• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2013

In this study, the applicability of visible light-emitting-diodes (LEDs) to the photocatalytic degradation of indoor-level trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) over N-doped $TiO_2$ (N-$TiO_2$) was examined under a range of operational conditions. The N-$TiO_2$ photocatalyst was calcined at $650^{\circ}C$ (labeled N-650) showed the lowest degradation efficiencies for TCE and PCE, while the N-$TiO_2$ photocatalysts calcined at $350^{\circ}C$, $450^{\circ}C$, and $550^{\circ}C$ (labeled as N-350, N-450, and N-550, respectively) exhibited similar or slightly different degradation efficiencies to those of TCE and PCE. These results were supported by the X-ray diffraction patterns of N-350, N-450, N-550, and N-650. The respective average degradation efficiencies for TCE and PCE were 96% and 77% for the 8-W lamp/N-$TiO_2$ system, 32% and 20% for the violet LED/N-$TiO_2$ system, and ~0% and 4% for the blue LED/N-$TiO_2$ system. However, the normalized photocatalytic degradation efficiencies for TCE and PCE for the violet LED-irradiated N-$TiO_2$ system were higher than those from the 8-W fluorescent daylight lamp-irradiated N-$TiO_2$ system. Although the difference was not substantial, the degradation efficiencies exhibited a decreasing trend with increasing input concentrations. The degradation efficiencies for TCE and PCE decreased with increasing air flow rates. In general, the degradation efficiencies for both target compounds decreased as relative humidity increased. Consequently, it was indicated that violet LEDs can be utilized as energy-efficient light sources for the photocatalytic degradation of TCE and PCE, if operational conditions of N-$TiO_2$ photocatalytic system are optimized.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2015

In this study, flat-type photocatalytic reaction system is applied to reduce toxic hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) to trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) in aqueous solution under UV irradiation. To overcome the limitation of conventional photocatalysis, a novel approach toward photocatalytic system for reduction of hexavalent chromium including nanotubular $TiO_2$ (NTT) on two kinds of titanium substrates (foil and mesh) were established. In addition, modified Ti substrates were prepared by bending treatment to increase reaction efficiency of Cr(VI) in the flat-type photocatalytic reactor. For the fabrication of NTT on Ti substrates, Ti foil and mesh was anodized with mixed electrolytes ($NH_4F-H_2O-C_2H_6O_2$) and then annealed in ambient oxygen. The prepared NTT arrays were uniformly grown on two Ti substrates and surface property measurements were performed through SEM and XRD. Hydraulic retention time(HRT) and substrate type were significantly affected the Cr(VI) reduction. Hence, the photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction was observed to be highest up to 95% at bended(modified) Ti mesh and lowest HRT. Especially, Ti mesh was more effective as NTT substrate in this research.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.340-347
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• 2021

Among various metal oxide semiconductors, ZnO has an excellent electrical, optical properties with a wide bandgap of 3.3 eV. It can be applied as a photocatalytic material due to its high absorption rate along with physical and chemical stability to UV light. In addition, it is important to control the morphology of ZnO because the size and shape of the ZnO make difference in physical properties. In this paper, we demonstrate synthesis of size-controlled ZnO tetrapods using an atmospheric pressure plasma system. A micro-sized Zn spherical powder was continuously introduced in the plume of the atmospheric plasma jet ignited with mixture of oxygen and nitrogen. The effect of plasma power and collection sites on ZnO nanostructure was investigated. After the plasma discharge for 10 min, the produced materials deposited inside the 60-cm-long quartz tube were obtained with respect to the distance from the plume. According to the SEM analysis, all the synthesized nanoparticles were found to be ZnO tetrapods ranging from 100 to 600-nm-diameter depending on both applied power and collection site. The photocatalytic efficiency was evaluated by color change of methylene blue solution using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity increased with the increase of (101) and (100) plane in ZnO tetrapods, which is caused by enhanced chemical effects of plasma process.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.14 no.2 s.42
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• pp.133-139
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• 2005

An activated carbon-photo catalysis hybrid system is proposed for the treatment of VOC produced from paint booth. and its VOC removal performance is experimentally evaluated. Activated carbon tower is designed on the basis of the adsorption characteristics of toluene. Photocatalytic system is designed as the series of $TiO_2/SiO\_2$ fluidized bed reactor and $TiO_2$-coated filters. The present activated carbon-photo catalysis hybrid system shows the VOC removal efficiency within $75\~100\%$ under different VOC species and concentrations.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.45-54
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• 2001

In this study, the characteristics of optical fibers for the application in photocatalytic system was investigated using the intentionally designed accessories for spectrometer and radiometer to resolve the problems associated with the conventional system such as cost and structural restrictions from artificial lamp usage, to broaden the application fields into underground, and to utilize solar light in the future. To do this two kinds of optical fibers, plastic optical fiber (POF) and quartz optical fiber (QOF) were compared in terms of characteristics related with light transmittance and absorption and reactivity in TCE degradation.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2013

Phosphorescent materials coated with titanium dioxide were fabricated and photocatalytic reactions between these materials and VOCs gases were examined. A thin film (approx. 100 nm) of nanosized $TiO_2$ was deposited on the $Sr_4Al_{14}O_{25}$ : $Eu^{2+}$, $Dy^{3+}$, $Ag^+$ phosphor using low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD). The characteristics of the photocatalytic reaction were examined in terms of the decomposition of benzene gas using a gas chromatography (GC) system under ultraviolet (${\lambda}$ = 365 nm) and visible light (${\lambda}$ > 420 nm) irradiation. $TiO_2$-coated $Sr_4Al_{14}O_{25}$ : $Eu^{2+}$, $Dy^{3+}$, $Ag^+$ phosphor showed different photocatalytic behavior compared with pure $TiO_2$. $TiO_2$-coated phosphorescent materials showed a much faster photocatalytic decomposition of benzene gas under visible irradiation compared to the pure $TiO_2$ for which the result was practically negligible. This suggests that the extension of the absorption wavelength to visible light occurred through energy band bending by a heterojunction at the interface of the $Sr_4Al_{14}O_{25}-TiO_2$ composite. Also, the $Sr_4Al_{14}O_{25}-TiO_2$ composite showed the photocatalytic decomposition of benzene in darkness due to the photon light emitted from the $Sr_4Al_{14}O_{25}$ phosphors.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.171-176
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• 2008

Studies on visible-light-driven photocatalysis of air pollutants at indoor air quality (IAQ) levels have been limited. Current study investigated visible-light derived photocatalysis with N-doped and S-doped titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) for the control of benzene at indoor levels. Two preparation processes were employed for each of the two types of photocatalyst: urea-Degussa P-25 $TiO_2$ and titania-colloid methods for the N-doped $TiO_2$; and titanium isopropoxid- and tetraisopropoxide-thiourea methods for the S-doped $TiO_2$. Furthermore, two coating methods (EDTA- and acetylacetone-dissolving methods) were tested for both the N-doped and S-doped $TiO_2$. The two coating methods exhibited different photocatalytic degradation efficiency for the N-doped photocatalysts, whereas they did not exhibit any difference for the S-doped photocatalysts. In addition, the two doping processes showed different photocatalytic degradation efficiency for both the S-doped and N-doped photocatalysts. For both the N-doped and S-doped $TiO_2$, the photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) efficiency increased as the hydraulic diameter (HD) decreased. The degradation efficiency determined via a PCO system with visible-light induced $TiO_2$ was lower than that with UV-light induced unmodified $TiO_2$, which was obtained from previous studies. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that for the photocatalytic annular reactor with the HD of 0.5 cm, PCO efficiency increased up to 52% for the N-doped $TiO_2$ and 60% for the S-doped $TiO_2$. Consequently, when combined with the advantage of visible light use over UV light use, it is suggested that with appropriate HD conditions, the visible-light-assisted photocatalytic systems can also become an important tool for improving IAQ.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.211-218
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• 2009

Feasibility study of using $Ti0_2$ mist generated by ultrasonic atomization for photocatalytic degradation of gaseous toluene was attempted in this study. For this, the photocatalytic reactor consisting of mist generator and photo-reactor was designed. Most of experimental results showed that steady state reached about 30 minutes after the start of experiments. The effects of $Ti0_2$ concentration, toluene concentration, and UV wavelength on toluene removal ratio were investigated. It was found that the highest removal efficiency was obtained when $Ti0_2$ concentration was 0.6 g/L in slurry. At this condition, it was found that the toluene removal efficiency increased as toluene concentration in feed decreased. In order to investigate the effect of UV wavelength, experiments were carried out using three UV lamps with different UV wavelength. The results showed that the highest removal efficiency was achieved when the lamp with the shortest wavelength were employed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.167.2-167.2
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• 2014

In this work, ZnO shell on mesoporous $SiO_2$ ($ZnO/SiO_2$) was prepared by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Diethylzinc (DEZ) and $H_2O$ were used as precursor of ZnO shell. $ZnO/SiO_2$ sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 sorption isotherms, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). $ZnO/SiO_2$ showed higher adsorption capacity of MB than that of bare mesoporous $SiO_2$ and the adsorption capacities of $ZnO/SiO_2$ could be regenerated by UV exposure through the photocatalytic degradation of the adsorbed MB. This system could be used for removing organic dye from water by adsorption and reused after saturation of adsorption due to its photocatalytic regeneration.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.79-86
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• 2019

A heterogeneous photocatalytic system is attracting much interest for water and air purification because of its reusability and economical advantage. Electrospun nanofibers are also receiving immense attention for efficient photocatalysts due to their ultra-high specific surface areas and aspect ratios. In this study, ZnO nanofibers with average diameters of 71, 151 and 168 nm are successfully synthesized by facile electrospinning and a subsequent calcination process at $500^{\circ}C$ for 3 h. Their crystal structures, morphology features and optical properties are systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV-Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopies. The photocatalytic activities of the ZnO nanofibers are evaluated by the photodegradation of a rhodamine B aqueous solution. The results reveal that the diameter of the nanofiber, controlled by changing the polymer content in the precursor solution, plays an important role in the photocatalytic activities of the synthesized ZnO nanofibers.