• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2013

The ZnO is able to produce hydrogen from water however it can only absorb ultraviolet region due to its 3.37eV of wide band gap. Therefore efficiency of solar hydrogen production is low. In this work we report investigation results of improved visible light photo-catalytic properties of CdSe quantum dots(QDs) sensitized ZnO nanorod heterostructures. Hydrothermally vertically grown ZnO nanorod arrays on FTO glass were sensitized with CdSe by using SILAR(successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction) method. Morphology of grown ZnO and CdSe sensitized ZnO nanorods had been investigated by FE-SEM that shows length of $2.0{\mu}m$, diameter of 120~150nm nanorod respectively. Photocatalytic measurements revealed that heterostructured samples show improved photocurrent density under the visible light illumination. Improved visible light performance of the heterostructures is resulting from narrow band gap of the CdSe and its favorable conduction band positions relative to potentials of ZnO band and water redox reaction.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2016.11a
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• pp.121-122
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• 2016

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2008

Titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) is one of the most researched semiconductor oxides that has revolutionised technologies in the field of environmental purification and energy generation. It has found extensive applications in heterogenous photocatalysis for removing organic pollutants from air and water and also in hydrogen production from photocatalytic water-splitting. Its use is popular because of its low cost, low toxicity, high chemical and thermal stability. But one of the critical limitations of $TiO_2$ as photocatalyst is its poor response to visible light. Several attempts have been made to modify the surface and electronic structures of $TiO_2$ to enhance its activity in the visible light region such as noble metal deposition, metal ion loading, cationic and anionic doping and sensitisation. Most of the results improved photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation. This paper attempts to review and update some of the information on the $TiO_2$ photocatalytic technology and its accomplishment towards visible light region.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.130.1-130.1
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• 2013

We made attempts to improve photocatalytic activity of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles under visible light exposure by combining two additional treatments. N-doping of $TiO_2$ by ammonia gas treatment at $600^{\circ}C$ increased absorbance of visible light. By coating thin film of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and subsequent vacuum-annealing at $800^{\circ}C$, $TiO_2$, became more hydrophilic, thereby enhancing photocatalytic activity of $TiO_2$. Four types of $TiO_2$ samples were prepared, bare-$TiO_2$, hydrophilic-modified $TiO_2$ ($h-PDMS/TiO_2$), N-doped $TiO_2$ ($N/TiO_2$) and hydrophilic-modified and N-doped $TiO_2$ ($h-PDMS/N/TiO_2$). Adsorption capability was evaluated under dark condition and photocatalytic activity of $TiO_2$ was evaluated by photodegradation of MB under blue LED (400 nm< ${\lambda}$) irradiation. N-doping on $TiO_2$ was characterized using XPS and hydrophilic modification of $TiO_2$ surface was analyzed by FT-IR spectrometer. It was found that N-doping and hydrophilic modification both had positive effect on enhancing adsorption capability and photocatalytic activity of $TiO_2$ at the same time. Particularly, N-doping enhanced visible light absorption of $TiO_2$, whereas hydrophilic surface modification increased MB adsorption capacity. By combining these two strategies, photocatalytic acitivity under visible light irradiation became the sum of individual effects of N-doping and hydrophilic modification.

• Clean Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.196-204
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• 2017

CdZnS/ZnO composite was prepared through low-temperature precipitation and drying method. The property of CdZnS/ZnO as a recyclable photocatalyst for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation was examined. The sample was characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, XPS, UV-vis DRS and photoluminescence techniques before and after repeated reaction to investigate the change of properties during the photocatalytic reaction. During repeated reaction, the CdZnS/ZnO showed an improved photocatalytic activity and recycle stability. Among two feasible reaction pathways for photocatalytic degradation of RhB, the cleavage of conjugated chromophore was found to predominate over N-dealkylation of chromophore skeleton in the present work. The results indicate that the CdZnS/ZnO, prepared by a simple precipitation method, can be used as a visible-light driven photocatalyst with enhanced cycle stability and activity.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.1217-1223
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• 2008

A series of Zr,S co-doped $TiO_2$ were synthesized by a modified sol-gel method and characterized by various spectroscopic and analytical techniques. The presence of sulfur caused a red-shift in the absorption band of $TiO_2$. Co-doping of sulfur and zirconium (Zr-$TiO_2$-S) improves the surface properties such as surface area, pore volume, and pore diameter and also enhances the thermal stability of the anatase phase. The Zr-$TiO_2$-S systems are very effective visible-light active catalysts for the degradation of toluene. All reactions follow pseudo firstorder kinetics with the decomposition rate reaching as high as 77% within 4 h. The catalytic activity decreases in the following order: Zr-$TiO_2$-S >$TiO_2$-S >Zr-$TiO_2$>$TiO_2$$\approx$ P-25, demonstrating the synergic effect of codoping with zirconium and sulfur. When the comparison is made within the series of Zr-$TiO_2$-S, the catalytic performance is found to be a function of Zr-contents as follows: 3 wt % Zr-TiO2-S >0.5 wt % Zr-$TiO_2$-S> 5 wt % Zr-$TiO_2$-S >1 wt % Zr-$TiO_2$-S. Higher calcination temperature decreases the reactivity of Zr-$TiO_2$-S.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.267-274
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• 2018

$TiO_2/CuS$ nanocomposites were fabricated by precipitation of nanosized CuS via sonochemical method on electrospun $TiO_2$ nanofibers, and their structure, chemical bonding states, optical properties, and photocatalytic activity were investigated. In the $TiO_2/CuS$ nanocomposite, the position of the conduction band for CuS was at a more negative than that of TiO; meanwhile, the position of the valence band for CuS was more positive than those for TiO, indicating a heterojunction structure belonging to type-II band alignment. Photocatalytic activity, measured by decomposition of methylene blue under visible-light irradiation (${\lambda}$ > 400 nm) for the $TiO_2/CuS$ nanocomposite, showed a value of 85.94% at 653 nm, which represented an improvement of 52% compared to that for single $TiO_2$ nanofiber (44.97% at 653 nm). Consequently, the photocatalyst with $TiO_2/CuS$ nanocomposite had excellent photocatalytic activity for methylene blue under visible-light irradiation, which could be explained by the formation of a heterojunction structure and improvement of the surface reaction by increase in surface area.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.441-447
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• 2014

$AgI/AgCl/H_2WO_4$ double heterojunctions photocatalyst was prepared via deposition-precipitation followed by ion exchange method. The structure, crystallinity, morphology, chemical content and other physical-chemical properties of the samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectra (EDX), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and photoluminescence (PL). The photocatalytic activity of the $AgI/AgCl/H_2WO_4$ was evaluated by degrading methyl orange (MO) under visible light irradiation (${\lambda}$ > 400 nm). The double heterojunctions photocatalyst displayed more efficient photocatalytic activity than pure AgI, AgCl, $H_2WO_4$ and AgCl/$H_2WO_4$. Based on the reactive species and energy band structure, the enhanced photocatalytic activity mechanism of $AgI/AgCl/H_2WO_4$ was discussed in detail. The improved photocatalytic performance of $AgI/AgCl/H_2WO_4$ double heterojunctions could be ascribed to the enhanced interfacial charge transfer and the inhibited recombination of electron-hole pairs, which was in close relation with the $AgI/AgCl/H_2WO_4$ heterojunctions formed between AgI, AgCl and $H_2WO_4$.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.325-330
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• 2021

Bi₂MoO₆ (BMO) via the structure-directing role of CO(NH₂)₂ is successfully prepared via a facile solvothermal route. The structure, morphology, and photocatalytic performance of the nanoflake BMO are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fluorescence spectrum analysis (PL), UV-vis spectroscopy (UV-vis) and electrochemical test. SEM images show that the size of nanoflake BMO is about 50 ~ 200 nm. PL and electrochemical analysis show that the nanoflake BMO has a lower recombination rate of photogenerated carriers than particle BMO. The photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) by nanoflake BMO under visible light is investigated. The results show that the nanoflake BMO-3 has the highest degradation efficiency under visible light, and the degradation efficiency reached 75 % within 120 min, attributed to the unique hierarchical structure, efficient carrier separation and sufficient free radicals to generate active center synergies. The photocatalytic reaction mechanism of TC degradation on the nanoflake BMO is proposed.