• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2011

In this study, we prepared $TiO_2$ with the sol-gel method and controlled physico-chemical properties by a simple heat treatment. All materials were applied to photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue and the material treated at 473 K showed the highest photocatalytic efficiency. The high performance resulted from a high adsorption amount of methylene blue due to a high surface area of $229.8m^2/g$. However, the material treated at 873 K, despite of a low surface area of $23.8m^2/g$ and a large particle size of 28.38 nm, exhibits a good photocatalytic performance due to the effect of mixed cyrstalline rutile and anatase phases formed by the high heat treatment temperature.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.181-190
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• 2022

Membrane separation provides various advantages including cost effectiveness and high efficiency over traditional wastewater treatment methods such as flocculation and adsorption. However, the effectiveness of membrane separation greatly declines due to membrane fouling, where pollutants are accumulated on the membrane surface. Among different groups of membranes, ceramic membranes can provide good antifouling properties due to its hydrophilicity and chemical stability. In addition, composite membranes such as graphene oxide modified membranes can help prevent membrane fouling. Recently, hybrid photocatalytic membranes have been proposed as a solution to prevent membrane fouling and provide synergetic effects. Membrane separation can solve the disadvantages of photocatalytic oxidation such as low reutilization rate, while photocatalytic oxidation can help reduce membrane fouling.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.239-243
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• 2018

Up to now, microstructure changes of photocatalysts have been studied to improve photocatalytic activity. Especially, to improve the adsorption of reactants and reactive sites, porous and fine crystal structures have received much attention because of their large specific surface area. In this study, $TiO_2$ nanotubes were synthesized by hydrothermal method using $TiO_2$ nanoparticles; nanotubes were evaluated by oxidized methylene blue reduction test. Using synthesized $TiO_2$ nanotubes, results of TEM showed that the $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were changed into folding sheets and nanotubes. XRD results showed that the peaks of the nanoparticles almost disappeared and only the rutile (110) and anatase (200) peaks were observed. Comparison of photocatalytic properties of nanoparticles and nanotube structures was performed by measuring the UV-vis absorbance with reducing oxidized methylene blue. As a result, the reduction rate of nanotubes was found to be $0.24{\mu}mol/s$, which was 2.6 times higher than the rate of reduction of nanoparticles.

• Clean Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.311-320
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• 2020

In this study, the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) was carried out under visible light irradiation using CdS and CdZnS/ZnO photocatalysts prepared by a simple precipitation method. This study focused on examining the effect of physicochemical properties of dye and photocatalyst on the reaction pathway of photocatalytic degradation. The prepared photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, UV-vis DRS and XPS. Both the CdS and CdZnS/ZnO photocatalysts exhibit an excellent absorption in the visible light and the UV light regions. It was observed that the photocatalytic degradation of MO proceeds via the same reaction mechanism on both the CdS and CdZnS/ZnO photocatalysts. However, the photocatalytic degradation of RhB and MB was found to proceed through a different reaction pathway on the CdS and CdZnS/ZnO catalysts. It is interesting to note that MB dimer was formed on the CdS catalyst at the beginning of the photocatalytic reaction, while the MB monomer was degraded during the overall photocatalytic reaction on CdZnS/ZnO. The above results may be mainly ascribed to the difference of band edge potential of the conduction band in the CdS and CdZnS/ZnO semiconductors and the adsorption property of dye on the catalysts.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.143-147
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• 2012

Photocatalytic properties of $TiO_2$ nanopowders has been received much attention due to their high potentials for environmental applications such as remediation of polluted environments. The $TiO_2$ nanopowders doped with metal or non-metal elements have been synthesized by variety methods such as flame method, chemical vapor synthesis, sol-gel, ion implantation, which affect a doping behavior in different ways resulting in different surface characteristics, leading to different photocatalytic activity. In addition to an effect of synthesis methods, the photocatalytic activity of $TiO_2$ nanopowders can be improved by subsequent heat-treatments. In this study, to obtain a highly efficient photocatalyst, we synthesized $TiO_2$ nanopowders doped with tungsten by the chemical vapor synthesis method (CVS) and determined their physical properties and photocatalytic activity, together with subsequent post-treatment in the range of $300^{\circ}C$ to $700^{\circ}C$.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.1128-1134
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• 2010

Nanocarbon supported Fe/$TiO_2$ composite catalysts were prepared using CNTs (carbon nanotubes) and $C_{60}$ (fullerene) as nanocarbon sources by a modified sol-gel method. The Fe/$TiO_2$-nanocarbon composites were characterized by the BET surface area, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and UV-vis spectra. In comparison with non-nanocarbon doped Fe/$TiO_2$ composites, the nanocarbon supported Fe/$TiO_2$ composites had higher absorption ability with a larger specific surface area, and showed higher photocatalytic activity during the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light. The reasons for the obvious increase of photocatalytic activity indicated that the photoactivity not only benefits from nanocarbon introduced, but also relates to the cooperative effect of the Fe as a dopant.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.2910-2916
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• 2012

Cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanorods were prepared by a single precursor thermal decomposition (SPTD) method. The formation of CdS nanorods and their structure, morphology and elemental composition were studied by means of FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM, HR-TEM and EDAX analysis. Photoluminescence (PL) and lifetime measurements were recorded to study the luminescence properties of the material. The PL spectrum of the CdS nanorods showed one broad peak and four shoulders and the cause for this emission was discussed. The PL emissions from the band edge and deep trap state of the CdS nanorods were studied by lifetime measurements. Further, the synthesized CdS nanorods showed an increase in efficiency of photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RhB). The increase in the photocatalytic activity was attributed to the mixed phase of the CdS nanorods.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.1794-1798
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• 2014

Graphitic g-$C_3N_4-WO_3$ composite was synthesized simply by decomposing melamine in the presence of $WO_3$ at $500^{\circ}C$. The obtained material was characterized by XRD, SEM, IR and XPS. The results showed that the as-prepared composite exhibits orthorhombic $WO_3$ phase coated by g-$C_3N_4$ and the g-$C_3N_4$ decomposed completely with N-doped $WO_3$ remaining at elevated calcination temperatures. The photocatalytic activity of the composite was evaluated by the photodegradation of methylene blue under visible light. An enhancement in photocatalytic activity for the graphitic g-$C_3N_4-WO_3$ composite compared to the conventional nitrogen-doped $WO_3$ was observed, which can be attributed to the presence of g-$C_3N_4$ in the material.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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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.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.411-419
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• 2012

In this study, Ibuprofen (IBP) degradation by the photo catalytic process was investigated under various parameters, such as UV intensity, optimum dosage of $TiO_2$, alkalinity, temperature and pH of bulk solution. The pseudo-first order degradation rate constants were in the order of $10^{-1}$ to $10^{-4}min^{-1}$ depending on each condition. The Photocatalytic IBP degradation rate increased with an increase in the applied UV power. At high UV intensity a high rate of tri-iodide ($I_3{^-}$) ion formation was also observed. Moreover, in order to avoid the use of an excess catalyst, the optimum dosage of catalyst under the various UV intensities (30 and 40 W/L) was examined and ranged from approximately 0.1 $gL^{-1}$. The photo catalytic IBP degradation rate was changed depending on the alkalinity and temperature and pH in the aqueous solution. This study demonstrated the potential of photo catalytic IBP degradation under different conditions.