• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.10
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• pp.894-898
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• 2016

Solution plasma is a unique method which provides a direct discharge in solutions. It is one of the promising techniques for various applications including the synthesis of metallic/non-metallic nanomaterials, decomposition of organic compounds, and the removal of microorganism. In the context of nanomaterial syntheses, solution plasma has been utilized to produce carbon nanoparticles and metallic-carbon nanoparticle systems. The main purpose of this study was to synthesize nickel nanoparticles embedded in a matrix of carbon particles by solution plasma in one-step using waste vegetable oil as the carbon source. The experimental setup was done by simply connecting a bipolar pulsed power generator to nickel electrodes, which were submerged in the waste vegetable oil. Black powders of the nickel nanoparticles-embedded carbon (NiNPs/Carbon) particles were successfully obtained after discharging for 90 min. The morphology of the synthesized NiNPs/Carbon was investigated by a scanning electron microscope, which revealed a good dispersion of NiNPs in the carbon-particle matrix. The X-ray diffraction of NiNPs/Carbon clearly showed the co-existence of crystalline Ni nanostructures and amorphous carbon. The crystallite size of NiNPs (through the Ni (111) diffraction plane), as calculated by the Scherrer equation was found to be 64 nm. In addition, the catalytic activity of NiNPs/Carbon was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry in an acid solution. It was found that NiNPs/Carbon did not show a significant catalytic activity in the acid solution. Although this work might not be helpful in enhancing the activity of the fuel cell catalysts, it is expected to find application in other processes such as the CO conversion (by oxidation) and cyclization of organic compounds.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.712-719
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• 2006

In this study, we prepared core-shell type nanoparticles of a poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) grafted-dextran (DexLG) copolymer with varying graft ratio of PLGA. The synthesis of the DexLG copolymer was confirmed by $^1H$ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The DexLG copolymer was able to form nanoparticles in water by self-aggregating process, and their particle size was around $50\;nm{\sim}300\;nm$ according to the graft ratio of PLGA. Morphological observations using a transmission electron microscope (TEM) showed that the nanoparticles of the DexLG copolymer have uniformly spherical shapes. From fluorescence probe study using pyrene as a hydrophobic probe, critical association concentration (CAC) values determined from the fluorescence excitation spectra were increased as increase of DS of PLGA. $^1H-NMR$ spectroscopy using $D_2O$ and DMSO approved that DexLG nanoparticles have core-shell structure, i.e. hydrophobic block PLGA consisted inner-core as a drug-incorporating domain and dextran consisted as a hydrated outershell. Drug release rate from DexLG nano-particles became faster in the presence of dextranase in spite of the release rate not being significantly changed at high graft ratio of PLGA. Core-shell type nanoparticles of DexLG copolymer can be used as a colonic drug carrier. In conclusion, size, morphology, and molecular structure of DexLG nanoparticles are available to consider as an oral drug targeting nanoparticles.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.175-180
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• 2016

ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by aqueous preparation routes of a precipitation and a hydrothermal process. In the processes, the powders were formed by mixing aqueous solutions of Zn-nitrate hexahydrate ($Zn(NO_3)_2{\cdot}6H_2O$) with NaOH aqueous solution under controlled reaction conditions such as Zn precursor concentration, reaction pH and temperature. Single ZnO phase has been obtained under low Zn precursor concentration, high reaction pH and high temperature. The synthesized particles exhibited flakes (plates), multipods or rods morphologies and the crystallite sizes and shapes would be efficiently controllable by changing the processing parameters. The hydrothermal method showed advantageous features over the precipitation process, allowing the precipitates of single ZnO phase with higher crystallinity at relatively low temperatures below $100^{\circ}C$ under a wider pH range for the Zn precursor concentration of 0.1~1 M.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1845-1850
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• 2012

Layered metal hydroxides (LMHs) containing calcium were synthesized by coprecipitation in solution having two different trivalent metal ions, iron and aluminum. Two mixed metal solutions ($Ca^{2+}/Al^{3+}$ and $Ca^{2+}/Fe^{3+}$ = 2/1) were added to sodium hydroxide solution and the final pH was adjusted to ~11.5 and ~13 for CaAl-and CaFe-LMHs. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) for the two LMH samples showed well developed ($00l$) diffractions indicating 2-dimensional crystal structure of the synthesized LMHs. Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction pattern, the local structure analysis through X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and thermal analysis also confirmed that the synthesized precipitates show typical structure of LMHs. The chemical formulae, $Ca_{2.04}Al_1(OH)_6(NO_3){\cdot}5.25H_2O$ and $Ca_{2.01}Fe_1(OH)_6(NO_3){\cdot}4.75H_2O$ were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Particle morphology and thermal behavior for the synthesized LMHs were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetricdifferential scanning calorimetry.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.351-356
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• 2014

A spherical $Sr_4Al_{14}O_{25}:Eu^{2+}$ phosphor for use in white-light-emitting diodes was synthesized using a liquid-state reaction with two precipitation stages. For the formation of phosphor from a precursor, the calcination temperature was $1,100^{\circ}C$. The particle morphology of the phosphor was changed by controlling the processing conditions. The synthesized phosphor particles were spherical with a narrow size-distribution and had mono-dispersity. Upon excitation at 395 nm, the phosphor exhibited an emission band centered at 497 nm, corresponding to the $4f^65d{\rightarrow}4f^7$ electronic transitions of $Eu^{2+}$. The critical quenching-concentration of $Eu^{2+}$ in the synthesized $Sr_4Al_{14}O_{25}:Eu^{2+}$ phosphor was 5 mol%. A phosphor-converted LED was fabricated by the combination of the optimized spherical phosphor and a near-UV 390 nm LED chip. When this pc-LED was operated under various forward-bias currents at room temperature, the pc-LED exhibited a bright blue-green emission band, and high color-stability against changes in input power. Accordingly, the prepared spherical phosphor appears to be an excellent candidate for white LED applications.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 2003

In this work, the electrode far fuel cell was fabricated by mixing carbon blacks with activated carbon fibers (ACFs) in order to form the proper three phase distribution, and then the change of electrode in three phase distribution was investigated. Pt loading yield with ACF content and Pt particle size were determined by AAS and XRD measurements, respectively. And the pore structures, including specific surface area ($S_{BET}$), microporosity, and pore size distribution (PSD) for each electrode were systematically investigated by BET volumetric measurement. The morphology of electrode in three phase distribution was determined by SEM. As an experimental result, it was observed that Pt loading yield was not influenced on the content of ACF. While, the electrode in three phase distribution was largely improved in the case of 30% ACF addition on carbon blacks. These results were probably explained by the increase of the portion of micropores, resulting in increasing the active sites of catalyst.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.353-357
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• 2009

Spray drying is an effective and stable process, which has been widely used to produce pharmaceutical powders. In the traditional spray drying process, it was not quite easy to control the aggregation and the size of particles. Particularly, the preparation of polymeric particles was relatively hard compared to the preparation of food and pharmaceutical ingredients, typically organic materials of small molecular weights. In this study, modification of a conventional spray dryer was tried to use electrical charge and co-axial nozzles to prepare polymeric particles. Poly(ethylene glycol) and poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) were used as the inner polymeric materials, and lactose as the outer shell materials. The results showed that electrohydrodynamic spray-dried particles had a relatively uniform size and particle morphology, and the aggregation of particles could be suppressed compared to the conventional spray-dried particles. The electrohydrodynamic spray-dried powders consisted of spherical particles of $2{\sim}5{\mu}m$ diameters.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.455-460
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• 2012

This work describes the hydriding chemical vapor synthesis (HCVS) of the $MgH_2$ in a hydrogen atmosphere and the product's hydriding-dehydridng properties. Mg powder was used as a starting material to synthesize $MgH_2$ and uniformly heated to a temperature of $600^{\circ}C$ for Mg vaporization. The effects of hydrogen pressure on the morphology and the composition of HCVS-$MgH_2$ were examined by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It is clearly seen that after the HCVS process, the particle size of synthesized $MgH_2$ was drastically reduced to the submicron or micrometer-scale and these showed different shapes (needle-like nanofibers and angulated plate) depending on the hydrogen pressure. It was found that after the HCVS process, the $H_2$ desorption temperature of HCVS-$MgH_2$ decreased from 380 to $410^{\circ}C$, and the minimum hydrogen desorption tempreature of HCVS-$MgH_2$ powder with needle-like shape can be obtained. In addition, the enhanced hydrogen storage performance for needle-like $MgH_2$ was achieved during subsequent hydriding-dehydriding cycles.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2018

Silicon has attracted extensive attention due to its high theoretical capacity, low discharge potential and non-toxicity as anode material for lithium ion batteries. In this study, Si-CNT-C composites were fabricated for use as a high-efficiency anode material in a lithium ion battery. Aerosol self-assembly and post-heat treatment processes were employed to fabricate the composites. The morphology of the Si-CNT-C composites was spherical and an average particle size was $2.72{\mu}m$. The size of the composite increased as concentration of Si and CNT increased in the precursor solution. In the Si-CNT-C composites, CNT and C carbonized from glucose were attached to the surface of Si particles. Electrochemical measurement showed that the cycle performance of Si-CNT-C composites was better than that of silicon particles.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.659-662
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• 2012

Yttrium (Y) and niobium (Nb) doped spherical $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ were synthesized to improve the energy density and electrochemical properties of anode material. The synthesized crystal was $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$, the particle size was less than $1{\mu}m$ and the morphology was spherical and well dispersed. The Y and Nb optimal doping amounts were 1 mol% and 0.5 mol%, respectively. The initial capacity of the dopant discharge and charge capacity were respectively 149mAh/g and 143 mAh/g and were significantly improved compared to the undoped condition at 129 mAh/g. Also, the capacity retention of 0.2 C/5 C was 74% for each was improved to 94% and 89%. It was consequently found that Y and Nb doping into the $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ matrix reduces the polarization and resistance of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer during the electrochemical reaction.