• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.14-22
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• 2022

To improve light absorption ability in the visible light region and the efficiency of the charge transfer reaction, Pd nanoparticles decorated with reduced TiO₂ nanotube photocatalyst were synthesized. The reduced TiO₂ nanotube photocatalyst was fabricated by anodic oxidation of Ti plate, followed by an electrochemical reduction process using applied cathodic potential. For TiO₂ photocatalyst electrochemically reduced using an applied voltage of -1.3 V for 10 min, 38% of Ti⁴⁺ ions on TiO₂ surface were converted to Ti³⁺ ion. The formation of Ti³⁺ species leads to the decrease in the band gap energy, resulting in an increase in the light absorption ability in the visible range. To obtain better photocatalytic efficiency, Pd nanoparticles were decorated through photoreduction process on the surface of reduced TiO₂ nanotube photocatalyst (r10-TNT). The Pd nanoparticles decorated with reduced TiO₂ nanotube photocatalyst exhibited enhanced photocurrent response, and high efficiency and rate constant for aniline blue degradation; these were ascribed to the synergistic effect of the new electronic state of the TiO₂ band gap energy induced by formation of Ti³⁺ species on TiO₂, and by improvement of the charge transfer reaction.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.84-89
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• 2014

In this work, Ag-$TiO_2$ nanocomposites were prepared via the sonochemical deposition of Ag nanometals on $TiO_2$ nanoparticles. The size of deposited Ag nanometals was ranged in 1~3 nm and the number of Ag nanometals deposited on $TiO_2$ increased in proportion to the dosage amounts of Ag precursors. As-prepared Ag-$TiO_2$ was loaded on the sterilized agar plate together with an aliquot volume of diluted E-coli, followed by 30 min irradiation of the solar simulated light ($600{\sim}1800{\mu}w/cm^2$). Finally, the agar plate was incubated for 24 h at $37^{\circ}C$ and the number of survived colonies were counted. It was experimentally confirmed that Ag-$TiO_2$ exhibited the higher antimicrobial activity than that of pure $TiO_2$, based on measuring the colony number of control sample. The survived colony numbers on the agar plate decreased with the increase of dosage amounts of Ag-$TiO_2$ and the irradiated intensity of solar simulated light for 30 min before incubating. The increase of Ag nanometal doposition induced the progressive enhancement of antimicrobial activity, but rather reduced the photocatalytic activity of Ag-$TiO_2$ probably due to the excessive presence of Ag nanometals on $TiO_2$ matrix.

• Clean Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.244-249
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• 2006

The photocatalytic degradation of trichloroethlylene (TCE), has been investigated over $TiO_2$ photocatalysts irradiated with solar light. The effect of operational parameters, i.e., initial TCE concentration, $TiO_2$ concentration, pH and additives ($H_2O_2$, persulphate($S_2O{_8}^-$)) on the degradation rate of aqueous solution of TCE has been examined. The results presented in this work demonstrated that degradation of the TCE with $TiO_2/solar$ light was enhanced by augumentation in $TiO_2$ loading, pH, and adding additives but was inhibited by increase in initial TCE concentration. Also individual use of $H_2O_2$ was far more effective than using persulphate in TCE removal efficiency. Furthermore, the relative toxicity with a $solar/TiO_2/H_2O_2$ system was about 15% lower than with a $solar/TiO_2/persulphate$ system and about 35% lower than with a $solar/TiO_2$ system within a reaction time of 150 min, respectively.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.884-889
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• 2018

In this study, polyaniline $(PANI)/WO_3$ electrode was prepared as an anode of a lithium ion capacitor, and its electrochemical characteristics were measured and analyzed. When PANI was electrochemically deposited on the surface of $WO_3$ electrode, the capacity of $PANI/WO_3$ was improved with increase of the deposited amounts of PANI. Furthermore, the effect of light irradiation on capacity and coulombic efficiency was examined by irradiating sunlight during charging and discharging. When the light was irradiated to the $WO_3$ electrode and the $PANI/WO_3$ electrode, those capacities and coulombic efficiencies were increased compared to that measured under the dark condition. It is attributed to the photocatalytic property of $WO_3$ that can generate photoelectrons by light irradiation. In $PANI/WO_3$ electrode, PANI also can be excited under the light irradiation with affecting the electrochemical property of electrode. The photoelectrons improve the capacity by participating in the intercalation of $Li^+$ ions, and also improve the coulombic efficiency by facilitating electrons' transport. Under the dark condition, the capacity of $PANI/WO_3$ was gradually reduced with increase of cycles due to a poor stability of PANI. However, the stability of PANI was significantly improved by the light irradiation, which is attributed to the oxidation-reduction reaction originated from the photogenerated electrons and holes in $PANI/WO_3$.