• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.316-321
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• 2018

Composites of P25 $TiO_2$ and hexagonal $WO_3$ nanorods are synthesized through ball-milling in order to study photocatalytic properties. Various composites of $TiO_2/WO_3$ are prepared by controlling the weight percentages (wt%) of $WO_3$, in the range of 1-30 wt%, and milling time to investigate the effects of the composition ratio on the photocatalytic properties. Scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy are performed to characterize the structure, shape and size of the synthesized composites of $TiO_2/WO_3$. Methylene blue is used as a test dye to analyze the photocatalytic properties of the synthesized composite material. The photocatalytic activity shows that the decomposition efficiency of the dye due to the photocatalytic effect is the highest in the $TiO_2/WO_3$ (3 wt%) composite, and the catalytic efficiency decreases sharply when the amount of $WO_3$ is further increased. As the amount of $WO_3$ added increases, dye-removal by adsorption occurs during centrifugation, instead of the decomposition of dyes by photocatalysts. Finally, $TiO_2/WO_3$ (3 wt%) composites are synthesized with various milling times. Experimental results show that the milling time has the best catalytic efficiency at 30 min, after which it gradually decreases. There is no significant change after 1 hour.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.330-335
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• 2014

Niobium pentoxide ($Nb_2O_5$) nanoparticles were synthesized using niobium (V) chloride and pluronic F108NF as the precursor and templating agent, respectively. The $Nb_2O_5$-graphene nanocomposites were placed in an electric furnace at $700^{\circ}C$ and calcined under Ar atmosphere for 2 h. The morphology, crystallinity, and photocatalytic degradation activity of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The $Nb_2O_5$-graphene nanocomposites acted as a photocatalyst in the photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes under 254 nm UV light; the organic dyes used were methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), rhodamine B (RhB), and brilliant green (BG). The photocatalytic degradation kinetics for the aforesaid dyes were determined in the presence of the $Nb_2O_5$-graphene nanocomposites.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.340-347
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• 2021

Among various metal oxide semiconductors, ZnO has an excellent electrical, optical properties with a wide bandgap of 3.3 eV. It can be applied as a photocatalytic material due to its high absorption rate along with physical and chemical stability to UV light. In addition, it is important to control the morphology of ZnO because the size and shape of the ZnO make difference in physical properties. In this paper, we demonstrate synthesis of size-controlled ZnO tetrapods using an atmospheric pressure plasma system. A micro-sized Zn spherical powder was continuously introduced in the plume of the atmospheric plasma jet ignited with mixture of oxygen and nitrogen. The effect of plasma power and collection sites on ZnO nanostructure was investigated. After the plasma discharge for 10 min, the produced materials deposited inside the 60-cm-long quartz tube were obtained with respect to the distance from the plume. According to the SEM analysis, all the synthesized nanoparticles were found to be ZnO tetrapods ranging from 100 to 600-nm-diameter depending on both applied power and collection site. The photocatalytic efficiency was evaluated by color change of methylene blue solution using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity increased with the increase of (101) and (100) plane in ZnO tetrapods, which is caused by enhanced chemical effects of plasma process.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2021

Transparent, photocatalytic, and self-cleaning TiO2 thin film is developed by TiO2 sol-gel coating on glass and polycarbonate (PC) substrates. Acetyl acetone (AcAc) suppresses the precipitation of TiO2 by forming a yellowish (complex) transparent sol-gel. XPS analysis confirms the presence of Ti2p and O1s in the thin films on glass and PC substrates. The TiO2-sol is prepared by stabilizing titanium (IV) isopropoxide (TTIP) with diethylamine and methyl alcohol. The addition of AcAcsilane coupling solution to the TiO2-sol instantaneously turns to yellowish color owing to the complexing of titanium with AcAc. The AcAc solution substantially improves the photocatalytic property of the TiO2 coating layer in MB solutions. The coated TiO2 film exhibits super hydrophilicity without and with light irradiation. The TiO2 thin film stabilized by adding 8.7 wt% AcAc shows the highest photo-degradation for methylene blue (MB) solution under UV light irradiation. Also, the optimum photocatalytic activity is obtained for the 8.7 wt% AcAc-stabilized TiO2 coating layer calcined at 450 ℃. The thin-films on glass exhibit fast self-cleaning from oleic acid contamination within 45 min of UV-light irradiation. The appropriate curing time at 140 ℃ improves the anti-fogging and thermal stability of the TiO2 film coated on PC substrate. The watermark-free PC substrate is particularly beneficial to combat fogging problems of transparent substrates.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1213-1222
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• 2020

In the current study, a Cu2O/TiO2 photoinduced nanocomposite materials prepared by ultrasonification method was evaluated the photocatalytic oxidation efficiency of volatile organic compounds (BTEX) under visible-light irradiation. The results of XRD confirmed the successful preparation of photoinduced nanocomposite materials. However, diffraction peaks belonging to TiO2 were not confirmed for the Cu2O/TiO2. The possible reason for the absence of Cu2O peak is their low content and small particle size. The result of uv-vis spectra exhibited that the fabricated Cu2O/TiO2 can be activated under visible light irradiation. The FE-SEM/EDS and TEM showed the formation of synthesized nanocomposites and componential analysis in the undoped TiO2 and Cu2O/TiO2. The photocatalytic oxidation efficiencies of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o-xylene with Cu2O/TiO2 were higher than undoped TiO2. According to light sources, the average oxidation efficiencies for BTEX by Cu2OT-0.5 were exhibited in the orer of 8 W day light > violet LEDs > white LEDs. However, the photocatalytic oxidation efficiencies normalized to supplied electric power were calculated to be in the following order of violet LEDs > white LEDs > 8 W day light, indicating that the LEDs could be a much more energy efficient light source for the photo-oxidation of gaseous BTEX using Cu2O/TiO2.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.413-421
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• 2005

This study focused on the decomposition of toluene in a plasma-photocatalytic hybrid system. Hexagonally packed meso-structured Mn-titanosilicates (Mn-Ti-MCM-41), as the photocatalysts, have been prepared by the hydrothermal method. The physical properties of the photocatalysts were characterized using XRD, XPS, TEM, BET/ICP, and $NH_3$/Toluene-TPD. Experiments were carried out at the applied voltage of 9.0 kV and at room temperature of $20^{\circ}C$. In the plasma only system, the activity of the toluene decomposition was higher than that in the photocatalytic system. However, the amount of by-products, such as phenol, $C_2{\sim}C_4$ alkene, was also increased in the plasma only system. However, the by-products decreased remarkably in a plasma-photocatalytic hybrid system. When Mn5mol%-Ti-MCM-41 was used as a photocatalyst in a plasma-photocatalytic hybrid system, the $CO_2$ selectivity in products was increased dramatically compared to other catalysts. It was confirmed that a plasma-photocatalytic hybrid system was better for toluene decomposition compared to photocatalytic and plasma only systems.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.484-490
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• 2012

The tin (IV) oxide nanoparticles are prepared by controlled precipitation method and calcined at temperatures of $200-600^{\circ}C$. The prepared $SnO_2$ nanoparticles characterized by XRD patterns, TEM image, IR and UV-Vis spectra. The XRD patterns and TEM image show the tetragonal structure and spherical morphology for $SnO_2$ nanoparticles, respectively. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared $SnO_2$ nanoparticles studied in degradation reaction of methylene blue (MB). The results show the size of nanoparticles, band-gap energy and photocatalytic activity of $SnO_2$ depends on the calcinations temperature. The $SnO_2$ nanoparticles calcined at $500^{\circ}C$ indicated the highest photoreactivity. Also, the zero-valent tin (ZVT) nanoparticles with tetragonal structure are prepared by a reducing agent and used as a catalyst in degradation of MB. In basic pH of 11, the degradation >95% of MB at time 150 min obtained at presence of ZVT nanoparticles.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.7-10
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• 2005

[ $TiO_{2}-ZrO_{2}$ ] powders were successfully synthesized by the sol-gel process using titanium iso-propoxide as a precursor. The amorphous $TiO_{2}$ particles, 70 nm in size, homogenously adhered to the surface of $ZrO_{2}$ the powders. After calcination at $450^{circ}C$, most of the $TiO_{2}$ powders appeared as an anatase type, whereas they changed to a rutile phase at $750^{circ}C$. For comparison of photocata­lytic activity, $TiO_{2}-ZrO_{2}$ nano-sized powders calcined at $450^{circ}C,\;600^{circ}C,\;and\;750^{circ}C$ were used. In the $TiO_{2}-20wt\%$ $ZrO_{2}$ powders cal­cined at $450^{circ}C$, there was excellent removal efficiency of Methyl Orange (MO). For the calcination temperature increased, $TiO_{2}­ZrO_{2}$ nano-sized powders increased $ZrO_{2}$ contents showed the good photoactivity for the photooxidation of MO.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.349-356
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• 2017

OH radical generation is one of the common method to evaluate photocatalytic activity. In many of previous studies, only the UV(Ultraviolet) light was applied to test photocatalytic ability of $TiO_2$ nanotubes by studying probe compound(4-Chlorobenzoic acid) concentration change in solution. Also, $TiO_2$ nanotubes were found to show some electrochemical characteristics when the flow of electric current was applied. In this study, the flow of electric current and UV light were applied at the same time to determine whether electrochemical characteristics of $TiO_2$ nanotube plate can give synergetic effect on the photocatalytic activity. $TiO_2$ nanotube was grown on Ti by anodic oxidation to create $TiO_2$ nanotube plate which can be used as a photocatalyst and a electrode that can undergo AOP(Advanced Oxidation Process) for water treatment. Probe compound solution was prepared using 4-chlorobenzoic acid and $H_2O$ as a solvent. NaCl was added to give conductivity to work as electrolyte. As a result, enough level of electric current flow was found to give synergetic photocatalytic effect which can be used for efficient AOP water treatment method.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.291-296
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• 2021

Recently, there has been increasing demand for advancing photocatalytic techniques that are capable of the efficient removal of organic pollutants in water. TiO₂, a representative photocatalytic material, has been commonly used as an effective photocatalyst, but it is rather expensive and an alternative is required that will fulfill the requirements of both high performing photocatalytic activities and cost-effectiveness. In this work, ZnO, which is more cost effective than TiO₂, was synthesized by using a microreactor-assisted nanomaterials (MAN) process. The process enabled a continuous production of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with a flower-like structure with high uniformity. In order to resolve the limited light absorption of ZnO arising from its large band gap, Ag NPs were uniformly decorated on the flower-like ZnO surface by using the MAN process. The plasmonic effect of Ag NPs led to a broadening of the absorption range toward visible wavelengths. Ag NPs also helped inhibit the electron-hole recombination by drawing electrons generated from the light absorption of the flower-like ZnO NPs. As a result, the Ag-ZnO nanocomposites showed improved photocatalytic activities compared with the flower-like ZnO NPs. The photocatalytic activities were evaluated through the degradation of methylene blue (MB) solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the successful synthesis of Ag-ZnO nanocomposites with high uniformity. Ag-ZnO nanocomposites synthesized via the MAN process offer the potential for cost-effective and scalable production of next-generation photocatalytic materials.