• Advances in Energy Research
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.219-226
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• 2017

Electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) have received a tremendous interest due to their suitability for diverse applications. They have been fabricated using different carbon based electrodes including activated carbons, single walled/multi walled carbon nano tubes. But, graphite which is one of the natural resources in Sri Lanka has not been given a considerable attention towards using for EDLCs though it is a famous carbon material. On the other hand, EDLCs are well reported with various liquid electrolytes which are associated with numerous drawbacks. Gel polymer electrolytes (GPE) are well known alternative for liquid electrolytes. In this paper, it is reported about an EDLC fabricated with a nano composite polyethylene oxide based GPE and two Sri Lankan graphite based electrodes. The composition of the GPE was [{(10PEO: $NaClO_4$) molar ratio}: 75wt.% PC] : 5 wt.% $TiO_2$. GPE was prepared using the solvent casting method. Two graphite electrodes were prepared by mixing 85% graphite and 15% polyvinylidenefluoride (PVdF) in acetone and casting n fluorine doped tin oxide glass plates. GPE film was sandwiched in between the two graphite electrodes. A non faradaic charge discharge mechanism was observed from the Cyclic Voltammetry study. GPE was stable in the potential windows from (-0.8 V-0.8 V) to (-1.5 V-1.5 V). By increasing the width of the potential window, single electrode specific capacity increased. Impedance plots confirmed the capacitive behavior at low frequency region. Galvanostatic charge discharge test yielded an average discharge capacity of $0.60Fg^{-1}$.

• Advances in nano research
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.127-140
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• 2017

Metal nanoparticles have been intensively studied within the past decade. Nano-sized materials have been an important subject in basic and applied sciences. Zinc oxide nanoparticles have received considerable attention due to their unique antibacterial, antifungal, and UV filtering properties, high catalytic and photochemical activity. In this study, microbiological aspects of scale formation in PVC pipelines bacteria and fungi were isolated. In the emerging issue of increased multi-resistant properties in water borne pathogens, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle are being used increasingly as antimicrobial agents. Thus, the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum fungal concentration of ZnO nanoparticles towards pathogens microbe were examined in this study. The results obtained suggested that ZnO nanoparticles exhibit a good anti fungal activity than bactericidal effect towards all pathogens tested in in-vitro disc diffusion method (170 ppm, 100 ppm and 30 ppm). ZnO nanoparticles can be a potential antimicrobial agent due to its low cost of production and high effectiveness in antimicrobial properties, which may find wide applications in various industries to address safety issues. Stable ZnO nanoparticles were prepared and their shape and size distribution characterized by Dynamic light scattering (35.7 nm) and transmission electron microscopic TEM study for morphology identification (20 nm), UV-visible spectroscopy (230 nm), X-ray diffraction (FWHM of more intense peak corresponding to 101 planes located at $36.33^{\circ}$ using Scherrer's formula), FT-IR (Amines, Alcohols, Carbonyl and Nitrate ions), Zeta potential (-28.8). The antimicrobial activity of ZnO nanoparticles was investigated against Bacteria and Fungi present in drinking water PVC pipelines biofilm. In these tests, Muller Hinton agar plates were used and ZnO nanoparticles of various concentrations were supplemented in solid medium.

• 한국지반환경공학회 논문집
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.41-49
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• 2013

회전관입형 말뚝은 말뚝설치 시 주변 흙의 변위가 발생하는 변위 말뚝으로 큰 지지력 및 인발력을 발휘할 수 있다. 또한 비배토 공법으로 슬라임이 발생하지 않고 시공 중 소음, 진동이 작아 환경친화적인 특성이 있어 외국의 경우 적용사례가 증가하고 있다. 하지만 대부분의 말뚝을 직접적으로 항타하는 항타말뚝, 선굴착 후 기 제작된 말뚝을 지중에 매입하는 매입말뚝이 주로 적용되고 있으며 회전관입형 말뚝의 사용은 제한적으로 이루어지고 있다. 지금까지 실시된 대부분의 실내시험에서는 말뚝을 설치한 후 지반을 조성하여 지지거동을 평가함에 따라 회전관입형 말뚝의 회전관입과정으로 인한 지지거동의 규명은 미흡한 실정이다. 이에 본 연구에서는 풍화토를 대상으로 회전관입과정을 모사한 실내실험을 실시하여 풍화토에 대한 지지력 거동을 평가하고자 하였으며, 더불어 나선형 판의 직경, 나선형 판의 간격, 나선형판의 개수, 나선형 판의 제원 등을 변화시켜가며 지지 거동을 평가하였다. 연구결과를 통하여 나선형 강관말뚝의 지지력 평가 결과 및 주요 제원에 따른 지지력 변화와 기존이론과의 비교분석 결과를 제시하였다.

• Advances in nano research
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.127-140
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• 2024

Upon direct/indirect exposure to flame or heat, composite structures may burn or thermally buckle. This issue becomes more important in the natural fiber-based composite structures with higher flammability and lower mechanical properties. The main goal of the present study was to obtain an optimal eco-friendly composite system with low flammability and high thermal buckling resistance. The studied composite consisted of polypropylene (PP) and short abaca fiber (AF) with eggshell powder (ESP) and halloysite clay nanotubes (HNTs) additives. An optimal base composite, consisting of 30 wt.% AF and 70 wt.% PP, abbreviated as OAP, was initially introduced based on burning rate (BR) and the Young's modulus determined by horizontal burning test (HBT) and tensile test, respectively. The effects of adding ESP to the base composite were then investigated with the same experimental tests. The results indicated that though the BR significantly decreased with the increase of ESP content up to 6 wt.%, it had a very destructive influence on the stiffness of the composite. To compensate for the damaging effect of ESP, small amount of HNT was used. The performance of OAP composite with 6 wt.% ESP and 3 wt.% HNT (OAPEH) was explored by conducting HBT, cone calorimeter test (CCT) and tensile test. The experimental results indicated a 9~23 % reduction in almost all flammability parameters such as heat release rate (HRR), total heat released (THR), maximum average rate of heat emission (MARHE), total smoke released (TSR), total smoke production (TSP), and mass loss (ML) during combustion. Furthermore, the combination of 6 wt.% ESP and 3 wt.% HNT reduced the stiffness of OAP to an insignificant amount by maximum 3%. Moreover, the char residue analysis revealed the distinct differences in the formation of char between AF/PP and AF/PP/ESP/HNT composites. Afterward, dilatometry test was carried out to examine the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of OAP and OAPEH samples. The obtained results showed that the CTE of OAPEH composite was about 18% less than that of OAP. Finally, a theoretical model was used based on first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) to predict the critical bucking temperatures of the OAP and OAPEH composite plates. It was shown that in the absence of mechanical load, the critical buckling temperatures of OAPEH composite plates were higher than those of OAP composites, such that the difference between the buckling temperatures increased with the increase of thickness. On the contrary, the positive effect of CTE reduction on the buckling temperature decreased by raising the axial compressive mechanical load on the composite plates which can be assigned to the reduction of stiffness after the incorporation of ESP. The results of present study generally stated that a suitable combination of AF, PP, ESP, and HNT can result in a relatively optimal and environmentally friendly composite with proper flame and thermal buckling resistance with no significant decline in the stiffness.

• Mycobiology
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.53-58
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• 2012

This research is concerned with the fungicidal properties of nano-size silver colloidal solution used as an agent for antifungal treatment of various plant pathogens. We used WA-CV-WA13B, WA-AT-WB13R, and WA-PR-WB13R silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) at concentrations of 10, 25, 50, and 100 ppm. Eighteen different plant pathogenic fungi were treated with these AgNPs on potato dextrose agar (PDA), malt extract agar, and corn meal agar plates. We calculated fungal inhibition in order to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of silver nanoparticles against pathogens. The results indicated that AgNPs possess antifungal properties against these plant pathogens at various levels. Treatment with WA-CV-WB13R AgNPs resulted in maximum inhibition of most fungi. Results also showed that the most significant inhibition of plant pathogenic fungi was observed on PDA and 100 ppm of AgNPs.

• 한국세라믹학회지
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• 제53권4호
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• pp.406-410
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• 2016

Carbon-coated sodium iron pyrophosphate ($Na_2FeP_2O_7$) was prepared by a simple and low-cost pyro-synthesis route for further use as the cathode for Na-ion batteries. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the sample annealed at $650^{\circ}C$ confirmed the pure triclinic phase of $Na_2FeP_2O_7$. Electron microscopy studies revealed a cross linked plate shape morphology of the $Na_2FeP_2O_7$ sample. When tested for application in Na-ion battery, the $Na_2FeP_2O_7$ cathode showed two redox pairs in the potential window of 2.0-4.0 V. The cathode registered initial discharge and charge capacities of 80.85 and 90 mAh/g, respectively, with good cycling performance.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.787-800
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• 2016

The aim of the paper is to analyze nonlinear transverse vibration of an embedded piezoelectric plate reinforced with single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The system in rested in a Pasternak foundation. The micro-electro-mechanical model is employed to calculate mechanical and electrical properties of nanocomposite. Using nonlinear strain-displacement relations and considering charge equation for coupling between electrical and mechanical fields, the motion equations are derived based on energy method and Hamilton's principle. These equations can't be solved analytically due to their nonlinear terms. Hence, differential quadrature method (DQM) is employed to solve the governing differential equations for the case when all four ends are clamped supported and free electrical boundary condition. The influences of the elastic medium, volume fraction and orientation angle of the SWCNTs reinforcement and aspect ratio are shown on frequency of structure. The results indicate that with increasing volume fraction of SWCNTs, the frequency increases. This study might be useful for the design and smart control of nano/micro devices such as MEMS and NEMS.

• Advances in nano research
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.295-307
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• 2020

The vibrational characteristics of Multi-Phase Nanocomposite (MPC) reinforced annular/circular plate under initially stresses are presented using the state-space formulation based on three-dimensional elasticity theory (3D-elasticity theory) and Differential Quadrature Method (DQM). The MPC reinforced annular/circular plate is under initial lateral stress and composed of multilayers with Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) uniformly dispersed in each layer, but its properties change layer-by-layer along the thickness direction. The State-Space based Differential Quadrature Method (SS-DQM) is presented to examine the frequency behavior of the current structure. Halpin-Tsai equations and fiber micromechanics are used in the hierarchy to predict the bulk material properties of the multi-scale composite. A singular point is investigated for modeling the circular plate. The CNTs are supposed to be randomly oriented and uniformly distributed through the matrix of epoxy resin. Afterward, a parametric study is done to present the effects of various types of sandwich circular/annular plates on frequency characteristics of the MPC reinforced annular/circular plate using 3D-elasticity theory.

• 반도체디스플레이기술학회지
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.19-22
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• 2008

Thin film has been an increasing important subject of intensive research, owing to the fact that these films possess desirable optical, electrical and electrochemical properties for uses in many semi-conducting nano-crystal applications, such as light-emitting diodes, lasers and solar cell applications. Here, ZnSe thin films were deposited by electrochemical method for the applications of light emitting diode. Electrochemical deposition of ZnSe thin film is not easy, because of the high difference of reduction potential between zinc ion and selenium acid. In order to handle the band gap of ZnSe crystal thin films easily, electrochemical methods are promising to manufacture these films economically. Therefore we have investigated the present study to characterize zinc selenide thin films deposited on ITO glass plates electrochemically. The luminescent properties of ZnSe films have been evaluated by UV-Vis spectrometer and luminescence spectrometer. And the morphology of the film surface has been discussed qualitatively from SEM images.

• 한국생산제조학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.245-250
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• 2011

An UV/thermal hybrid nanoimprint lithography system was designed and implemented for the pattern transfer to flexible substrates. This system can utilize a plate stamp, roll stamp, and film stamp. For all cases of using those stamps, this system is also switchable an UV or thermal nanoimprint lithography mode. This paper shows how to design the heating and UV curing plates and proposes how to change them easily. Because the pressure condition and the speed of the press roller varies by the characteristics of the stamp and substrate, all the parameters related to the nanoimprint lithography have to adjustable. Some transferred patterns are shown in this paper to verify the performance of the hybrid nanoimprint lithography system. The flexible substrates with nano-scale patterns on them will be key components for next generation technologies such as flexible displays, bendable semi-conductors, and solar cells.