• Carbon letters
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• 제24권
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

We studied the basic properties and fabrication of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) prepared using eco-friendly reduction agents in the graphene solution process. Hydrazine is generally used to reduce graphene oxide (GO), which results in polluting emissions as well as fixed nitrogen functional groups on different defects in the graphene sheets. To replace hydrazine, we developed eco-friendly reduction agents with similar or better reducing properties, and selected of them for further analysis. In this study, GO layers were produced from graphite flakes using a modified Hummer's method, and rGO layers were reduced using hydrazine hydrate, L-ascorbic acid, and gluconic acid. We measured the particle sizes and the dispersion stabilities in the rGO dispersed solvents for the three agents and analyzed the structural, electrical, and optical properties of the rGO films. The results showed that the degree of reduction was in the order L-ascorbic acid ${\geq}$ hydrazine > glucose. GO reduced using L-ascorbic acid had a sheet resistance of $121k{\Omega}/sq$, while that reduced using gluconic acid showed worse electrical properties than the other two reduction agents. Therefore, L-ascorbic acid is the most suitable eco-friendly reduction agent that can be substituted for hydrazine.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• 제53권2호
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• pp.57-66
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• 2018

Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), reinforced with different contents of silica (with or without modification using silane coupling agents), was prepared by a modified sol-gel method involving hydrolyzation of tetraethoxysilane over an acid catalyst. The structures of the as-prepared samples were characterized using various techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The mechanical properties of the as-prepared samples were discussed in detail. The results revealed an increasing of the storage modulus (G') with increase in the silica content without modification. In contrast, G' decreased after modification using silane coupling agents, indicating a reduction in the silica-silica interaction and improved dispersion of silica in the SBR matrix. Both tensile stress and hardness increased with increase in the silica content (with modification) in the SBR matrix, albeit with low values compared to the samples with un-modified silica, except for the case of silica modified using (3-glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GPTS). The latter observation can be attributed to the special structure of GPTS and the effort of oxygen atom lone-pair.

• Carbon letters
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• 제21권
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• pp.74-80
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• 2017

A highly facile and eco-friendly green synthesis of Annona squamosa (custard apple) leaf extract reduced graphene oxide (CRG) nanosheets was achieved by the reduction of graphene oxide (GO). The as-prepared CRG was characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopic techniques. Removal of oxygen containing moieties from the GO was confirmed by UV-Vis, FT-IR and XPS spectroscopic data. The XRD and Raman data further confirmed the formation of the CRG. TEM images showed the sheet structure of the synthesized CRG. These results show that the phytochemicals present in custard apple leaf extract act as excellent reducing agents. The CRG showed good dispersion in water.

• Advances in nano research
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.391-397
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• 2023

This manuscript describes the one-step eco-friendly green fabrication of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) through the in-situ bio-reduction of an aqueous solution of silver nitrate using Syzygium aromaticum leaf extract. UV-vis spectroscopy shows a characteristic SPR peak around 442 nm. FTIR spectroscopy showed that the AgNPs were capped with bioactive phyto-molecules. TEM images revealed oval and spherical particles with a mean diameter of ~12.6 nm. XRD analysis revealed crystalline and face-cantered cubic AgNPs. The phytosynthesized AgNPs showed broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity against two foodborne pathogenic bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. The AgNPs showed a prominent ability to inhibit biofilms formed by L. monocytogenes and S. aureus in laboratory conditions through a crystal violet assay. The results suggest that the AgNPs could be a novel nanotool to develop effective antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agents in food preservation.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.272-278
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• 2016

투수성 포장은 도시에서 불투수면 증가에 따라 발생하는 환경문제에 대응하기 위한 대표적인 저영향개발 (Low-Impact Development, LID) 기법의 하나이다. 도시의 도로가 투수성 포장으로 바뀐다면 도시의 불투수면이 약 절반으로 줄어들고, 더 나가 지붕으로부터의 강수 유출까지 수용할 수 있다면 도로는 도시 물 순환 문제의 원인자에서 해결자로 전환될 수 있다. 그러나 국내에서는 경험과 인식의 부족으로 투수성 포장을 적용하는 경우가 거의 없는 실정이다. 도로 포장을 설계, 시공 및 관리하는 도로 기술자는 전통적으로 포장 구조에 물이 들어가는 것을 피하려 하고, 수자원 전문가는 투수성 포장의 도시홍수 저감효과에 대해서 의문을 가진다. 본 연구에서는 국내외의 다양한 연구 결과를 검토하여 투수성 포장에 대한 역사와 최신 기술을 분석하였다. 최신의 투수성 포장 기술을 요약하면 다음과 같다. 첫째, 투수성 포장은 기존의 방법대로 설계해도 노상 약화와 동결 융해로 인한 구조적인 문제가 없다. 둘째, 투수성 포장의 저수층 두께의 조절로 도시수문 설계에 직접 반영할 수 있다. 셋째, 기존의 다른 비점오염 처리시설에 비하여 수질처리 효과가 떨어지지 않는다. 특히 투수성 포장은 겨울철 제설제 사용을 저감하여 보다 친환경적이다.