• Electronic Materials Letters
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.739-748
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• 2018

ZnS nanowalls, microspheres and rice-shaped nanoparticles have been successfully grown on graphene oxide (GO) sheets by the hydrothermal method. The morphologies, structures, chemical compositions and optical properties of the as-synthesized GO/ZnS have been characterized by X-ray power diffraction, energy dispersive spectrometer, scanning electron microscope, Raman spectra, photoluminescence spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy. It was found that the concentration of CTAB and the reaction temperature were important in the formation of GO/ZnS microstructures. The photocatalytic activity of the as-synthesized GO/ZnS was investigated through the photocatalytic degradation of textile dyeing waste. Results showed that the catalytic activity of the GO/ZnS porous spheres to methyl orange and methylene blue is higher than those of other samples. The degradation rates of methyl orange and methylene blue by porous spheres in 50 min were 97.6 and 97.1%, respectively. This is mainly attributed to the large specific surface area of GO/ZnS porous spheres and high separation efficiency between photogenerated electron and hole pairs.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.57-67
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• 2021

Photocatalytic green energy H2 production utilizing inexhaustible solar energy has been considered as a potential solution to problems of energy scarcity and environmental contamination. However, the design of a cost-effective photocatalyst using simple synthesis methodology is still a grand challenge. Herein, a low-cost transition metal, Cu-loaded one-dimensional TiO2 nanorods (Cu/TNR) were fabricated using an easy-to-use synthesis methodology for significant H2 production under simulated solar light. X-ray photoelectron spectral studies and electron microscopy measurements provide evidence to support the successful formation of the Cu/TNR catalyst under our experimental conditions. UV-vis DRS studies further demonstrate that introducing Cu on the surface of TNR substantially increases light absorption in the visible range. Notably, the Cu/TNR catalyst with optimum Cu content, achieved a remarkable H2 production with a yield of 39,239 µmol/g after 3 h of solar light illumination, representing 7.4- and 27.7-fold enhancements against TNR and commercial P25, respectively. The notably improved H2 evolution activity of the target Cu/TNR catalyst was primarily attributed to its excellent separation and efficiently hampered recombination of photoexcited electron-hole pairs. The Cu/TNR catalyst is, therefore, a potential candidate for photocatalytic green energy applications.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2014년도 제46회 동계 정기학술대회 초록집
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• pp.459.1-459.1
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• 2014

Because both $TiO_2$ and ZnO has superior characteristic optically and electrically, there are various of research for these materials. However, they have large band gap energy which correspond with not visible light, but UV light. To make up for this disadvantage, Quantum dots (CdS, CdSe) which can absorb the visible light could be deposited on $ZnO/TiO_2$ nanostructure so that the the photoelectrochecmical cell can absorb the light that has larger region of wavelength. Both $TiO_2$ and ZnO can be grown to one-dimensional nanowire structure at low temperature through solutional method. Three-dimensional hierarcical $ZnO/TiO_2$ nanostructure is fabricated by applying these process. Large surface area of this structure make the light absorbed more efficiently. Through type 2 like-cascade energy band structure of nanostructure, the efficient separation of electron-hole pairs is expected. Photoelectrochemical charateristics are found by using these nanostructure to photoelectrode.

• Applied Science and Convergence Technology
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.61-64
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• 2018

The basic principle and concept for hydrogen production via water-splitting process are introduced. In particular, recent research activities and their progress in the photoelectrochemical water-splitting process are investigated. The material perspectives of semiconducting photocatalysts are considered from metal oxides, including titanium oxides, to carbon compounds and perovskites. Various structural configurations, from conventional photoanodes with metal cathodes to tandem and nanostructures, are also studied. The pros and cons of each are described in terms of light absorption, charge separation/photoexcited electron-hole pair recombinations and further solar-to-hydrogen efficiency. In this research, we attempt to provide a broad view of up-to-date research and development as well as, possibly, future directions in the photoelectrochemical water-splitting field.

• 한국분말재료학회지
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.474-478
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• 2013

The most general photocatalyst, $TiO_2$ and $WO_3$, are acknowledged to be ineffective in range of visible light. Therefore, many efforts have been directed at improving their activity such as: band-gap narrowing with non-metal element doping and making composites with high specific surface area to effectively separate electrons and holes. In this paper, the method was introduced to prepare a photo-active catalyst to visible irradiation by making a mixture with $TiO_2$ and $WO_3$. In the $TiO_2-WO_3$ composite, $WO_3$ absorbs visible light creating excited electrons and holes while some of the excited electrons move to $TiO_2$ and the holes remain in $WO_3$. This charge separation reduces electron-hole recombination resulting in an enhancement of photocatalytic activity. Added Ag plays the role of electron acceptor, retarding the recombination rate of excited electrons and holes. In making a mixture of $TiO_2-WO_3$ composite, the mixing route affects the photocatalytic activity. The planetary ball-mill method is more effective than magnetic stirring route, owing to a more effective dispersion of aggregated powders. The volume ratio of $TiO_2(4)$ and $WO_3(6)$ shows the most effective photocatalytic activity in the range of visible light in the view point of effective separation of electrons and holes.

• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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• 제4권4호
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• pp.82-85
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• 2015

Photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) is one of the attractive ways to produce clean and renewable energy. However, solar to hydrogen production via PEC system generally requires high external bias, because of material's innate electronic band potential relative to hydrogen reduction potential and/or charge separation issue. For spontaneous photo-water splitting, here, we design dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and their monolithic tandem cell incorporated with a $BiVO_4$ photoanode. $BiVO_4$ has high conduction band edge potential and suitable band gap (2.4eV) to absorb visible light. To achieve efficient $BiVO_4$ photoanode system, electron and hole mobility should be improved, and we demonstrate a tandem cell in which $BiVO_4/WO_3$ film is connected to cobalt complex based DSSC.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제34권12호
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• pp.3671-3676
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• 2013

A series of carbon nanotube, $C_{60}$, and graphene modified $TiO_2$ nanocomposites were prepared by hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction, $N_2$ adsorption, UV-Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and Electrochemical impedance spectra were used to characterize the prepared composite materials The results reveal that incorporating $TiO_2$ with carbon materials can extend the adsorption edge of all the $TiO_2$-carbon nanocomposites to the visible light region. The photocatalytic activities were tested in the degradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) under visible light. No obvious difference in essence was observed in structural and optical properties among three series of carbon modified $TiO_2$ nanocomposites. Three series of carbon materials modified $TiO_2$ composites follow the analogous tentative reaction mechanism for TCP degradation. GR modified $TiO_2$ nanocomposite exhibits the strongest interaction and the most effective interfacial charge transfer among three carbon materials, thus shows the highest electron-hole separation rate, leading to the highest photocatalytic activity and stability.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2012년도 제42회 동계 정기 학술대회 초록집
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• pp.252-252
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• 2012

It is widely accepted that short exciton diffusion lengths of organic semiconductors with respect to the film thickness limit the charge (hole and electron) separation before excitons recombination in organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. Therefore the efficient absorption of incident light within the thin active organic layer is of great importance to improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the cells. In this work, we fabricated 2-dimensionally (2D) nano-patterned poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOST:PSS) layers using capillary phenomenon and nano-imprinting technology at the scale of several hundred nanometers. This 2D nano-patterned PEDOT:PSS layer exerted photonic crystal effect such as redirection of light paths and variation of light intensity at specified wavelengths. It is also expected that the consequently alternated light pass lengths and intensities change the absorption properties of zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) thin films grown on top of the nano-patterned PEDOT:PSS layer. The influence of conductivity and thickness of the PEDOT:PSS layer on the absorption properties of ZnPc thin films were also investigated.

• Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
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• 제67권
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• pp.164-174
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• 2018

The purpose of this work designed hybrid-structured and plasma effect photocatalyst of $Ag/In_2O_3/TiO_2/HNTs$ via sol-gel and photo-reduction methods. The structures, morphologies, optical and photoelectric performances of as-prepared photocatalysts were characterized via XRD, TEM, XPS, BET, UV-vis DRS, PL and photocurrents. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by degradation of TC. The results showed that the hybrid-structure and plasma effect can effectively cause the multi-transfer of electrons and increase the separation rate of electron and hole pairs which obtained high photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic degradation processes reveal that $^{\bullet}O_2{^-}$ and $h^+$ are major active species.

• 반도체디스플레이기술학회지
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.98-102
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• 2021

GaOOH is obtained via hydrothermal synthesis procedure. The formed GaOOH is turned into α-Ga₂O₃ at 500℃ annealing. As the annealing temperatures increase the α-Ga₂O₃ is in part turned into β-Ga₂O₃ and fully turned into β-Ga₂O₃ after 1100℃. XPS and PL results reveal that heterojunction interface between α-Ga₂O₃ and β-Ga₂O₃ become maxim at 500℃ annealing condition, which result in the highest photocatalytic activity. The presence of heterojunction interface slows down the recombination process by separating photogenerated electron-hole pairs and thereby enhance the overall photocatalytic activity.