• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2009.11a
• /
• pp.26.2-26.2
• /
• 2009

A simple route of externalmechanical force is presented for enhancing the electrical properties ofpolymer nanocomposite consisted of nanowires. By dispersing ZnO nanowires inpolymer solution and drop casting on substrates, nanocomposite transistorscontaining ZnO nanowires are successfully fabricated. Even though the ZnOnanowires density is properly controlled for device fabrication, as-cast devicedoesn't show any detectablecurrents, because nanowires are separated far from each other with theinsulating polymer matrix intervening between them. Compared to the devicepressed at 300 kPa, the device pressed at 600 kPa currents increased by 50times showing the linear behavior against drain voltage and exhibits promisingelectrical properties, which operates in the depletion mode with highermobility and on-current. Such an improved device performance would be realizedby the contacts improvement and the increase of the number of electrical pathinduced by external force. This approach provides a viable solution for seriouscontact resistance problem of nanocomposite materials and promises for futuremanufacturing of high-performance devices.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2014.02a
• /
• pp.412-412
• /
• 2014

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is one of the most powerful materials for purifying organic pollutants using photocatalytic activity. In this study, we have introduced a novel method to design highly photoreactive flexible 3 dimensional (3D) ZnO nanocomposite [F-ZnO-m (m: reaction time, min)] by electrospinning and simple-step ZnO growth processing (one-step ZnO seed coating/growth processing). Significantly, the F-ZnO-m could be a new platform (or candidate) as a photocatalytic technology for both morphology control and large-area production. The highest photocatalytic degradation rate ([k]) was observed for F-ZnO-m at 2.552 h-1, which was 8.1 times higher than that of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs; [k] = 0.316 h-1). The enhanced photocatalytic activity of F-ZnO-m may be attributed to factors such as large surface area. The F-ZnO-m is highly recyclable and retained 98.6% of the initial decolorization rate after fifteen cycles. Interestingly, the F-ZnO-m samples show very strong antibacterial properties against both Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) after exposure to UV-light for 30 min. The antibacterial properties of F-ZnO-m samples are more effective than those of ZnO NPs. More than 96.6% of the E. coli is sterilized after ten cycles. These results indicate that F-ZnO-m samples might have utility in several promising applications such as highly efficient water/air treatment and inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.411-417
• /
• 2019

Graphene doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (G-ZnO) were prepared using modified hummer's technique together with the ultrasonic method and characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Different samples of epoxy resin nanocomposites reinforced with G-ZnO nanoparticles were prepared and were marked as F1 (without adding nanoparticles), F2 (1% w/w G-ZnO), and F3 (2% w/w G-ZnO) in combination of ≈ 56:18:18:8w/w% with epoxy resin/hardener, ammonium polyphosphate, boric acid, and Chitosan. The peak heat release rate (PHRR) of the epoxy nanocomposites was observed to decrease dramatically with the increasing G-ZnO nanoparticles. However, the LOI values increased significantly with the increase in wt % of G-ZnO nanoparticles. From the UL-94V data, it was confirmed that the F2 and F3 samples passed the flame test and were rated as V-0. The results obtained in the present work clearly revealed that the synthesized samples can be used as efficient materials in fire-retardant coating technology.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.309-321
• /
• 2015

We report in this study the synthesis of mixed matrix reverse osmosis membranes by interfacial polymerization (IP) of thin film nanocomposite (TFNC) on porous polysulfone supports (PS). This paper investigates the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) using the sol-gel processing technique and evaluates the performance of mixed matrix membranes reached by these aerogel NPs. Aqueous m-phenyl diamine (MPD) and organic trimesoyl chloride (TMC)-NPs mixture solutions were used in the IP process. The reaction of MPD and TMC at the interface of PS substrates resulted in the formation of the thin film composite (TFC). NPs of ZnO with a size of about 25 nm were used for the fabrication of the TFNC membranes. These membranes were characterized and evaluated in comparison with neat TFC ones. Their performances were evaluated based on the water permeability and salt rejection. Experimental results indicated that the NPs improved membrane performance under optimal concentration of NPs. By changing the content of the filler, better hydrophilicity was obtained; the contact angle was decreased from $74^{\circ}$ to $32^{\circ}$. Also, the permeate water flux was increased from 26 to 49 L/m2.h when the content of NPs is 0.1 (wt.%) with the maintaining of lower salt passage of 1%.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.307-313
• /
• 2017

In this paper we report an electrochemical sensor based on ZnO-functionalized graphene oxide nanocomposite (ZnO-GO) for the sensitive determination of the cabergoline. Cabergoline electrochemical behaviors were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CHA) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The modified electrode shows electrocatalytic activity toward cabergoline oxidation in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) (pH 7.0) with a reduction of the overpotential of about 180 mV and an increase in peak current. The DPV data showed that the obtained anodic peak currents were linearly dependent on the cabergoline concentrations in the range of $1.0-200.0{\mu}M$, with the detection limit of $0.45{\mu}M$. The prepared electrode was successfully applied for the determination of cabergoline in real samples.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.593-603
• /
• 2022

The critical buckling temperature rise of a newly proposed piezoelectrically active sandwich plate (ASP) has been investigated in this work. This structure includes a porous polymeric layer integrated between two piezoelectric nanocomposite layers. The piezoelectric material is made of a passive polymeric material that is activated by lead-free nanowires (NWs) of zinc oxide (ZnO) embedded inside the matrix. In both nanocomposite layers and porous core, functional graded (FG) patterns have been considered for the distributions of ZnO NWs and voids, respectively. By adopting a higher-order theory of plates, the governing equations of thermal buckling are obtained. This set of equations is then treated using an extended mesh-free solution. The effects of plate dimensions, porosity states, and the nanowire parameters have been investigated on the critical buckling temperature rises of the proposed lightweight ASPs with different boundary conditions. The results disclose that the use of porosities in the core and/or mixing ZnO NWs in the face sheets substantially arise the critical buckling temperatures of the newly proposed active sandwich plates.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2018

In this study, pro-oxidant($d2w^{(R)}$) and rPP/ZnO nanocomposite flexible films for food packaging were prepared, and their mechanical and antimicrobial properties were investigated. As a result, the carbonyl index and hydroxyl index increased with exposured time to heat and UV rays. Surface analysis showed that the addition of zinc oxide improved the dispersibility and compatibility of the polymer, so that the surface of the composite film was smooth and the zinc oxide particles were smaller than the compared film. And it kept the physical properties by heat and UV ray blocking effect, and it worked to reduce decomposition. In the antimicrobial activity test, the microbial reduction rate was 3 logs or more at the use concentration of zinc oxide. The tensile strength was increased and the elongation was decreased. Oxidative degradability of multi-layered film in UV exposured for 72 hours, the molecular weight of the film decreased by 75.6%, 1,294 g/mol Mn and 5,920 g/mol Mw. In the safety analysis of food packaging materials, we obtained that are in standard of polypropylene, a food contact material of domestic law.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.69-77
• /
• 2019

Agar-based nanocomposite films were prepared by incorporation of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONP) and grapefruit seed extract (GSE). The composite films were characterized using FT-IR, UV-visible spectroscopy and thermalgravimetric analysis (TGA). The composite films showed light absorption peaks at 220 and 380 nm, characteristic for GSE and ZnONP, respectively. The UV-light transmittance of the agar film was markedly reduced from 54.4 ± 1.3% to 5.8 ± 2.5% with little sacrifice of transparency when 3 wt% ZnONP and 5 wt% GSE were added. The mechanical and water vapor barrier properties increased slightly though they were not significant statistically by the addition of ZnONP and GSE. The nanocomposite films showed stronger antibacterial activity against L. monocytogenes than E. coli O157: H7 and the antibacterial activity was affected by bacterial types as well as concentrations of ZnONP and GSE. The nano-composite film incorporated with 3 wt% of ZnONP and 5 wt% of GSE exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli O157: H7. The results indicate that 3 wt% of ZnONP and 5 wt% of GSE are the optimal concentrations for producing functional agar/ZnONP/GSE composite films.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.225-244
• /
• 2017

A novel thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) reverse osmosis (RO)/non-woven fabric (NWF) membrane was prepared by adding zinc oxide (ZnO) nanospheres ($30{\pm}10nm$) during the interfacial polymerization process of m-phenylenediamine (MPD) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) on self-made polysulfone (PSF) membrane/polyester (PET) non-woven fabric support. The improved performance of TFN RO membrane was verified in terms of water contact angle (WCA), water flux, salt rejection, antifouling properties and chlorine resistance. The results showed that the WCA value of TFN RO surface had a continuous decrease with the increasing of ZnO content in MPD aqueous solution. The water flux of composite TFN RO membranes acquired a remarkable increase with a stable high solute rejection (94.5 %) in $1g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ NaCl aqueous solution under the optimized addition amount of ZnO (1 wt%). The continuous testing of membrane separation performance after the immersion in sodium hypochlorite solution indicated that the introduction of ZnO nanospheres also dramatically enhanced the antifouling properties and the chlorine resistance of composite RO membranes.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2009.11a
• /
• pp.26.1-26.1
• /
• 2009

A simple route of external mechanical force is presented for enhancing the electrical properties of polymer nanocomposite consisted of nanowires. By dispersing ZnO nanowires in polymer solution and drop casting on substrates, nanocomposite transistors containing ZnO nanowires are successfully fabricated. Even though the ZnO nanowires density is properly controlled for device fabrication, as-cast device doesn't show any detectable currents, because nanowires are separated far from each other with the insulating polymer matrix intervening between them. Compared to the device pressed at 300 kPa, the device pressed at 600 kPa currents increased by 50times showing the linear behavior against drain voltage and exhibits promising electrical properties, which operates in the depletion mode with higher mobility and on-current. Such an improved device performance would be realized by the contacts improvement and the increase of the number of electrical path induced by external force. This approach provides a viable solution for serious contact resistance problem of nanocomposite materials and promises for future manufacturing of high-performance devices.