• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.133-139
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• 2010

Photoelectrocatalytic decolorization of methlene blue (MB) in the presence of two types of carbon nanotube/titania and yttrium-treated carbon nanotube/titania electrodes in aqueous solutions were studied under visible light. The prepared composite electrodes were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and photoelectrocatalytic activity. The photoelectrocatalytic performances of the supported catalysts were evaluated for the decolorization of MB solution under visible light irradiation. The results showed that yttrium incorporation enhanced the decolorization rate of MB. It was found that the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of a MB solution could be attributed to the combined effects caused by the photo-degradation of titania, the electron assistance of carbon nanotube network, the enhancement of yttrium and a function of the applied potential. The repeatability of photocatalytic activity was also tested. The presence of yttrium enhanced the hydrophillicity of yttrium-carbon nanotubes/titania electrode because more OH groups can be adsorbed on the surface.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.121-126
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• 2007

This study aims at investigating the effect of heat treatment conditions on the dry sliding wear behavior of thermally sprayed Ni-based self-flux alloy coatings. Ni-based self-flux alloy powders were sprayed onto a carbon steel substrate and then heat-treated at 700, 800, 900 and $1000^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes in a vacuum furnace. Dry sliding wear tests were performed using sliding speed of 0.4 m/s and applied load of 6 N. AISI 52100 ball(diameter 8 mm) was used as counterparts. Microstructure and wear behavior of both as-sprayed and heat-treated Ni-based self-flux alloy coatings were studied using a scanning electron microscope(SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDX), electron probe micro-analysis(EPMA) and X-ray diffraction(XRD). It was revealed that microstructure and wear behavior of thermally sprayed Ni-based self-flux alloy coatings were much influenced by heat treatment conditions.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2018

As structural materials, magnesium (Mg) alloys have been widely used in the fields of aviation, automobiles, optical instruments, and electronic products. There are few studies on the effect of coating conditions on the compositional variation during the formation process of the conversion coatings. Rare-earth based conversion coating on AZ91 magnesium alloy was prepared in ceric sulfate and hydrogen peroxide contained solution. The element composition and valence as well as their distribution in the coating were analyzed with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effect of treating process on the element composition were also studied. It was found that the conversion coating surface consists of Mg, Al, O, Ce, and the weight content of Ce in the coating was affected by the treating solution concentration and immersion time; the Ce element was distributed in the coating non-uniformly and existed in the form of $Ce^{+3}$ and $Ce^{+4}$, while the O element existed in the form of $OH^-$, $O^{2-}$, $H_2O$. Based on microscopic analysis results, the electrochemical deposition mechanism on the micro-anode and micro-cathode in the process of the coating growth was suggested.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.46-50
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• 2016

$Fe_2O_3/TiO_2$ nanocomposite were successfully synthesized by co-precipitation method using $Fe(NO_3)_3{\cdot}9H_2O$ and $Ti(SO_4)_2$ as raw materials. Structural and textural features of the mixed oxide samples were characterized by X-ray diffractometer, field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray. The effects of initial concentration of oxytetracycline (OTC), different competitive ions and organics on the photocatalytic degradation rate of OTC by the $Fe_2O_3/TiO_2$ nanocomposite were analyzed under UV and visible light irradiation. The results indicate that the optimized initial concentration of OTC was 50 mg/L to achieve the best photocatalytic efficiency. $Cu^{2+}$, $NH_4{^+}$, $C_3H_8O$ and EDTA in the aqueous suspension were found to suppress the degradation rate of OTC, whereas the effect of $NO_3{^-}$ and $H_2C_2O_4$ can be ignored.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.815-820
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• 2011

Three kinds of organometallic compounds (chromium acetylacetonate, magnesium acetate and vanadyl acetylacetonate) were used as transition metal precursor, titanium n-butoxide and multi-walled carbon nanotube as titanium and carbon precursor to prepare metal oxide-CNT/$TiO^2$ composites. The surface properties and morphology of metal oxide-CNT/$TiO^2$ composites were by Brauer-Emett-Teller (BET) surface area measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The photocatalytic activity of prepared metal oxide-CNT/$TiO^2$ composites was determined by the degradation effect of methylene blue in an aqueous solution under irradiation of visible light.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.2771-2775
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• 2010

We present a rapid biogenic method for the production of nanoscale gold particles using pear extract. The formation and stability of pear-derived gold nanoparticles (Pear-AuNPs) were monitored by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Their morphology, elemental composition and crystalline phase were determined by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and selected area electron diffraction. The average core size of crystalline Pear-AuNPs was in the range of $10{\pm}5\;nm$ and the observed morphology was spherical. The X-ray photoelectron spectrum showed a strong peak for the pure 'Au' phase. The circular dichroism spectrum indicated the natural capping ability of the pear extract, which generated peptide-gold nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were stable in aqueous solution for two months. A cell viability assay of Pear-AuNPs showed biocompatibility with human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Accordingly, this eco-friendly process for the bio-mimetic production of Pear-AuNPs is nontoxic in nature; consequently, it will find potential application in nano-biotechnology.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1798-1804
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• 2009

In this study, we have studied on improved performance of carbon nanotubes/titanium (CNT/TiO2) structure electrode for methylene blue (MB). The composite electrodes consisting of CNTs and a titanium oxide matrix with phenol resin binder was fabricated with a mixture method. The chemical and morphological structure of CNT/Ti$O_2$ composites were characterized by means of BET surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis absorption technique, Raman spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The electrode showed a remarkably enhanced performance for MB oxidation under UV illumination with or without electro-chemical reaction (ECR). Such a remarkably improved performance of the CNT/Ti$O_2$ structure electrode might be due to the enhanced MB oxidation by electro- and photo-generated electrons and holes in the CNTs and Ti$O_2$ under UV illumination with or without ECR.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2010

We report Co-tetramethoxyphenylporphyrin on carbon particles (Co-TMPP/C) as a non-Pt catalyst for tri-iodide reduction in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The presence of well-dispersed carbon and cobalt source in the catalyst surface is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. In the C 1s, Co 2p, and N 1s peaks measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the C-N, Co-$N_4$, and N-C are assigned to the component at 285.7, 781.8, and 401 eV, respectively. Especially, the Co-TMPP/C shows improved current density, diffusion coefficient, and charge-transfer resistance in the ${I_3}^-/I^-$ redox reaction compared to conventional catalysts. Furthermore, in the DSSCs performance, the Co-TMPP/C shows increased short circuit current density, higher open circuit voltage, and improved cell efficieny in comparison with Pt/C.

• Carbon letters
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2007

The effect of cobalt precursor on the structure of Co supported multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were studied by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). MWCNTs were treated with a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids and decorated with cobalt and/or cobalt oxides via aqueous impregnation solutions of cobalt nitrate or cobalt acetate followed by reduction in hydrogen. XPS was mainly used to investigate the phase of cobalt on MWCNTs after reduction with $H_2$ flow at $400^{\circ}C$ for 2 h. Higher cobalt-nanoparticle dispersion was found in the MWCNTS prepared via cobalt nitrate decomposition. A typical XPS spectrum of Co 2p showed the peaks at binding energy (BE) values equal to 781 and 797 eV, respectively. It is found that cobalt nitrate supported MWCNTs is more dispersive and have catalytic activity than that of cobalt acetate supported MWCNTs at same preparation condition such as concentration of precursor solution and reduction environment.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2015

We report the facile synthesis of graphene-$CdLa_2S_4$ composite through a facile solvothermal method at low temperature. The as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and BET analysis, revealing the uniform covering of the graphene nanosheet with $CdLa_2S_4$ nanocrystals. The as-prepared samples show a higher efficiency for the photocatalytic degradation of typical MB dye compared with P25 and $CdLa_2S_4$ bulk nanoparticles. The enhancement of visible-light-responsive photocatalytic properties by decolorization of Rh.B dye may be attributed to the following causes. Firstly, graphene nanosheet is capable of accepting, transporting and storing electrons, and thus retarding or hindering the recombination of the electrons with the holes remaining on the excited $CdLa_2S_4$ nanoparticles. Secondly, graphene nanosheet can increase the adsorption of pollutants. The final cause is that their extended light absorption range. This work not only offers a simple way to synthesize graphene-based composites via a one-step process at low temperature but also a path to obtain efficient functional materials for environmental purification and other applications.