• 한국재료학회지
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.265-268
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• 2015

ZnO micro/nanocrystals at large scale were synthesized through the thermal evaporation of Al-Zn mixtures under air atmosphere. The effect of synthetic temperature and time on the morphology of the micro/nanocrystals was examined. It was found that the temperature and time affected the morphology of the ZnO crystals. At temperatures below $900^{\circ}C$, no crystals were synthesized. At a temperature of $1000^{\circ}C$, ZnO crystals with a rod shape were synthesized. With an increase in temperature from $1000^{\circ}C$ to $1100^{\circ}C$, the morphology of the crystals changed from rod shape to wire and granular shapes. As the time increased from 2 h to 3 h at $1000^{\circ}C$, tetrapod-shaped ZnO crystals started to form. XRD patterns showed that the ZnO crystals had a hexagonal wurtzite structure. EDX analysis revealed that the ZnO crystals had high purity. It is believed that the ZnO nanowires were grown via a vapor-solid mechanism because no catalyst particles were observed at the tips of the micro/nanocrystals in the SEM images.

• 한국물환경학회지
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.458-464
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• 2016

This study evaluated the dewatering efficiency of inorganic dehydrating agents that contain oyster shells. A filter press dehydrator was used for this study. The experiments were performed by the single injection of calcium-based chemicals, the single injection of oyster shells, and the mixed injection of oyster shells and calcium-based chemicals. The moisture content of the dewatered cake generated after dehydration confirmed that the best dewatering efficiency was found at the mixing ratios of CaCO₃ to sludge, oyster shell to sludge, and inorganic dehydrating agent to sludge of 3:1, 10:1, and 1.5:2.5:1, respectively. The moisture contents exhibited less than 58% when the injection mixing ratio of inorganic dehydrating agent to sludge was 1.5:2.5:1. From EPS, SEM, and EDX analysis, it was found that the calcium adsorbed on the sludge surface could reduce extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) and enhanced the dewaterbility. Based on the above results, it is considered possible to apply inorganic dehydrating agents containing recycled oyster shells in sludge dewatering in order to reduce sludge.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.646-653
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• 2019

Recovery of valuable metals in the industrial wastewater and sludge has attracted an attention owing to limited metallic resources in the earth. In this study, we firstly fabricated Ti/Ir-Ru electrodes by spin coating technique for effective recovery of Cu in electrowinning process. Two different Ti/Ir-Ru electrodes were fabricated using 100 and 500 mM of precursors (i.e., Ir-Ru). SEM-EDX and AFM revealed that Ir and Ru were homogenously distributed on the surface of Ti plate by the spin coating, in particular the electrode prepared by 500 mM showed distinct boundary line between Ir-Ru layer and Ti substrate. XRD, XPS, and cyclic voltammetry also revealed that characteristics of IrO₂, RuO₂, and TiO₂ and its electrocatalytic property increased as the concentration of coating precursor increased. Finally, we carried out Cu recovery experiments using two Ti/Ir-Ru as anodes in electrowinning process, showing that both anodes showed a complete removal of Cu (1 and 10 g/L) within 6 h reaction, but much higher kinetic rate constant was obtained by the anode prepared by 500 mM. The findings in this study can provide a fundamental knowledge for surface characteristics of Ti/Ir-Ru electrode prepared by spin coating method and its potential feasibility for effective electrowinning process.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.815-820
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• 2011

Three kinds of organometallic compounds (chromium acetylacetonate, magnesium acetate and vanadyl acetylacetonate) were used as transition metal precursor, titanium n-butoxide and multi-walled carbon nanotube as titanium and carbon precursor to prepare metal oxide-CNT/$TiO^2$ composites. The surface properties and morphology of metal oxide-CNT/$TiO^2$ composites were by Brauer-Emett-Teller (BET) surface area measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The photocatalytic activity of prepared metal oxide-CNT/$TiO^2$ composites was determined by the degradation effect of methylene blue in an aqueous solution under irradiation of visible light.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제30권8호
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• pp.1798-1804
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• 2009

In this study, we have studied on improved performance of carbon nanotubes/titanium (CNT/TiO2) structure electrode for methylene blue (MB). The composite electrodes consisting of CNTs and a titanium oxide matrix with phenol resin binder was fabricated with a mixture method. The chemical and morphological structure of CNT/Ti$O_2$ composites were characterized by means of BET surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis absorption technique, Raman spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The electrode showed a remarkably enhanced performance for MB oxidation under UV illumination with or without electro-chemical reaction (ECR). Such a remarkably improved performance of the CNT/Ti$O_2$ structure electrode might be due to the enhanced MB oxidation by electro- and photo-generated electrons and holes in the CNTs and Ti$O_2$ under UV illumination with or without ECR.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.77-86
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• 2017

The valorization of domestic wastes becomes a very important research axis that can reduce the energy consumption and protect our environment. The objective of this study is to remove zinc ions from wastewater by using banana peels after their activation as sensor in the working electrode for an environmental application. Banana peels were dried, crushed and treated with sulfuric acid then mixed with polyaniline to improve their electrical conductivity. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were used for electrochemistry tests. The obtained voltammogramms at well optimized conditions of applied potential of -1.3 V/SCE and initial zinc concentration of 0.2M during 2 hours of electrolysis, showed the reduction peak of the zinc at a potential of -1.14 V/SCE, which confirmed the activity of this electrode. The modeling of experimental data revealed that the adsorption was fitted by the Langmuir isotherm with a maximal adsorption capacity of 3.4188 mg/g. Changes in the structure of the powder after the electrosorption was noticed by SEM and EDX. Finally, the dosage of the electrolytic solution showed a diminution of the zinc concentration with yield of 99.99%.

• 한국세라믹학회지
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• 제52권3호
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• pp.173-179
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• 2015

We report the facile synthesis of graphene-$CdLa_2S_4$ composite through a facile solvothermal method at low temperature. The as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and BET analysis, revealing the uniform covering of the graphene nanosheet with $CdLa_2S_4$ nanocrystals. The as-prepared samples show a higher efficiency for the photocatalytic degradation of typical MB dye compared with P25 and $CdLa_2S_4$ bulk nanoparticles. The enhancement of visible-light-responsive photocatalytic properties by decolorization of Rh.B dye may be attributed to the following causes. Firstly, graphene nanosheet is capable of accepting, transporting and storing electrons, and thus retarding or hindering the recombination of the electrons with the holes remaining on the excited $CdLa_2S_4$ nanoparticles. Secondly, graphene nanosheet can increase the adsorption of pollutants. The final cause is that their extended light absorption range. This work not only offers a simple way to synthesize graphene-based composites via a one-step process at low temperature but also a path to obtain efficient functional materials for environmental purification and other applications.

• 한국세라믹학회지
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• 제44권11호
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• pp.607-612
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• 2007

Zn-AC and Zn-H-AC series prepared from non- and surface-modified activated carbon were investigated in terms of their hydrogen production capacity. An increase in the concentration of the zinc salts used with these series was shown to lead to a decrease in the values of the surface textural properties. The existence of zinc complexes on the surface was confirmed from an analysis of XRD data. The SEM micrographs of the two different sample types showed that the transformation of the carbon surface with an acid pre-treatment significantly change the metal contents on the surfaces of the carbon matrix. The EDX spectra indicated that all of the samples were richer in the amount of oxygen and zinc compared to any other elements. The results obtained using the Boehm's titration method showed that the positive introduction of the acidic groups on the carbon surfaces with the acid treatment is correlated with an increase in the amounts of zinc complexes with variation of the acidic groups. In terms of the hydrogen production performance, the volume fractions of the Zn-H-AC series were found to produce higher amounts than the Zn-AC series as a function of the metal contents considering the effects of the acid treatment.

• 한국세라믹학회지
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• 제50권6호
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• pp.518-522
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• 2013

This study investigatesthe coloration mechanism by identifying the factor that affects thered coloration of copper red glazesin traditional Korean ceramics. The characteristics of the reduction-fired copper red glaze's sections are analyzed using an optical microscope, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The sections observed using an optical microscope are divided into domains of surface, red-bubble, and red band. According to the Raman micro spectroscopy analysis results, the major characteristic peak is identified as silicate in all three domains, and the intensity of $Cu_2O$ increases toward the red band. In addition, it is confirmed that the most abundant CuO exists in the glaze bubbles. Moreover, CuO and $Cu_2O$ exist as fine particles in a dispersed state in the surface domain. Thus, Cu combined with oxygen is distributed evenly throughout the copper red glaze, and $Cu_2O$ is more concentrated toward the interface between body and glaze. It is also confirmed that CuO is concentrated around the bubbles. Therefore, it is concluded that the red coloration of the copper red glaze is revealed not only through metallic Cu but also through $Cu_2O$ and CuO.

• 한국세라믹학회지
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• 제50권6호
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• pp.504-509
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• 2013

In this study, ZnSe-$TiO_2$ composites were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal-assisted sol-gel process and characterized by nitrogen adsorption isotherms (77 K), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry. The photocatalytic activity was investigated by decoloration methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), and rhodamine B (Rh.B) in an aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. The results revealed that the photocatalytic activity of the ZnSe-$TiO_2$ photocatalyst was much higher than that of pure$TiO_2$. The ZnSe nanoparticles, which act as a photosensitizer, not only extend the spectral response of $TiO_2$ to the visible region but also reduce charge recombinations.