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.1850118.1-1850118.17
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• 2018

Nanoparticles of the semiconductor catalyst $Cd_xZn_{1-x}S$ were embedded into the metal organic framework MIL-101(Cr) to obtain $Cd_xZn_{1-x}S@MIL-101$(Cr) nanocomposites. These materials not only possess high surface areas and mesopores but also show good utilization of light energy. The ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance patterns of $Cd_xZn_{1-x}S@MIL-101$(Cr) nanocomposites showed that $Cd_{0.8}Zn_{0.2}S@MIL-101$(Cr) possessed good visible light response ability among the synthesized nanocomposites. The photocatalytic performance of the $Cd_xZn_{1-x}S@MIL-101$(Cr) nanocomposites were tested via degradation and mineralization of methylene blue in neutral water solution under light irradiation using a 300W xenon lamp. As a result, using $Cd_{0.8}Zn_{0.2}S@MIL-101$(Cr) as a catalyst, 99.2% of methylene blue was mineralized within 30 min. Due to the synergistic effect of adsorption by the MIL-101(Cr) component and photocatalytic degradation provided by the $Cd_{0.8}Zn_{0.2}S$ component, the $Cd_{0.8}Zn_{0.2}S@MIL-101$(Cr) catalyst displayed superior photocatalytic performance relative to $Cd_{0.8}Zn_{0.2}S$ and MIL-101(Cr). Furthermore, $Cd_{0.8}Zn_{0.2}S@MIL-101$(Cr) possessed excellent stability during photodegradation and exhibited good reusability. The remarkable photocatalytic performance of $Cd_{0.8}Zn_{0.2}S@MIL-101$(Cr) is likely due to the effective transfer of electrons and holes at the heterojunction interfaces.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2009

Activated carbon modified with nickel (Ni-AC) was employed the for preparation of Ni-activated carbon/$TiO_2$ (Ni-AC/$TiO_2$) composites. The $N_2$ adsorption data showed that the composites had a decreased surface area compared with pristine AC. This indicated blocking of the micropores on the surface of the AC, which was further supported by observation via SEM. XRD results showed that the Ni-AC/$TiO_2$ composite contained a mixed anatase and rutile phase while the untreated AC/$TiO_2$ contained only a typical single and clear anatase phase. EDX results showed the presence of C, O, and Ti with Ni peaks on the composites of Ni-AC/$TiO_2$. Subsequently, the photocatalytic effects on methylene blue (MB) were investigated. The improved decomposition of MB showed the combined effects of adsorptions and photo degradation. In particular, composites treated with Ni enhanced the photo degradation behaviors of MB.

• Carbon letters
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• v.18
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• pp.30-36
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• 2016

Well-dispersed Ag₃VO₄ nanoparticles @polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers were synthesized by an easily controlled, template-free method as a photo-catalyst for the degradation of methylene blue. Their structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties have been studied by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy equipped with rapid energy dispersive analysis of X-ray, photoluminescence, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The characterization procedures revealed that the obtained material is PAN nanofibers decorated by Ag₃VO₄ nanoparticles. Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue investigated in an aqueous solution under irradiation showed 99% degradation of the dye within 75 min. Finally, the antibacterial performance of Ag₃VO₄ nanoparticles @PAN composite nanofibers was experimentally verified by the destruction of Escherichia coli. These results suggest that the developed inexpensive and functional nanomaterials can serve as a non-precious catalyst for environmental applications.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.458-465
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• 2022

Interest in the use of semiconductor-based photocatalyst materials for the degradation of organic pollutants in a liquid phase has grown, due to their excellent performance and response to the light source. Herein, we fabricated a NiO-SiC-TiO₂ ternary structured photocatalyst which had reduced bandgap energy, with strong activation under UV-light irradiation. The synthesized samples were examined using XRD, SEM, EDX, TEM, DRS, EIS techniques and photocurrent measurement. The results confirmed that the two types of metal oxides were well bonded to the SiC fiber surface. The junction of the new photocatalyst exhibited a large number of photoexcited electrons and holes. The holes tended to oxidize the water and form a hydroxyl radical, which promoted the decomposition of methylene blue. The close contact between the 2D SiC fiber and metal oxide semiconductors expanded the scope of absorption wavelength, and enhanced the usability of the ternary photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue. Among three synthesized samples, the NiO-SiC-TiO₂ showed the best photocatalytic effect, and was considered to have excellent photoelectron transfer due to the synergy effect between the metal oxide and SiC.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.228-234
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• 2010

In this paper, Fe-$TiO_2$ and Fe-fullerene/$TiO_2$ composite photocatalysts were prepared with titanium (IV) n-butoxide (TNB) by a sol-gel method. $TiO_2$, Fe-$TiO_2$ and Fe-fullerene/$TiO_2$ were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), specific surface area (BET), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The photocatalytic activities were evaluated by the photocatalytic oxidation of methylene blue (MB) solution. XRD patterns of the composites showed that the photocatalyst composite contained a typical single and clear anatase phase. The surface properties shown by SEM presented a characterization of the texture on Fe-fullerene/$TiO_2$ composites and showed a homogenous composition in the particles for the titanium sources used. The EDX spectra for the elemental identification showed the presence of O, C and Ti elements. Moreover, peaks of the Fe element were observed in the Fe-$TiO_2$ and Fe-fullerene/$TiO_2$ composites. The degradation of MB solution by UV-light irradiation in the presence of photocatalyst compounds was investigated in complete darkness. The degradation of MB concentration in aqueous solution occurred via three kinds of physical phenomena: quantum efficiency of the fullerene; organo-metallic reaction of the Fe compound; and decomposition of $TiO_2$. The degradation rate of the methylene blue solution increased when using Fe-fullerene/$TiO_2$ compounds.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.817-822
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• 2008

In this study, the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in TiO$_2$ particles-dispersed water solution was carried out by irradiating microwave and UV light simultaneously. A microwave-discharged electrodeless UV lamp was developed to use microwave and UV simultaneously for photocatalytic reactions. The results of photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue showed that the decomposition rate increased with the microwave intensity, the circulating fluid velocity, and the amount of TiO$_2$ particles and auxiliary oxidizing agents added. Especially, the rate constant of H$_2$O$_2$-added photocatalytic reaction increased about three times from 0.0075 min$^{-1}$ to 0.0250 min$^{-1}$ when microwave was additionally irradiated. This study demonstrates that the microwave irradiation can play a very important role in photocatalytic degradation using peroxides although it is not easy to quantitatively assess the effect of microwave on photocatalytic reactions from the experimental data of this study.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.484-490
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• 2012

The tin (IV) oxide nanoparticles are prepared by controlled precipitation method and calcined at temperatures of $200-600^{\circ}C$. The prepared $SnO_2$ nanoparticles characterized by XRD patterns, TEM image, IR and UV-Vis spectra. The XRD patterns and TEM image show the tetragonal structure and spherical morphology for $SnO_2$ nanoparticles, respectively. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared $SnO_2$ nanoparticles studied in degradation reaction of methylene blue (MB). The results show the size of nanoparticles, band-gap energy and photocatalytic activity of $SnO_2$ depends on the calcinations temperature. The $SnO_2$ nanoparticles calcined at $500^{\circ}C$ indicated the highest photoreactivity. Also, the zero-valent tin (ZVT) nanoparticles with tetragonal structure are prepared by a reducing agent and used as a catalyst in degradation of MB. In basic pH of 11, the degradation >95% of MB at time 150 min obtained at presence of ZVT nanoparticles.