• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.463-473
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• 2019

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) has proved to be an effective tool in applied environmental nanotechnology, where the decreased particle diameter provides a drastic change in the properties and efficiency of nanomaterials used in water purification. However, the agglomeration and colloidal instability represent a problematic and a remarkable reduction in nZVI reactivity. In view of that, this study reports a simple and cost-effective new strategy for ultra-small (< 7.5%) distributed functionalized nZVI-EG (1-9 nm), with high colloidal stability and reduction capacity. These were obtained without inert conditions, using a simple, economical synthesis methodology employing two stabilization mechanisms based on the use of non-aqueous solvent (methanol) and ethylene glycol (EG) as a stabilizer. The information from UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggests iron ion coordination by interaction with methanol molecules. Subsequently, after nZVI formation, particle-surface modification occurs by the addition of the EG. Size distribution analysis shows an average diameter of 4.23 nm and the predominance (> 90%) of particles with sizes < 6.10 nm. Evaluation of the stability of functionalized nZVI by sedimentation test and a dynamic light-scattering technique, demonstrated very high colloidal stability. The ultra-small particles displayed a rapid and high nitrate removal capacity from water.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.710-718
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• 2021

Recently, due to high theoretical capacitance and excellent ion diffusion rate caused by the 2D layered crystal structure, transition metal hydroxides (TMHs) have generated considerable attention as active materials in supercapacitors (or electrochemical capacitors). However, TMHs should be designed using morphological or structural modification if they are to be used as active materials in supercapacitors, because they have insulation properties that induce low charge transfer rate. This study aims to modify the morphological structure for high cycling stability and fast charge storage kinetics of TMHs through the use of nickel cobalt hydroxide [NiCo(OH)₂] decorated on nickel foam. Among the samples used, needle-like NiCo(OH)₂ decorated on nickel foam offers a high specific capacitance (1110.9 F/g at current density of 0.5 A/g) with good rate capability (1110.9 - 746.7 F/g at current densities of 0.5 - 10.0 A/g). Moreover, at a high current density (10.0 A/g), a remarkable capacitance (713.8 F/g) and capacitance retention of 95.6% after 5000 cycles are noted. These results are attributed to high charge storage sites of needle-like NiCo(OH)₂ and uniformly grown NiCo(OH)₂ on nickel foam surface.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.224-232
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• 2000

Aluminum metal process in surface micromachining enables to fabricate Al electrodes or Al structures, which improve electrical characteristics by reducing contact- and line-resistance or makes the whole process to be simple by using oxide as sacrificial layer. However, it is not possible to use conventional sacrificial layer etching process, because HF solution attacks aluminum as well as sacrificial oxide. The mixed solution of BHF and glycerine as an alternative shows the adequate properties to meet with this end. The exact etching properties, however, are sensitively depends on the geometry of the released structure, because the most etching process of sacrificial layer proceeds to the lateral direction in narrow space. Also, the surface roughness of aluminum affects to the etching characteristics. This paper reports experimental results on the effect of microstructure and surface roughness of aluminum to the etching properties. Considering these effects, we propose the optimized etching condition, which can be used practically for the fabrication of aluminum electrodes and microstructures by using standard surface micromachining process without modification or additional process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.41-41
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• 2008

In general, polyimides (PIs) are used in alignment layers in liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The rubbing alignment technique has been widely used to align the LC molecules on the PI layer. Although this method is suitable for mass production of LCDs because of its simple process and high productivity, it has certain limitations. A rubbed PI surface includes debris left by the cloth, and the generation of electrostatic charges during the rubbing induces local defects, streaks, and a grating-like wavy surface due to nonuniform microgrooves that degrade the display resolution of computer displays and digital television. Additional washing and drying to remove the debris, and overwriting for multi-domain formation to improve the electro-optical characteristics such as the wide viewing angle, reduce the cost-effectiveness of the process. Therefore, an alternative to non-rubbing techniques without changing the LC alignment layer (i.e, PI) is proposed. The surface of LC alignment layers as a function of the ion beam (IE) energy was modified. Various pretilt angles were created on the IB-irradiated PI surfaces. After IB irradiation, the Ar ions did not change the morphology of the PI surface, indicating that the pretilt angle was not due to microgrooves. To verify the compositional behavior for the LC alignment, the chemical bonding states of the ill-irradiated PI surfaces were analyzed in detail by XPS. The chemical structure analysis showed that ability of LCs to align was due to the preferential orientation of the carbon network, which was caused by the breaking of C=O double bonds in the imide ring, parallel to the incident 18 direction. The potential of non-rubbing technology for fabricating display devices was further conformed by achieving the superior electro-optical characteristics, compared to rubbed PI.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.45-53
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• 2023

This study discussed the trend and future strategy of adsorption technology R&D to effectively recover ammonia emitted from the livestock fields. A proper ammonia adsorbent should incorporate acidic or hydrogen bonding functional groups on the surface, as well as a high specific surface area and a good surface structure appropriate for ammonia adsorption. Activated carbon and minerals such as zeolite have widely been used as ammonia adsorbents, but their adsorption effects are generally low, so any improvement through surface modification should be necessary. For example, incorporation of metal chloride included in a porous adsorbent can promote ammonia adsorption effectiveness. Recently, new types of adsorbents such as MOFs (Metal-Organic Frameworks) and POPs (Porous Organic Polymers) have been developed and utilized. They have shown very high ammonia adsorption capacity because of adjustable and high specific surface area and porosity. In addition, Prussian Blue exhibited high ammonia adsorption and desorption performance and selectivity. This looks relatively advantageous in relation to the recovery of ammonia from livestock waste discharge. In the future, further research should be made to evaluate ammonia adsorption/desorption efficiency and purity using various adsorbents under conditions suitable for livestock sites. Also, effective pre- and/or post-treatment processes should be integrated to maximize ammonia recovery.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.199-204
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• 2012

Organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) have received considerable attention because their potential applications for nano-scale thin-film structures have been widely researched for large-scale integration industries, such as semiconductors and displays. However, research in developing n-type materials and devices has been relatively shortage than developing p-type materials. Therefore, we report on the fabrication of top-contact [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyricacidmethylester (PCBM) TFTs by using three different solvent, o-dichlorobenzene, toluene and chloroform. An appropriate choice of solvent shows that the electrical characteristics of PCBM TFTs can be improved. Moreover, our PCBM TFTs with the cross-linked Poly(4-vinylphenol) dielectric layer exhibits the most pronounced improvements in terms of the field-effect mobility (${\sim}0.034cm^2/Vs$) and the on/off current ratio (${\sim}1.3{\times}10^5$) for our results. From these results, it can be concluded that solvent-modification of an organic semiconductor in PCBM TFTs is useful and can be extended to further investigations on the PCBM TFTs having polymeric gate dielectrics. It is expected that process optimizations using solution-processing of organic semiconductor materials will allow the development of the n-type organic TFTs for low-cost electronics and various electronic applications.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.57-58
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• 2006

The effects of lowering ECAP temperature during ECAP process and Post-ECAP annealing on microstructure, texture and mechanical properties of the AZ31 alloys have been investigated in the present study. The as-extruded materials were ECAP processed to 2 passes at 553K prior to subsequent pressing up to 6 passes at 523K or 493K. When this method of lowering ECAP temperature during ECAP was used, the rods could be successfully deformed up to 6 passes without any surface cracking. Grain refinement during ECAP process at 553K might have helped the material to endure further straining at lower deformation temperatures probably by increasing the strain accommodation effect by grain boundary sliding, causing stress relaxation. Texture modification during ECAP has a great influence on the strength of Mg alloys because HCP metals have limited number of slip systems. As slip is most prone to take place on basal planes in Mg at room temperature, the rotation of high fraction of basal planes to the directions favorable for slip as in ECAP decreases the yield stress appreciably. The strength of AZ31 Mg alloys increases with decrease of grain size if the texture is constant though ECAP deformation history is different. A standard positive strength dependence on the grain size for Mg alloys with the similar texture (Fig. 1) supports that the softening of ECAPed Mg alloys (a negative slope) typically observed despite the significant grain refinement is due to the texture modification where the rotation of basal planes occurs towards the orientation for easier slip. It could be predicted that if the original fiber texture is restored after ECAP treatment yielding marked grain refinement, yield stress as high as 500 MPa will be obtained at the grain size of ${\sim}1{\mu}m$. Differential speed rolling (DSR) with a high speed ratio between the upper and lower rolls was applied to alter the microstructure and texture of the AZ31 sheets. Significant grain refinement took place during the rolling owing to introduction of large shear deformation. Grain size as small as $1.4{\mu}m$ could be obtained at 423K after DSR. There was a good correlation between the (0002) pole intensity and tensile elongation. This result indicates that tensile ductility improvement in the asymmetrically rolled AZ31 Mg alloys is closely related to the weakening of basal texture during DSR. Further basal texture weakening occurred during annealing after DSR. According to Hall-Petch relation shown in Fig. 1, the strength of the asymmetrically rolled AZ31 is lower than that of the symmetrically rolled one when compared at the same grain size. This result was attributed to weakening of fiber texture during DSR. The DSRed AZ31, however, shows higher strength than the ECAPed AZ31 where texture has been completely replaced by a new texture associated with high Schmid factors.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.256-261
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• 2008

In this study, Nafion membrane was modified to prevent methanol crossover by layer-by-layer self assembly using polyaniline (PANi) as a polycation and sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) (SPES) as a polyanion onto the Nafion surface. Since PANi and SPES possess thermal and chemical stability and rigid backbone, their layer-by-layer self-assembled films on the Nafion are expected to reduce methanol permeability and to increase mechanical stability. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy verified a linear build-up of the multilayers of PANi and SPES. We found that the thickness per bilayer was about 10 nm by TEM measurement. Although modified Nafion membrane exhibited 15% decrease of proton conductivity, it reduceded 67% of methanol permeability compared to that of the pristine Nafion membrane, resulting in 2.5 times larger selectivity. At the performance test of the fuel cell using 5M methanol as a fuel, the modified Nafion membrane showed 2.4 times higher maximum power density at $30^{\circ}C$ and 1.4 times larger at $60^{\circ}C$ than the pristine Nafion.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2015

In this study, porous metal (O.D. = 10 mm, length = 10 mm, 316 L SUS, Mott Corp.) and ${\alpha}$-alumina tube (O.D. = 10 mm, length = 50 mm, Pall, German) support was modified with suspension sols, which were consisted of $3{\sim}4{\mu}m$ and 150 nm size of ${\alpha}$-alumina particle in the water or silica-zirconia colloidal sol. The porous support was fabricated by dip coating method for 5 seconds with suspension of alumina particles. After drying at $100^{\circ}C$ for 1 h, it was calcined at $550^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. It was repeated several times in order to decrease big pore on support. The surface roughness and largest pore size on the porous support was decreased by increasing coating times with $3{\sim}4{\mu}m$ size of ${\alpha}$-alumina particle and alumina coating with 150 nm size of ${\alpha}$-alumina particle served as further smoothening the surface and decreasing the pore size of the substrate. And the silica-zirconia membranes were successfully prepared on the modified porous metal and ${\alpha}$-alumina supports, and showed hydrogen permeance in the range of $1.8-8.4{\times}10^{-4}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}{\cdot}Pa^{-1}$ and $3.3-5.0{\times}10^{-5}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}{\cdot}Pa^{-1}$, respectively.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.160-165
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• 2006

A Pd-Cu-Ni alloyed hydrogen membrane has fabricated on porous nickel support formed by nickel powder. Porous nickel support made by sintering shows a strong resistance to hydrogen embrittlement and thermal fatigue. Plasma surface modification treatment is introduced as pre-treatment process instead of conventional HCl wet activation. Nickel was electroplated to a thickness of $2{\mu}m$ in order in to fill micropores at the nickel support surface. Palladium and copper were deposited at thicknesses of $4{\mu}m$ and $0.5{\mu}m$, respectively, on the nickel coated support by DC sputtering process. Subsequently, copper reflow at $700^{\circ}C$ was performed for an hour in $H_2$ ambient. And, as a result PdCu-Ni composite membrane has a pinhole-free and extremely dense microstructure, having a good adhesion to the porous nickel support and infinite hydrogen selectivity in $H_2/N_2$ mixtures.