• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.196.2-196.2
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• 2014

Nanostructuring the electrode surface is an emerging technology to improve the performance of supercapacitors since it can facilitate charge transfer, ion diffusion and electron propagation during electrochemical process. Fabrication of the electrode consisting of two or more materials together has also been focused on since it can provide synergetic effect such as broader working potential range and enhanced capacitance. In this work, we have used polyaniline (PANi) and manganese oxide (MnO2) as electrode materials. PANi is one of the promising electrode materials due to its high electrochemical activity, high doping level and stability. MnO2 is also widely studied material for supercapacitors since it is relatively cheap and environmentally friendly. Firstly, we synthesized polystyrene nanospheres on MnO2 nanoparticles. MnO2-incorporated PANi hollow nanospheres were then fabricated by polymerizing aniline monomers on these PS nanospheres and dissolving the inner PS spheres. The surface morphology, electronic absorption and electrical conductivity of the electrode were analyzed using field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), UV-visible spectrometer, and sheet resistivity meter, respectively. The electrochemical properties such as capacitance of the supercapacitors were also estimated using cyclic voltammetry.

• Clean Technology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 2018

Hollow carbon spheres (HCS) and carbon spheres (CS) were prepared by a hydrothermal reaction and they were introduced as a substrate for the deposition of $MnO_2$ nanoparticles. The $MnO_2$ nanoparticles were deposited on the carbon surface by a chemical redox deposition method. After deposition, the $MnO_2$ nanoparticles were uniformally distributed on the carbon surface in a slit-shape, and sparse $MnO_2$ slits appeared on the HCS surface. The $MnO_2-HCS$ showed an initial specific capacitance of $164.1F\;g^{-1}$ at scan rate of $20mv\;s^{-1}$, and after 1,000 cycles, the specific capacitance was maintained to $141.3F\;g^{-1}$. The capacity retention of $MnO_2-HCS$ and $MnO_2-CS$ were calculated to 86% and 78% in the cycle performance test up to 1,000 cycles, respectively. $MnO_2-HCS$ showed a good cycle stability due to the mesoporous hollow structure which can cause a faster diffusion of the electrolyte and can easily adsorb and desorb $Na^+$ ions on the surface of the electrode.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2019

In order to improve gas separation properties of polymeric membranes which have been widely applied in the industry field, aluminosilicate hollow nanoparticles named as allophanes were synthesized by sol-gel method and formulated in Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) matrix to investigate the gas separation properties of PDMS membrane. Transmission electron microscope (TEM), Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Surface area and pore size analyzer (BET) and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) were carried out to characterize the synthetic allophanes. Then the PDMS mixed matrix membranes were prepared by adding different volume fraction of allophanes. To examine the effect of allophanes addition in PDMS matrix using unmodified allophane and modified ones, the gas permeation experiments were performed using oxygen, nitrogen, methane and carbon dioxide. As the volume fraction of modified allophane increased up to 4.05 Vol% the permeability of four test gases through PDMS mixed matrix membranes increased. Also, the selectivity of $O_2/N_2$ and $CO_2/CH_4$ increased with the contents of the modified allophane. Further improvement of gas separation properties of PDMS mixed matrix membranes containing higher volume percent of allophanes can be expected as long as well dispersion of allophanes in PDMS matrix can be achieved for better PDMS membranes.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1127-1130
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• 2013

Formation of the monodisperse submicrospheres consisting of ionic palladium(II) complexes, $[(Me_4en)Pd(L)]_2(X)_4$($Me_4en$ = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine; L = bis(4-(4-pyridylcarboxyl)phenyl)methane; $X^-=BF_4{^-}$ and $ClO_4{^-}$), has been carried out without any templates or additives. The submicrospheres were coated with silicates, and then calcined in air at $550^{\circ}C$ for 1 h, to efficiently form hollow-spherical $SiO_2$ submicro-reactors dotted with palladium(0) nanoparticles (PdNPs). That is, the submicrospheres act as both a template and a source of the palladium metal nanoparticles. The submicro-reactors containing nano-catalysts have been characterized by means of SEM, TEM, and XPS. Notably, the reactors were proved to be very effective for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling and hydrogenation reactions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.588-588
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• 2013

Nanoscale noble-metals have attracted enormous attention from researchers in various fields of study because of their unusual optical properties as well as novel chemical properties. They have possible uses in diverse applications such as devices, transistors, optoelectronics, information storages, and energy converters. It is well-known that nanoparticles of noble-metals such as silver and gold show strong absorption bands in the visible region due to their surface-plasmon oscillation modes of conductive electrons. Silver nanocubes stand out from various types of Silver nanostructures (e.g., spheres, rods, bars, belts, and wires) due to their superior performance in a range of applications involvinglocalized surface plasmon resonance, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, and biosensing. In addition, extensive efforts have been devoted to the investigation of Gold-based nanocomposites to achieve high catalytic performances and utilization efficiencies. Furthermore, as the catalytic reactivity of Silver nanostructures depends highly on their morphology, hollow Gold nanoparticles having void interiors may offer additional catalytic advantages due to their increased surface areas. Especially, hollow nanospheres possess structurally tunable features such as shell thickness, interior cavity size, and chemical composition, leading to relatively high surface areas, low densities, and reduced costs compared with their solid counterparts. Thus, hollow-structured noblemetal nanoparticles can be applied to nanometer-sized chemical reactors, efficient catalysts, energy-storage media, and small containers to encapsulate multi-functional active materials. Silver nanocubes dispersed in water have been transformed into Ag@Au nanoboxes, which show highly enhanced catalytic properties, by adding $HAuCl_4$. By using this concept, $SiO_2$-coated Ag@Au nanoboxes have been synthesized via galvanic replacement of $SiO_2$-coated Ag nanocubes. They have lower catalytic ability but more stability than Ag@Au nanoboxes do. Thus, they could be recycled. $SiO_2$-coated Ag@Au nanoboxes have been found to catalyze the degradation of 4-nitrophenol efficiently in the presence of $NaBH_4$. By changing the amount of the added noble metal salt to control the molar ratio Au to Ag, we could tune the catalytic properties of the nanostructures in the reduction of the dyes. The catalytic ability of $SiO_2$-coated Ag@Au nanoboxes has been found to be much more efficient than $SiO_2$-coated Ag nanocubes. Catalytic performances were affected noteworthily by the metals, sizes, and shapes of noble-metal nanostructures.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.3025-3032
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• 2012

Carbon microcapsules containing silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs)-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanocomposite (Si-CNT@C) have been fabricated by a two step polymerization method. Silicon nanoparticles-carbon nanotubes (Si-CNT) nanohybrids were prepared with a wet-type beadsmill method. A polymer, which is easily removable by a thermal treatment (intermediate polymer) was polymerized on the outer surfaces of Si-CNT nanocomposites. Subsequently, another polymer, which can be carbonized by thermal heating (carbon precursor polymer) was incorporated onto the surfaces of pre-existing polymer layer. In this way, polymer precursor spheres containing Si-CNT nanohybrids were produced using a two step polymerization. The intermediate polymer must disappear during carbonization resulting in the formation of an internal free space. The carbon precursor polymer should transform to carbon shell to encapsulate remaining Si-CNT nanocomposites. Therefore, hollow carbon microcapsules containing Si-CNT nanocomposites could be obtained (Si-CNT@C). The successful fabrication was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). These final materials were employed for anode performance improvement in lithium ion battery. The cyclic performances of these Si-CNT@C microcapsules were measured with a lithium battery half cell tests.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.78-82
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• 2015

Hollow silica particles were prepared using sodium silicate and organic templates. Polystyrene latex (PSL) particles produced by dispersion polymerization were used as organic templates. PSL particles ranged from $1{\mu}m$ to $3{\mu}m$ in diameter were synthesized by adjusting the amount of 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). The PSL/$SiO_2$ core-shell particles were prepared by coating of silica nanoparticles originated from sodium silicate using sol-gel method. The organic templates were removed by the organic solvent, tetrahydrofuran (THF). Morphology of hollow silica particles was investigated with respect to types of the reaction medium and pH during the process. By changing the solvent from ethanol to water, hollow silica particles were successfully formed. Hollow silica particles with the uniform shell thickness were produced at low pH as well. The reflectivity of the as-prepared silica particles was measured in the range of the wavelength of UV and visible light. Hollow silica particles showed much better reflective properties than the commercial light reflector, Insuladd.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2011

In this study, combined effect of airflow rate, $TiO_2$ concentration, solution pH and $Ca^{+2}$ addition on HA (humic acid) fouling in submerged, photocatalytic hollow-fiber microfiltraiton was investigated systematically. Results showed that UV irradiation alone without $TiO_2$ nanoparticles could reduce HA fouling by 40% higher than the fouling obtained without UV irradiation. Compared to the HA fouling without UV irradiation and $TiO_2$ nanoparticles, the HA fouling reduction was about 25% higher only after the addition of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles. Both adsorptive and hydrophilic properties of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles for the HA can be involved in mitigating membrane fouling. It was also found that the aeration itself had lowest effect on fouling mitigation while the HA fouling was affected significantly by solution pH. Transient behavior of zeta potential at different solution pHs suggested that electrostatic interactions between HA and $TiO_2$ nanoparticles should improve photocatalytic efficiency on HA fouling. $TiO_2$ concentration was observed to be more important factor than airflow rate to reduce HA fouling, implying that surface reactivity on $TiO_2$ naoparticles should be important fouling mitigation mechanisms in submerged, photocatalyic microfiltraiton. This was further supported by investigating the effect of $Ca^{+2}$ addition on fouling mitigation. At higher pH (= 10), addition of $Ca^{+2}$ can play an important role in bridging between HA and $TiO_2$ nanoparticles and increasing surface reactivity on nanoparticles, thereby reducing membrane fouling.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.271-277
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• 2012

$SnO_2$ nanotubes were successfully synthesized using an electrospinning technique followed by calcination in air. The nanotubes were the single phase nature of $SnO_2$ and consisted of approximately 14 nm nanocrystals. SEM and TEM characterizations demonstrated that uniform hollow fibers with an average outer diameter of around 124 nm and wall thickness of around 25 nm were successfully obtained. As anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the $SnO_2$ nanotubes exhibited excellent cyclability and reversible capacity of $580mAhg^{-1}$ up to 25 cycles at $100mAg^{-1}$ as compared to $SnO_2$ nanoparticles with a capacity of ${\sim}200mAhg^{-1}$. Such excellent performance of the $SnO_2$ nanotube was related to the one-dimensional hollow structure which acted as a buffer zone during the volume contraction and expansion of Sn.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.223-231
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• 2021

In order to address many issues associated with large volume changes of silicon, which has very low electrical conductivity but offers about 10 times higher theoretical capacity than graphite (Gr), a silicon nanoparticles/hollow carbon (SiNP/HC) composite having bimodal-mesopores was prepared using silica nanoparticles as a template. A control SiNP/C composite without a hollow structure was also prepared for comparison. The physico-chemical and electrochemical properties of SiNP/HC were analyzed by X-ray diffractometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements for surface area and pore size distribution, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, galvanostatic cycling, and cyclic voltammetry tests to compare them with those of the SiNP/C composite. The SiNP/HC composite showed significantly better cycle life and efficiency than the SiNP/C, with minimal increase in electrode thickness after long cycles. A hybrid composite, SiNP/HC@Gr, prepared by physical mixing of the SiNP/HC and Gr at a 50:50 weight ratio, exhibited even better cycle life and efficiency than the SiNP/HC at low capacity. Thus, silicon/carbon composites designed to have hollow spaces capable of accommodating volume expansion were found to be highly effective for long cycle life of silicon-based composites. However, further study is required to improve the low initial coulombic efficiency of SiNP/HC and SiNP/HC@Gr, which is possibly because of their high surface area causing excessive electrolyte decomposition for the formation of solid-electrolyte-interface layers.