• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.301-310
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• 2020

The following paper concentrates on the objective of studying the influences of extent of duration and temperature on the Pozzolanic properties as well as reactivity of locally existing natural clay of Nai Gaj, district Dadu, Sindh Pakistan. The activation of the clay only occurs through heating when temperature in a furnace chamber reaches 600, 700 and 800oC for 1, 2 and 3 hours and at 900 and 1000℃ for 1 and 2 hours. Furthermore, the strength activity index (SAI) of advanced pozzolanic material happens to be identified through 20% cement replacement for different samples of calcined clay as per ASTM C-618. The compressive strength test of samples had been operated for 7 and 28-days curing afterwards. The maximum compressive strength had been seen in mix E in which cement was replaced with clay calcined at 700℃ for 1 hour that is 27.05 MPa that is 24.31% more than that of control mix. The results gathered from the SAI verdicts the optimal activation temperature is 700℃ within a one-hour time period. The SAI at a temperature of 700℃ with a one-hour duration at 28 days is 124.31% which happens to satisfy the requirements of the new Pozzolanic material, in order to be applied in mortar/concrete (i.e., 75%). The Energy- dispersive spectrometry (EDS) along with the X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been carried out in means of verifying whether there is silica content or amorphous silica present in metakaolin that has been developed. The findings gathered from the SAI were validated, as the analysis of XRD verified that there is in fact Pozzolanic activity of developed metakaolin. Additionally, based on observation, the activated metakaolin holds a significant influence on the increase in mortar's compressive strength.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.45-50
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• 2015

Compositionally graded AlGaN epilayer was grown by HVPE (hydride vapor phase epitaxy) on (0001) c-plane sapphire substrate. During the growth of graded AlGaN epilayer, the temperatures of source and the growth zone were set at $950^{\circ}C$ and $1145^{\circ}C$, respectively. The growth rate of graded AlGaN epilayer was about 100 nm/hour. The changing of Al contentes was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). From the result of atomic force microscope (AFM), the average of roughness in 2 inch substrate of graded AlGaN epilayer was a few nanometers scale. X-ray diffraction (XRD) with the result that the AlGaN (002) peak ($Al_{0.74}Ga_{0.26}N$) and AlN (002) peak were appeared. It seems that the graded AlGaN epilayer was successfully grown by the HVPE method. From these results, we expect to use of the graded AlGaN epilayer grown by HVPE for the application of electron and optical devices.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.437-443
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• 2017

SiC-based composite materials with light weight, high durability, and high-temperature stability have been actively studied for use in aerospace and defense applications. Moreover, environmental barrier coating (EBC) technologies using oxide-based ceramic materials have been studied to prevent chemical deterioration at a high temperature of $1300^{\circ}C$ or higher. In this study, an ytterbium silicate material, which has recently been actively studied as an environmental barrier coating because of its high-temperature chemical stability, is fabricated on a sintered SiC substrate. $Yb_2O_3$ and $SiO_2$ are used as the raw starting materials to form ytterbium disilicate ($Yb_2Si_2O_7$). Suspension plasma spraying is applied as the coating method. The effect of the mixing method on the particle size and distribution, which affect the coating formation behavior, is investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. It is found that the originally designed compounds are not effectively formed because of the refinement and vaporization of the raw material particles, i.e., $SiO_2$, and the formation of a porous coating structure. By changing the coating parameters such as the deposition distance, it is found that a denser coating structure can be formed at a closer deposition distance.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.383-392
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• 2020

In this paper, AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite photocatalyst is successfully synthesized by microemulsion method and anion in situ substitution method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) are used to study the structural and physicochemical characteristics of the AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite composite. Using rhodamine B (RhB) as a simulated pollutant, the photocatalytic activity and stability of the AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite composite under visible light are evaluated. In the AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite visible light system, RhB is nearly 100 % degraded within 15 minutes. And, after five cycles of operation, the photocatalytic activity of AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite remains at 95 % of the original level, much higher than that of pure Ag₃PO₄ (40 %). In addition, the mechanism of enhanced catalytic performance is discussed. The high photocatalytic performance of AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite composites can be attributed to the synergistic effect of Ag₃PO₄, diatomite and AgCl nanoparticles. Free radical trapping experiments are used to show that holes and oxygen are the main active species. This material can quickly react with dye molecules adsorbed on the surface of diatomite to degrade RhB dye to CO₂ and H₂O. Even more remarkably, AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite can maintain above 95 % photo-degradation activity after five cycles.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 2013

Chalcopyrite material $CuInSe_2$ (CIS) is known to be a very prominent absorber layer for high efficiency thin film solar cells. Current interest in the photovoltaic industry is to identify and develop more suitable materials and processes for the fabrication of efficient and cost-effective solar cells. Various processes have been being tried for making a low cost CIS absorber layer, this study obtained the CIS nanoparticles using commercial powder of 6 mm pieces for low cost CIS absorber layer by high frequency ball milling and cryogenic milling. And the CIS absorber layer was prepared by paste coating using milled-CIS nanoparticles in glove box under inert atmosphere. The chalcopyrite $CuInSe_2$ thin films were successfully made after selenization at the substrate temperature of $550^{\circ}C$ in 30 min, CIS solar cell of Al/ZnO/CdS/CIS/Mo structure prepared under various deposition process such as evaporation, sputtering and chemical vapor deposition respectively. Finally, we achieved CIS nanoparticles solar cell of electric efficient 1.74 % of Voc 29 mV, Jsc 35 $mA/cm^2$ FF 17.2 %. The CIS nanoparticles-based absorber layers were characterized by using EDS, XRD and HRSEM.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.353-358
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• 2013

The hot corrosion behavior of plasma sprayed 4 mol% $Y_2O_3-ZrO_2$ (YSZ) thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) with volcanic ash is investigated. Volcanic ash that deposited on the TBCs in gas-turbine engines can attack the surface of TBCs itself as a form of corrosive melt. YSZ coating specimens with a thickness of 430-440 ${\mu}m$ are prepared using a plasma spray method. These specimens are subjected to hot corrosion environment at $1200^{\circ}C$ with five different duration time, from 10 mins to 100 h in the presence of corrosive melt from volcanic ash. The microstructure, composition, and phase analysis are performed using Field emission scanning electron microscopy, including Energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. After the heat treatment, hematite ($Fe_2O_3-TiO_2$) and monoclinic YSZ phases are found in TBCs. Furthermore the interface area between the molten volcanic ash layers and YSZ coatings becomes porous with increases in the heat treatment time as the YSZ coatings dissolved into molten volcanic ash. The maximum thickness of this a porous reaction zone is 25 ${\mu}m$ after 100 h of heat treatment.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.703-714
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• 2023

This research conducts a series of tests to investigate the setting retarding properties and strength development in cement pastes incorporating various types and dosages of sugar-based super retarding agents. Six such agents, including Sucrose, Sugar powder, Saccharin, Aspartame, Stevioside, and Mogroside, commercially available, were selected for evaluation. The study also examines the micro-structural properties of these cement pastes. The test mixtures were prepared using a 27.5% water-to-cement ratio and ordinary Portland cement. Micro-structural analyses were conducted using Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM), X-Ray Diffraction(XRD), and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy(EDS). The findings reveal that the incorporation of sucrose, sugar powder, and stevioside significantly retards the setting time. Particularly, adding 0.1% sucrose extended the setting time by approximately two-fold compared to the control(Plain) mixture. Most mixtures, barring those with sugar powder and stevioside, exhibited compressive strength comparable to the Plain mixture. Notably, with 0.2% sucrose, strength measurements were not feasible at 1 day, but at 3 days, the strength gains aligned with the Plain mixture. XRD, SEM, and EDS analyses confirmed the hydration delay(set retarding) of C3S due to sucrose, with further quantitative corroboration provided by EDS. SEM was used to verify the presence or absence of hydration products. The study concludes that sucrose, as a sugar-based retarder, offers effective set retarding capabilities and compressive strength development in concrete.

• Clean Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2019

A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor packed with $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst was used for the dry ($CO_2$) reforming of propane (DRP) to improve the production of syngas (a mixture of $H_2$ and CO) and the catalyst stability. The plasma-catalytic DRP was carried out with either thermally or plasma-reduced $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst at a $C_3H_8/CO_2$ ratio of 1/3 and a total feed gas flow rate of $300mL\;min^{-1}$. The catalytic activities associated with the DRP were evaluated in the range of $500{\sim}600^{\circ}C$. Following the calcination in ambient air, the ${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ impregnated with the precursor solution ($Ni(NO_3)_2$ and $Ce(NO_3)_2$) was subjected to reduction in an $H_2/Ar$ atmosphere to prepare $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst. The characteristics of the catalysts were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), temperature programmed reduction ($H_2-TPR$), temperature programmed desorption ($H_2-TPD$, $CO_2-TPD$), temperature programmed oxidation (TPO), and Raman spectroscopy. The investigation revealed that the plasma-reduced $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst exhibited superior catalytic activity for the production of syngas, compared to the thermally reduced catalyst. Besides, the plasma-reduced $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst was found to show long-term catalytic stability with respect to coke resistance that is main concern regarding the DRP process.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.111-123
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• 2022

Carbonate green rust (CGR) and sulfate green rust (SGR) commonly occur in nature. In this study, CGR and SGR were synthesized through co-precipitation, and their formation mechanisms and physicochemical properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld refinement showed both CGR and SGR with layered double hydroxide structure were successfully synthesized without any secondary phases under each synthetic condition. Refined structural parameters (unit cell) for two green rusts were a (=b) = 3.17 Å and c = 22.52 Å for CGR and a (=b) = 5.50 Å and c = 10.97 Å for SGR with the crystallite size 57.8 nm in diameter from (003) reflection and 40.1 nm from (001) reflections, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) results showed that both CGR and SGR had typical hexagonal plate-like crystal morphologies but their chemical composition is different in the content of C and S. In addition, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy analysis revealed that carbonate (CO₃^2-) and sulfate (SO₄^2-) molecules were occupied as interlayer anions of CGR and SGR, respectively. These SEM/EDS and FT-IR results were in good agreement with XRD results. Changes in the solution chemistry (i.e., pH, Eh and residual iron concentrations (Fe(II):Fe(III)) of the mixed solution) were observed as a function of the injection time of hydroxyl ion (OH^-) into the iron solution. Three different stages were observed in the formation of both CGR and SGR; precursor, intermediator, and green rust in the formation of both CGR and SGR. This study provides co-precipitation methods for CGR and SGR in a way of the stable synthesis. In addition, our findings for the formation mechanisms of the two green rusts and their physicochemical properties will provide crucial information with researches and industrials in utilizing green rust.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 2014

The objectives of this study were to characterize the physicochemical properties and mineralogy of Hwangto (yellow residual soils) from the southwestern part of Korea and to understand the soil-forming processes of the residual soils from their parent rocks. Both the yellowish residual soils as well as the unweathered and weathered parent rocks were obtained from Jangdong-ri, Donggang-myun, Naju, Jeollanam-do, Korea. The soil samples were examined to analyze the said soil's physicochemical properties such as color, pH, and particle size distribution. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were performed in order to understand the mineralogy, chemical composition, and morphology of the soils. Two thin sections of a parent rock were analyzed to study its mineral composition. A particle size analysis of the soils indicates that the residual soil consists of mainly silt and clay (approximately 95%) and that soil textures are silty clay or silt clay loam. The soil colors of the residual soil are dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) through yellowish red (5YR 4/6). The pH of the residual soil ranges from 4.3 to 5.1. The major minerals of the parent rocks were quartz, biotite, chlorite, and plagioclase. The mineralogy of the sand fraction of the residual soil was quartz, biotite, muscovite and sanidine. The mineralogy of the silt fraction of the residual soil was quartz, biotite, muscovite, Na-feldspar, K-feldspar, and sanidine. The clay mineralogy of the soil was goethite, kaolinite, ilite, hydroxy-interlayed vermiculite(HIV), vermiculite, mica, K-feldspar and quartz. The mineral composition of the residual soil and the parent rock indicates that feldspar and mica in the parent rock weathered into illite, vermiculite and hydroxy-interlayed vermiculite(HIV), and finally changed into kaolinite and halloysite in the yellowish residual soils.