• Carbon letters
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.89-104
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• 2014

Materials with appropriate surface roughness and low surface energy can form superhydrophobic surfaces, displaying water contact angles greater than $150^{\circ}$. Superhydrophobic carbon-based materials are particularly interesting due to their exceptional physicochemical properties. This review discusses the various techniques used to produce superhydrophobic carbon-based materials such as carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, graphene, amorphous carbons, etc. Recent advances in emerging fields such as energy, environmental remediation, and thermal management in relation to these materials are also discussed.

• Carbon letters
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2014

As a part of the electromagnetic spectrum, microwaves heat materials fast and efficiently via direct energy transfer, while conventional heating methods rely on conduction and convection. To date, the use of microwave heating in the research of carbon-based materials has been mainly limited to liquid solutions. However, more rapid and efficient heating is possible in electron-rich solid materials, because the target materials absorb the energy of microwaves effectively and exclusively. Carbon-based solid materials are suitable for microwave-heating due to the delocalized pi electrons from sp2-hybridized carbon networks. In this perspective review, research on the microwave heating of carbon-based solid materials is extensively investigated. This review includes basic theories of microwave heating, and applications in carbon nanotubes, graphite and other carbon-based materials. Finally, priority issues are discussed for the advanced use of microwave heating, which have been poorly understood so far: heating mechanism, temperature control, and penetration depth.

• Carbon letters
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.36-39
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• 2003

Carbon and carbon-based materials are used in nuclear reactors and there has recently been growing interest to develop graphite and carbon based materials for high temperature nuclear and fusion reactors. Efforts are underway to develop high density carbon materials as well as amorphous isotropic carbon for the application in thermal reactors. There has been research on coated nuclear fuel for high temperature reactor and research and development on coated fuels are now focused on fuel particles with high endurance during normal lifetime of the reactor. Since graphite as a moderator as well as structural material in high temperature reactors is one of the most favored choices, it is now felt to develop high density isotropic graphite with suitable coating for safe application of carbon based materials even in oxidizing or water vapor environment. Carboncarbon composite materials compared to conventional graphite materials are now being looked into as the promising materials for the fusion reactor due their ability to have high thermal conductivity and high thermal shock resistance. This paper deals with the application of carbon materials on various nuclear reactors related issues and addresses the current need for focused research on novel carbon materials for future new generation nuclear reactors.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.182-188
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• 2018

Nitrogen (N)-doped protein-based carbon as platinum (Pt) catalyst supports from tofu for oxygen reduction reactions are synthesized using a carbonization and reduction method. We successfully prepare 5 wt% Pt@N-doped protein-based carbon, 10 wt% Pt@N-doped protein-based carbon, and 20 wt% Pt@N-doped protein-based carbon. The morphology and structure of the samples are characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron micro scopy, and crystllinities and chemical bonding are identified using X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The oxygen reduction reaction are measured using a linear sweep voltammogram and cyclic voltammetry. Among the samples, 10 wt% Pt@N-doped protein-based carbon exhibits exellent electrochemical performance with a high onset potential of 0.62 V, a high $E_{1/2}$ of 0.55 V, and a low ${\Delta}E_{1/2}=0.32mV$. Specifically, as compared to the commercial Pt/C, the 10 wt% Pt@N-doped protein-based carbon had a similar oxygen reduction reaction perfomance and improved electrochemical stability.

• Carbon letters
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.192-197
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• 2002

Microstructure plays an important role in controlling the fracture behaviour of carbon-carbon composites and hence their mechanical properties. In the present study effort was made to understand how the different interfaces (fiber/matrix interactions) influence the development of microstructure of the matrix as well as that of carbon fibers as the heat treatment temperature of the carbon-carbon composites is raised. Three different grades of PAN based carbon fibres were selected to offer different surface characteristics. It is observed that in case of high-strength carbon fiber based carbon-carbon composites, not only the matrix microstructure is different but the texture of carbon fiber changes from isotropic to anisotropic after HTT to $2600^{\circ}C$. However, in case of intermediate and high modulus carbon fiber based carbon-carbon composites, the carbon fiber texture remains nearly isotropic at $2600^{\circ}C$ because of relatively weak fiber-matrix interactions.

• Carbon letters
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-26
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• 2004

A study of partial carbonisation of green pitch fibres to temperatures in the range of 500-$1000^{\circ}C$ was carried out on three precursors - a neat pitch and two polymer modified pitches, with a view to find out a suitable temperature at which the fibres acquire considerably improved toughness or handleability (compared to that in the green stage) for their subsequent processing into carbon fibres. A partial carbonisation temperature of 500-$600^{\circ}C$ has been identified to result in a remarkable improvement in the toughness/handleability of the fibres in all the three cases. However, from techno-economical considerations, the neat pitch appears to provide the best precursor system for the production of pitch based carbon fibres.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2018.05a
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• pp.212-213
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• 2018

The cementitious composites have been developed to satisfy various demands of the construction market. The conductive concrete, which is a carbon-based cementitious composite, was used for the deicing or the detecting the internal crack. The cement-based battery is a technology that applies the basic concept of the alkaline battery to these conductive concretes. The cementitious composites could have a function as batteries, through a mixing of anode and cathode, which were consist of the zinc and manganese dioxide powder. The carbon-based materials, which have a significant effect on electrical properties, could be considered as the main variable in cement-based batteries. Therefore, in this study, the effects of carbon-based materials were investigated. Two types of materials, including the Carbon black and Multi-walled carbon nanotube(MWCNT), were considered as the main variables. From the experiment results, the electrical characteristics such as resistance, voltage, and current were compared according to the age.

• Carbon letters
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2015

This study fabricated low thermal conductive polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibers containing cellulose particles while maintaining their mechanical properties. The high thermal conductivity of carbon fibers limits their application as a high temperature insulator in various systems such as an insulator for propulsion parts in aerospace or missile systems. By controlling process parameters such as the heat treatment temperature of the cellulose particles and the amount of cellulose added, the thermal and mechanical properties of the PAN-based carbon fibers were investigated. The results show that it is possible to manufacture composite carbon fibers with low thermal conductivity. That is, thermal conductivities were reduced by the cellulose particles in the PAN based carbon fibers while at the same time, the tensile strength loss was minimized, and the tensile modulus increased.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.27-30
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• 2004

Different types of hybrid negative materials on pitch based carbon and natural graphite for lithium ion batteries were studied. Two types of active materials were prepared, that is, pitch based graphite carbon, and pitch based carbon impregnating natural graphite. The specific capacity, capacity recovery in high temperature condition, and other electrochemical properties were achieved for these materials. We found that addition of natural graphite type to the pitch based carbon can significant1y improve the specific capacity and interfacial resistance. However, use of natural graphite will cause a serious capacity loss in the high temperature condition owing to its increasing interface resistance. The specific capacity ranged from 321 to 348 mAh/g and the maximum specific capacity was obtained in the case of pitch based carbon impregnating natural graphite.

• Carbon letters
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.94-98
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• 2013

Isotropic pitch fibers were stabilized and carbonized for preparing carbon fibers. To optimize the duration and temperature during the stabilization process, a thermogravimetric analysis was conducted. Stabilized fibers were carbonized at 1000, 1500, and $2000^{\circ}C$ in a furnace under a nitrogen atmosphere. An elemental analysis confirmed that the carbon content increased with an increase in the carbonization temperature. Although short graphitic-like layers were observed with carbon fibers heat-treated at 1500 and $2000^{\circ}C$, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction revealed no significant effect of the carbonization temperature on the crystalline structure of the carbon fibers, indicating the limit of developing an ordered structure of isotropic pitch-based carbon fibers. The electrical conductivity of the carbonized fiber reached $3.9{\times}10^4$ S/m with the carbonization temperature increasing to $2000^{\circ}C$ using a four-point method.