• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.131-137
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• 2004

Sol-gel method which provides better electrochemical and physiochemical properties compared to the solid-state method was used to synthesize the material of $LiFe_yMn_{2-y}O_4$. Fe was substituted to increase the structural stability so that the effects of the substitution amount and sintering temperature were analyzed. XRD was used for the structural analysis of produced material, which in turn, showed the same cubic spinel structure as $LiMn_2O_4$ despite the substitution of $Fe^{3+}$. During the synthesis of $LiFe_yMn_{2-y}O_4$, as the sintering temperature and the doping amount of Fe(y=0.05, 0.1, 0.2)were increased, grain growth proceeded which in turn, showed a high crystalline and a large grain size, certain morphology with narrow specific surface area and large pore volume distribution was observed. In order to examine the ability for the practical use of the battery, charge-discharge tests were undertaken. When the substitution amount of $Fe^{3+}\;into\;LiMn_2O_4$ increased, the initial discharge capacity showed a tendency to decrease within the region of $3.0\~4.2V$ but when charge-discharge processes were repeated, other capacity maintenance properties turned out to be outstanding. In addition, when the sintering temperature was $800\~850^{\circ}C$, the initial capacity was small but showed very stable cycle performance. According to EVS(electrochemical voltage spectroscopy) test, $LiFe_yMn_{2-y}O_4(y=0,\;0.05,\;0.1,\;0.2)$ showed two plateau region and the typical peaks of manganese spinel structure when the substitution amount of $Fe^{3+}$ increased, the peak value at about 4.15V during the charge-discharge process showed a tendency to decrease. From the previous results, the local distortion due to the biphase within the region near 4.15V during the lithium extraction gave a phase transition to a more suitable single phase. When the transition was derived, the discharge capacity decreased. However the cycle performance showed an outstanding result.

• Clean Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2011

[ $MnO_2$ ]catalysts were prepared by precipitation method using potassium manganate and manganese acetate. The effect of calcination temperatures of $MnO_2$ catalysts for CO oxidation has been studied and their physicochemical properties were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), $N_2$ sorption, temperature programmed reduction of $H_2$ ($H_2-TPR$), and temperature programmed desorption of CO (CO-TPD) techniques. $MnO_2$ calcined at $300^{\circ}C$ catalyst has a large surface area $181m^2/g$ having a narrow pore size distribution at 9 nm. The results of XRD and $H_2-TPR$ showed that the catalysts calcined at different temperatures showed mixed oxidation states of Mn such as $Mn^{4+}$ and $Mn^{3+}$. CO-TPD showed that the quantity of $CO_2$ desorbed was decreased with increasing the calcination temperatures. The catalytic activity over the catalyst calcined at $300^{\circ}C$ exhibited the highest conversion reaching to 100% at $200^{\circ}C$. $H_2O$ vapor showed an inhibiting effect on the efficiency of the catalyst because of co-adsorption with CO on the active sites of manganese oxide catalysts and the initial catalytic activity of CO oxidation could be regenerated by removing $H_2O$ vapor in the reactants.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.144-149
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• 2016

The metal-impregnated activated carbon was produced from bamboo activated carbon by soaking method of metal nitrate solution. The carbonization and activation of raw material was conducted at $900^{\circ}C$. The specific surface area and pore size distribution of the prepared activated carbons were measured. Also, NO and activated carbon reaction were conducted in a thermogravimetric analyzer in order to use as de-NOx agents of used activated carbon. Carbon-NO reactions were carried out with respect to reaction temperature ($20^{\circ}C{\sim}850^{\circ}C$) and NO gas partial pressure (0.1 kPa~1.8 kPa). As results, the specific volume and surface area of bamboo activated carbon impregnated with copper were decreased with increasing Cu amounts of activated carbon. In NO reaction, the reaction rate of Cu impregnated bamboo activated carbon[BA(Cu)] was promoted to compare with that of bamboo activated carbon[BA]. But the reaction rate of Ag impregnated bamboo activated carbon[BA(Ag)] was retarded. Measured reaction orders of NO concentration and activation energy were 0.63[BA], 0.92[BA(Cu)], and 80.5 kJ/mol[BA], 48.5 kJ/mol[BA(Cu)], 66.4 kJ/mol[BA(Ag)], respectively.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.8.1-8.1
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• 2011

Nanocrystalline titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) materials have been widely used as an electron collector in DSSC. This is required to have an extremely high porosity and surface area such that the dye can be sufficiently adsorbed and be electronically interconnected, resulting in the generation of a high photocurrent within cells. In particular, their geometrical structures and crystalline phase have been extensively investigated as important issues in improving its photovoltaic efficiency. In this study, we present a new strategy to fabricate a photoelectrode having a periodic structured $TiO_2$ film templated from 1D or 3D polystyrene (PS) microspheres array. Monodisperse PS spheres of various radiuses were used for colloidal array on FTO glasses and two types of photoelectrode structures with different $TiO_2$ materials were investigated respectively. One is the igloo-shaped electrode prepared by $TiO_2$ deposition by RF-sputtering onto 2D microsphere-templated substrates. At the interface between the film and substrate, there are voids formed by the decomposition of PS microspheres during the calcination step. These holes might be expected to play the predominant roles as scattering spherical voids to promote a light harvesting effect, a spacious structure for electrolytes with higher viscosity and effective paths for electron transfer. Additionally the nanocrystalline $TiO_2$ phase prepared by the RF-sputtering method was previously reported to improve the electron drift mobility within $TiO_2$ electrodes. This yields solar cells with a cell efficiency of 2.45% or more at AM 1.5 illumination, which is a very remarkable result, considering its $TiO_2$ electrode thickness (<2 ${\mu}m$). This study can be expanded to obtain higher cell efficiency by higher dye loading through the increase of surface area or multi-layered stacking. The other is the inverse opal photonic crystal electrode prepared by titania particles infusion within 3D colloidal arrays. To obtain the enlargement of ordered area and high quality of crystallinity, the synthesis of titania particles coated with a organic thin layer were applied instead of sol-gel process using the $TiO_2$ precursors. They were dispersed so well in most solvents without aggregates and infused successfully within colloidal array structures. This ordered mesoporous structure provides the large surface area leading to the enough adsorption of dye molecules and have an light harvesting effect due to the photonic band gap properties (back-and-forth reflection effects within structures). A major advantage of this colloidal array template method is that the pore size and its distribution within $TiO_2$ photoelectrodes are determined by those of latex beads, which can be controlled easily. These materials may have promising potentials for future applications of membrane, sensor and so on as well as solar cells.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.18 no.6 s.96
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• pp.801-809
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• 2006

Epoxy resin has widely been used as adhesives and corrosion-resistant paints in the construction industry for many years, since it has desirable properties such as high adhesion and chemical resistance. Until now, in the production of conventional epoxy cement mortars, the use of any hardener has been considered indispensable for the hardening of the epoxy resin. However we have noticed the fact that even without any hardener, the hardening process of the epoxy resin can proceed by the action of hydroxides in cement mortars. As a result the disadvantages of the two-component mixing of the epoxy resin and hardener have been overcome. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the mechanical properties and durability of epoxy cement mortar without a hardener exposed at indoor and outdoor for one year. The epoxy cement mortars without and with a hardener were prepared with various polymer-cement ratios, and tested for weight change, flexural and compressive strengths, water absorption, carbonation depth and pore size distribution. Especially, the basic properties of the epoxy cement mortars without hardener are discussed in comparison with ones with the hardener. From the test results, it is concluded thai the epoxy cement mortars without a hardener exposed at indoor and outdoor for one year have higher strength and better durability than ones with the hardener within the polymer-cement ratios of 10 to 20%.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.299-308
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• 2016

This paper presents an investigation of the mechanical and microstructural properties on hardened samples that were synthesized using blended binder(fly ash(FA) and blast furnace slag cement(BFSC)), alkali activator and sea water or distilled water. Binders were prepared by mixing the FA and BFSC in different blend weight ratios of 6:4, 7:3 and 8:2. Sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate were used 5 wt% of binder, respectively, as an alkaline activator. The compressive strength and absorption were measured at the age of 3, 7 and 28 days, and the XRD, TGA and MIP tests were performed at the age of 28 days. An increase in the content of BFSC leads to an increase in the quantities of ettringite and C-S-H formed, regardless of the type of mixing water. And it also shows higher strength due to the reduction of pores larger than ~50 nm. All hardened samples in this study have common hydration products of C-S-H, $Ca(OH)_2$ and calcite. Hydrocalumite of all reaction products formed was only present in hardened sample mixed with sea water. For each FA/BFSC mixing ratio, the compressive strength of hardened sample mixed with sea water was similar to that mixed with distilled water. It is proposed that the slight increase of strength of samples mixed with sea water is mainly due to the presence of hydrocalumite phase containing chlorine ion, contributing to the change of total porosity and pore size distribution in samples.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.257-263
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• 2019

Lightweight geopolymers were fabricated with non-milled IGCC slag and Si sludge as a bloating material. The relationship between addition amount of Si sludge and physical/chemical properties of lightweight geopolymers was investigated. When the geopolymers were made by mixing IGCC slag, alkali activator, and more than 10 wt.% Si sludge, the temperature of the geopolymer pastes reached higher than 130℃ in a few minutes. This exothermic reaction accelerated the geopolymer reaction; however, it was difficult to make geopolymer specimens because of a rapid bloating reaction. Both compressive strength and density of the specimens tend to decrease with an addition of Si sludge; however, there was little difference in both compressive strength and density with addition of Si sludge more than 10 wt.%. Because there was a limit to get low density geopolymers by simply increasing the addition of Si sludge, the control of pore size and distribution of geopolymer is more important by controlling flow rate of the paste through the control of W/S ratio. Therefore, it is important to control process conditions, appropriate W/S ratio for the bloating than the control of Si sludge. The optimum W/S ratio was 0.20 for the addition of Si sludge less than 30 wt.% and W/S ratio should be more than 0.28 for the addition of Si sludge more than 30 wt.%, although there was no practical application in fact.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.362-370
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• 2013

The coconut shell based activated carbon was applied for EDLC (electric double layer capacitor) electrode with the post treatments. The electrochemical properties were evaluated with a coin cell using the activated carbon as electrode. The initial gravimetric and volumetric capacitance of the coconut shell based activated carbon electrode s were 66 F/g and 39 F/cc, and these values decreased to 54 F/g and 32 F/cc after 100 cycles, respectively showing 82% of charge-discharge efficiency. The properties of CV graph with the commercial activated carbon electrodes showed the serious polarization as the result of additional reaction between electrolyte and impurities of the electrode materials. In order to remove impurities efficiently, the commercial activated carbon was treated by alkali and acid solutions consecutively, and then heat treated to control the pore size distribution and the content of surface functional groups. The surface functional groups decreased with the increased heat temperature and the specific capacitance increased with the decreased surface functional groups. The initial capacitance of coconut shell based activated carbon elec trode which was treated with NaOH and HNO3, and then heat treated at $800^{\circ}C$ was 44 F/cc, and the value turned out to be 42 F/cc after 100 cycles, showing over 95% of charge-discharge efficiency.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.304-309
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• 1999

Aluminum-pillared clay was prepared by the intercalation of Al-hydroxy oligomer into domestic bentonite. The solid products are characterized by XRD, nitrogen adsorption/desorption, EDX, and SEM. The solid products show relatively high specific surface areas in the range of $104{\sim}228m^2/g$, and their specific surface area, micropore surface area, and micropore volume increase with increasing the mole ratio of OH/Al. From the results of pore size distribution calculated by BJH equation, it was found that aluminum-pillared clay also contains much mesopore near $40{\AA}$. These results indicate that Al-hydroxy oligomer was intercalated into bentonite, and aluminum oxide was pillared among the layers of bentonite, and micropore and mesopore was finally developed into layers. As OH/Al mole ratio increases, the thermal stability of aluminum-pillared clay increases. This result can be explained by the fact that the density of layers is increased due to the formation of aluminum pillars.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.797-803
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• 2004

The heat generation tests of SiC and MO$_2$ samples by use of a microwave heating system were carried out and UO$_2$+5 wt% CeO$_2$ pellets were sintered in a microwave furnace in an oxidizing atmosphere, by taking into account the characteristics of the microwave heating obtained from the heat generation tests. The characteristics of pellets sintered in a microwave furnace were analysed and compared with those of the pellets sintered in a conventional electrical furnace. The temperature of MO$_2$ pellets with microwave heating increased quickly with input power and the variation of output power depended on the reaction characteristics of SiC and MO$_2$ with microwave. The sintered density of UO$_2$+5wt% CeO$_2$ pellets sintered in the microwave furnace was lower about 2% T.D. than that of the pellets sintered in an electrical furnace with sintering parameters. The microstructure of pellets sintered in microwave furnace has a broader pore distribution but has a larger grain size than that of the pellets sintered in the electrical furnace.