• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.70-76
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• 2011

High-quality double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) were synthesized by catalytic decomposition method at $800^{\circ}C$ using Tetrahydrofuran. The as-synthesized DWCNTs typically have catalytic impurities and amorphous carbon, which were removed by two-step purification process, consisting of thermal oxidation and H2O2, HNO3, HCl treatment. The DWCNT suspension was prepared by dispersing the purified DWCNTs in an aqueous sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate solution with horn-type sonication. This was then sprayed on ITO glass to fabricate CNT field emitters. The quality of purified DWCNTs was estimated with X-ray diffraction and Thermal Gravity Analysis. The field emission properties were improved by increasing the process time of HCl treatment.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.350-355
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• 2015

Perforated polygonal cobalt oxide ($Co_3O_4$) is synthesized using electrospinning and a hydrothermal method followed by the removal of a carbon nanofiber (CNF) template. To investigate their formation mechanism, thermogravimetric analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are examined. To obtain the optimum condition of perforated polygonal $Co_3O_4$, we prepare three different weight ratios of the Co precursor and the CNF template: sample A (Co precursor:CNF template- 10:1), sample B (Co precursor:CNF template-3.2:1), and sample C (Co precursor:CNF template-2:1). Among them, sample A exhibits the perforated polygonal $Co_3O_4$ with a thin carbon layer (5.7-6.2 nm) owing to the removal of CNF template. However, sample B and sample C synthesized perforated round $Co_3O_4$ and destroyed $Co_3O_4$ powders, respectively, due to a decreased amount of Co precursor. The increased amount of the CNF template prevents the formation of polygonal $Co_3O_4$. For sample A, the optimized weight ratio of the Co precursor and CNF template may be related to the successful formation of perforated polygonal $Co_3O_4$. Thus, perforated polygonal $Co_3O_4$ can be applied to electrode materials of energy storage devices such as lithium ion batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2012

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) incorporated polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanofibers were synthesized using electronspinning method. Effects of polymer concentration and applied voltage on the synthesis of PAN and PMMA nanofibers were systematically investigated. The structural characterization of PAN/MWCNTs and PMMA/MWCNTs composited nanofibers synthesized as a function of the MWCNTs concentration was performed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. 5 wt% MWCNTs incorporated PAN and PMMA electrospun nanofiber exhibit best strength and stiffness.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.236-241
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• 2012

It is widely recognized that it is hard to prepare hydrophilic graphite nanoparticles because of their high crystallinity and inert characteristics. In this study, we successfully synthesized the hydrophilic graphite nanoparticles by using liquid phase pulsed laser ablation method which has been actively employed for the thin film deposition up to now. The obtained hydrophilic graphite showed an ultra-high dispersion stability in water, because the hydrophilic functional groups like carboxyl and carbonyl group was simultaneously introduced onto the graphite surface with the nanoparticle formation, as confirmed by FT-IR and zeta potential measurements. Finally, a markedly enhanced gas sensing ability for acetone was shown in comparison with the conventional carbon black for the carbon polymer composite sensor with polyethyleneglycol (PEG).

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.198-205
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• 2012

Carbon-supported manganese oxide composite were fabricated as an air cathode material for Li-air batteries by hydrothermal method. The composite materials of carbon and manganese oxide were investigated by the implementation of X-ray diffraction, FE-SEM and BET surface area measurer. The manganese oxide synthesized at $170^{\circ}C$ for 12 h has a rod like shape morphology with 40-50 nm long in size. A Lithium-air battery with coin type, of which electrodes are composed of cathode composite materials synthesized $170^{\circ}C$-12 h and lithium metal anode, reveals its first discharge capacity of 3,852 mAh/g and four discharge-charge cycles.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2013

Waterborne polyurethane dispersion (WPUD) was synthesized from polycarbonate diol (PCD), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA) as starting materials. Then, waterborne acrylic polyurethane dispersion (AUD) was synthesized by reacting the WPUD with an acrylate monomer, methyl methacrylate (MMA). Subsequently, the AUD was mixed with multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) to yield a conductive coating solution, and the mixture was coated on the polycarbonate substrate. With increasing the amount of MMA in the AUD, the pencil hardness, abrasion resistance and chemical resistance of the coating films were improved, but the electrical conductivity of the coating films was decreased. On the other hand, the pencil hardness, abrasion resistance and chemical resistance of coating films were decreased, but the electrical conductivity was enhanced with increasing the amount of MWCNT in the conductive coating solutions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.847-853
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• 1999

A Pseudomonas sp. strain that is capable of utilizing dicarboxylic acids as a sole carbon source was isolated from activated sludge by using the enrichment culture technique. This organism accumulated polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) with an unusual pattern of monomer units that depends on the carbon sources used. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) homopolyester was synthesized from glucose or small $C_{-even}$ alkanoic acids, such as butyric acid and hexanoic acid. Accumulation of PHB homopolyester was also observed in the cells grown on $C_{-odd}$ dicarboxylic acids, such as heptanedioic acid and nonanedioic acid as the sole carbon sources. In contrast, a copolyester consisting of 6 mol% 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 94 mol% 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) was produced with a PHA content of as much as 36% of the cellular dry matter. This strain produced PHAs consisting both of the short-chain-length (SCL) and the medium-chain-length (MCL) 3-hydroxyacid units when heptanoic acid to undecanoic acid were fed as the sole carbon sources. Most interestingly, polyester consisting of significant amount of relevant fractions, 3HB, 3HV, and 3-hydroxyheptanoate (3HHp), was accumulated from heptanoic acid. According to solvent fractionation experiments, the polymer produced from heptanoic acid was a blend of poly(3HHp) and of a copolyester of 3HB, 3HV, and 3HHp units. The hexane soluble fractions contained only 3HHp units while the hexane-insoluble fractions contained 3HB and 3HV units with a small amount of 3HHp unit. The copolyester was an elastomer with unusual mechanical properties. The maximum elongation ratio of the copolyester was 460% with an ultimate strength of 10 MPa, which was very different from those of poly(3HB-co-3HV) copolyesters having similar compositions produced from other microorganisms.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.402-409
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to develop a synthesis process for ${\beta}$-SiC powders to reduce the synthesis temperature and to control the particle size and to prevent particle agglomeration of the synthesized ${\beta}$-SiC powders. A phenol resin and TEOS were used as the starting materials for the carbon and Si sources, respectively. $SiO_2$-C hybrid precursors with various C/Si mole ratios were fabricated using a conventional sol-gel process. ${\beta}$-SiC powders were synthesized by a carbothermal reduction process using $SiO_2$-C hybrid precursors with various C/Si mole ratios (1.6 ~ 2.5) fabricated using a sol-gel process. In this study, the effects of excess carbon and the addition of Si powders to the $SiO_2$-C hybrid precursor on the synthesis temperature and particle size of ${\beta}$-SiC were examined. It was found that the addition of metallic Si powders to the $SiO_2$/C hybrid precursor with excess carbon reduced the synthesis temperature of the ${\beta}$-SiC powders to as low as $1300^{\circ}C$. The synthesis temperature for ${\beta}$-SiC appeared to be reduced with an increase of the C/Si mole ratio in the $SiO_2$-C hybrid precursor by a direct carburization reaction between Si and excess carbon.

• Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
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• v.68
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• pp.161-167
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• 2018

In this study, transition metal coated carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were synthesized and applied as anode materials of Li secondary batteries. CNFs/Ni foam was immersed into 0.01 M transition metal solutions after growing CNFs on Ni foam via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Transition metal coated CNFs/Ni foam was dried in an oven at $80^{\circ}C$. Morphologies, compositions, and crystal quality of CNFs-transition metal composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy (Raman), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. Electrochemical characteristics of CNFs-transition metal composites as anodes of Li secondary batteries were investigated using a three-electrode cell. Transition metal/CNFs/Ni foam was directly employed as a working electrode without any binder. Lithium foil was used as both counter and reference electrodes while 1 M $LiClO_4$ was employed as the electrolyte after it was dissolved in a mixture of propylene carbonate:ethylene carbonate (PC:EC) at 1:1 volume ratio. Galvanostatic charge/discharge cycling and cyclic voltammetry measurements were taken at room temperature using a battery tester. In particular, the capacity of the synthesized CNFs-Fe was improved compared to that of CNFs. After 30 cycles, the capacity of CNFs-Fe was increased by 78%. Among four transition metals of Fe, Cu, Co and Ni coated on carbon nanofibers, the retention rate of CNFs-Fe was the highest at 41%. The initial capacity of CNFs-Fe with 670 mAh/g was reduced to 275 mAh/g after 30 cycles.

• 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.