• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.42-48
• /
• 2022

The shortage of available freshwater is a major global issue worldwide and an increasing demand for clean water requires efficient water purification strategies. Here we describe a method to drastically increase the efficiency of a microreactor for photocatalytic water purification. To find out how the shape of the catalyst affects water purification, nanostructured catalysts of different structures, such as dense film, nanorod, and nanohelix, are prepared and their water purification characteristics are analyzed. Compared to the flat catalyst, the nanostructured catalyst showed a distinct ability in its pollutant degradation, but the detailed structural variation does not significantly affect the water purification. To further increase efficiency, we apply a micromixer to nanorod-based microreactor, which allows even enhanced mass transfer. This enables the solution of the water purification problem and greatly contributes to the industries where the efficiency of photocatalytic activity has attracted extensive interest.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.601-606
• /
• 2017

One-dimensional nanostructured metal oxide can be formed through an anodic oxidation, which is a typical technique of metal surface treatment. Studies on $TiO_2$ nanotubes have been widely carried out with increasing interests in $TiO_2$, which has an excellent functionality among various metal oxides. The present article reviews the principles of formation of $TiO_2$ nanotubes, which have been studied so far. In particular, the article discussed the equilibrium relationship between the oxide formation and etching, which is a key parameter of $TiO_2$ nanotube growth, and the formation of the porous structure. Furthermore, morphological considerations of $TiO_2$ nanotubes according to electrolyte conditions will be explained to the researchers who will study the application of $TiO_2$ nanotubes formed through the anodic oxidation in the future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2012.02a
• /
• pp.91-91
• /
• 2012

We aim in synthesizing various functional thin films thinner than ~ 10 nm for environmental applications and photovoltaic devices. Atomic layer deposition is used for synthesizing inorganic thin films with a precise control of the film thickness. Several examples about application of our thin films for removing volatile organic compounds (VOC) will be highlighted, which are summarized in the below. 1) $TiO_2$ thin films prepared by ALD at low temperature ($<100^{\circ}C$) show high adsorption capacity for toluene. In combination with nanostructured templates, $TiO_2$ thin films can be used as building-block of high-performing VOC filter. 2) $TiO_2$ thin films on carbon fibers and nanodiamonds annealed at high temperatures are active for photocatalytic oxidation of VOCs, i.e. photocatalytic filter can be created by atomic layer deposition. 3) NiO can catalyze oxidation of toluene to $CO_2$ and $H_2O$ at $<300^{\circ}C$. $TiO_2$ thin films on NiO can reduce poisoning of NiO surfaces by reaction intermediates below $200^{\circ}C$. We also fabricated inverted organic solar cell based on ZnO electron collecting layers on ITO. $TiO_2$ thin films with a mean diameter less than 3 nm on ZnO can enhance photovoltaic performance by reducing electron-hole recombination on ZnO surfaces.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.211-219
• /
• 2021

The evaluation of the corrosion resistance of titanium with a TiO2 nanotubes top layer was carried out (TiO2 NT). These nanostructures were evolved into anatase nanoparticles without heat treatment in an aqueous medium, which is a novel phenomenon. This work analyzes the layer between the nanotube bottom and the substrate, which is thin and still susceptible to corrosion. The bottom of TiO2 nanotubes having Fluor resulting from the synthesis process changed between amorphous to crystalline anatase with a crystallite size of about 4 nm, which influenced the corrosion rates. Four kinds of samples were evaluated. A) NT by Ti anodizing; B) NTSB for Ti plates, either modifying its surface or anodizing the modified surface; C) NT-480 for anodized Ti and heat-treated (480℃) for reaching the anatase phase; D) NTSB-480 for Ti plates, first, modifying its surface using sandblast, after that, anodizing the modified surface, and finally, heat-treated to 480℃ to compare with samples having induced crystallization and passivation. Four electrochemical techniques were used to evaluate the corrosion rates. The surfaces having TiO2 nanotubes with a sandblast pre-treatment had the highest resistance to corrosion.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.365-371
• /
• 2018

1D core-shell nanostructures have attracted great attention due to their enhanced physical and chemical properties. Specifically, oriented single-crystalline $TiO_2$ nanorods or nanowires on a transparent conductive substrate would be more desirable as the building core backbone. However, a facile approach to produce such structure-based hybrids is highly demanded. In this study, a three-step hydrothermal method was developed to grow NiMn-layered double hydroxide-decorated $TiO_2$/carbon core-shell nanorod arrays on transparent conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates. XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS and Raman were used to analyze the obtained samples. The in-situ fabricated hybrid nanostructured materials are expected to be applicable for photoelectrode working in water splitting.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.235-240
• /
• 2010

We investigated the carbon monoxide (CO) gas-sensing properties of nanostructured Al-doped zinc oxide thin films deposited on self-assembled Au nanodots (ZnO/Au thin films). The Al-doped ZnO thin film was deposited onto the structure by rf sputtering, resulting in a gas-sensing element comprising a ZnO-based active layer with an embedded Pt/Ti electrode covered by the self-assembled Au nanodots. Prior to the growth of the active ZnO layer, the Au nanodots were formed via annealing a thin Au layer with a thickness of 2 nm at a moderate temperature of $500^{\circ}C$. It was found that the ZnO/Au nanostructured thin film gas sensors showed a high maximum sensitivity to CO gas at $250^{\circ}C$ and a low CO detection limit of 5 ppm in dry air. Furthermore, the ZnO/Au thin film CO gas sensors exhibited fast response and recovery behaviors. The observed excellent CO gas-sensing properties of the nanostructured ZnO/Au thin films can be ascribed to the Au nanodots, acting as both a nucleation layer for the formation of the ZnO nanostructure and a catalyst in the CO surface reaction. These results suggest that the ZnO thin films deposited on self-assembled Au nanodots are promising for practical high-performance CO gas sensors.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.53 no.3
• /
• pp.276-281
• /
• 2015

Nanostructured $TiO_2-SiO_2$ materials have widely been used as anti-reflecting coating, optical-chemical sensors and catalysts because of their superior optical and thermal properties as well as chemical durability. Web type $SiO_2$ microfibers with nano-crystalline $TiO_2$ were prepared by electrospinning of Ti-PCS mixed solution and oxidation controlled heat-treatment, rather simple than sol-gel process. Nano-crystalline anatase phase were formed for the heat-treatment up to $1200^{\circ}C$ and they were finely dispersed in the amorphous $SiO_2$ matrix.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2012.02a
• /
• pp.337-337
• /
• 2012

Dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) having high efficiency with low cost was first reported by Gr$\ddot{a}$tzel et al. Many DSSC research groups attempt to enhance energy conversion efficiency by modifying the dye, electrolyte, Pt-coated electrode, and $TiO_2$ films. However, there are still some problems against realization of high-sensitivity DSSC such as the recombination of injected electrons in conduction band and the limited adsorption of dye on $TiO_2$ surface. The surface of $TiO_2$ is very important for improving hydrophilic property and dye adsorption on its surface. In this paper, we report a very efficient method to improve the efficiency and stability of DSSC with nano-structured $TiO_2$. Atmospheric plasma system was utilized for nitrogen plasma treatment on nano-structured $TiO_2$ film. We confirmed that the efficiency of DSSC was significantly dependent on plasma power. Relative in the $TiO_2$ surface change and characteristics after plasma was investigated by various analysis methods. The structure of $TiO_2$ films was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The morphology of $TiO_2$ films was observed using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The surface elemental composition was determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Each of plasma power differently affected conversion efficiency of DSSC with plasma-treated $TiO_2$ compared to untreated DSSC under AM 1.5 G spectral illumination of $100mWcm^{-2}$.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.204-210
• /
• 2013

In order to improve osseointegration for biomedical implants, it is crucial to understand the interactions between nanostructured surfaces and cells. In this study, $TiO_2$ nanowires were prepared via Vapor-Liquid-Solid (VLS) process with Sn as a metal catalyst in the tube furnace. Nanowires were grown with $N_2$ heat treatment with their size controlled by the agglomeration of Sn layers in various thicknesses. MC3T3-E1 (pre-osteoblast) were cultured on the $TiO_2$ nanowires for a week. Preliminary results of the cell culture showed that the cells adhere well on the $TiO_2$ nanowires.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
• /
• v.50 no.11
• /
• pp.817-822
• /
• 2012

Nano powders of $Al_2O_3$ and $TiO_2$ compounds made by high energy ball milling were pulsed current activated sintered for studying their sintering behaviors and mechanical properties. The advantage of this process is that it allows very quick densification to near theoretical density and inhibition of grain growth. Nano-structured $Al_2TiO_5$ with small amount of $Al_2O_3$ and$TiO_2$ was formed by sintering at $1300^{\circ}C$ for 5 minute, in which average grain size was about 96 nm. Hardness and fracture toughness of the nano-structured $Al_2TiO_5$ compound with a small amount of $Al_2O_3$ and$TiO_2$ were $602kg/mm^2$ and $2.6MPa{\cdot}m^{1/2}$, respectively.