• Electronic Materials Letters
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.739-748
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• 2018

ZnS nanowalls, microspheres and rice-shaped nanoparticles have been successfully grown on graphene oxide (GO) sheets by the hydrothermal method. The morphologies, structures, chemical compositions and optical properties of the as-synthesized GO/ZnS have been characterized by X-ray power diffraction, energy dispersive spectrometer, scanning electron microscope, Raman spectra, photoluminescence spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy. It was found that the concentration of CTAB and the reaction temperature were important in the formation of GO/ZnS microstructures. The photocatalytic activity of the as-synthesized GO/ZnS was investigated through the photocatalytic degradation of textile dyeing waste. Results showed that the catalytic activity of the GO/ZnS porous spheres to methyl orange and methylene blue is higher than those of other samples. The degradation rates of methyl orange and methylene blue by porous spheres in 50 min were 97.6 and 97.1%, respectively. This is mainly attributed to the large specific surface area of GO/ZnS porous spheres and high separation efficiency between photogenerated electron and hole pairs.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2019

The present study explores the applicability of response surface methodology (RSM) in conjunction with central composite design (CCD) matrix to statistically optimize ettringite crystallization process for the removal of sulphate from landfill leachate. A three factor-five coded level CCD with 20 runs, was performed to estimate the best fitted model. The RSM results indicated that the fitted quadratic regression model could be appropriate to predict sulfate removal efficiency. The pH was identified as the most dominant parameter affecting sulphate removal. 61.6% of maximum sulphate removal efficiency was obtained at pH of 11.06 for a 1.87 of $Ca/SO_4$ and 0.51 of $Al/SO_4$ molar ratios. The operating cost for ettringite crystallization at optimized conditions was calculated to be 0.52 $/$m^3$. The significance of independent variables and their interactions were tested by analysis of variance. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and SEM coupled with energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy results confirmed the formation of ettringite crystal and were used to describe its morphology features.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.46-52
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• 2019

This research was conducted to analyze the effects of temperature on coking characteristics of kerosene. The kerosene was heated to 600 K, 700 K, and 800 K, and the cooled samples were collected. The used copper tubes were replaced according to the temperature conditions. The liquid and copper specimens were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer, respectively. The results of the analysis confirmed that a carbon deposit was formed from the coking of fuel on the inner surface of the copper specimen at a relatively high temperature (800 K) of the copper tube.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.110-123
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• 2019

This work was conducted to examine the relationship between lignin content and the durability of larch (LAR) pellets. LAR sawdust was immersed in tap water (TW), sulfuric acid (AC) and sodium hydroxide (AK) solutions, and then the immersed sawdust was used for pellet fabrication. Klason lignin (KL) content of the immersed LAR, contents of soluble lignin (SL) and monomeric sugars liberated from the immersion of LAR, and durability of LAR pellets were measured. KL content decreased as the concentration of AC and AK solutions increased, but glucose content increased with increase in AC and AK concentration. Durability of wood pellets fabricated using non-immersed LAR sawdust was the highest, followed by those made using TW-, AK- and AC-immersed sawdust. LAR pellets became more durable as the concentration of KL and SL increased, but a significant positive correlation was found only between pellet durability and KL content. Through the fluorescent microscopic observation and SEM-EDX analysis, it was verified that lignin content of non-immersed LAR pellets was higher than that of AC- and AK-immersed LAR pellets. These results suggest that lignin might contribute to an increase in inter-particle bonding in wood pellets.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.709-714
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• 2020

For zinc-air batteries, there are several limitations associated with zinc anodes. The self-discharge behavior of zinc-air batteries is a critical issue that is induced by corrosion reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of zinc anodes. Aluminum and indium are effective additives for controlling the hydrogen evolution reaction as well as the corrosion reaction. To enhance the electrochemical performances of zinc-air batteries, mechanically alloyed Zn-Al and Zn-In materials with different compositions are successfully fabricated at 500rpm and 5h milling time. Investigated materials are characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Alloys are investigated for the application as novel anodes in zinc-air batteries. Especially, the material with 3 wt% of indium (ZI3) delivers 445.37 mAh/g and 408.52 mAh/g of specific discharge capacity with 1 h and 6 h storage, respectively. Also, it shows 91.72 % capacity retention and has the lowest value of corrosion current density among attempted materials.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.421-437
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• 2020

This study provides an assessment on a proposed method for separation of cesium, strontium, and barium using electrochemical reduction at a liquid bismuth cathode in LiCl-KCl eutectic salt, investigated via cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS). CV studies were performed at temperatures of 723-823 K and concentrations of the target species up to 4.0wt%. Redox reactions occurring during potential sweeps were observed. Concentration of BaCl2 in the salt did not seem to influence the diffusivity in the studied concentration range up to 4.0wt%. The presence of strontium in the system affected the redox reaction of lithium; however, there were no distinguishable redox peaks that could be measured. Impedance spectra obtained from EIS methods were used to calculate the exchange current densities of the electroactive active redox couple at the bismuth cathode. Results show the rate-controlling step in deposition to be the mass transport of Cs+ ions from the bulk salt to the cathode surface layer. Results from SEM-EDS suggest that Cs-Bi and Sr-Bi intermetallics from LiCl-KCl salt are not thermodynamically favorable.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2021

In this work, narrow-band green-emitting CsPbBr3 particles are embedded in commercialized glass composites by a facile dry process. By optimizing the method through sintering in glass frit (GF) composites including CsBr and PbBr2, used as precursors, the encapsulation of CsPbBr3 particles made them waterproof with green fluorescence. To improve the fluorescent properties by reducing aggregation of CsPbBr3, fumed silica (FS) is additionally used to help particles avoid bulking up in the glass matrix. The CsPbBr3 perovskite/glass composites are characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) maps, which support the existence of CsPbBr3 particles in the glass matrix. The photoluminescence (PL) properties demonstrate that the emission spectrum peak, full width at half maximum (FWHM), and photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) values are 519 nm, 17 nm, and 17.7 %. We also confirm the water-resistant properties. To enhance water/moisture stability, the composite sample is put directly into water, with its PLQY monitored periodically under UV light.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.754-759
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• 2011

A sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was operated under different pH conditions to better understand the influence of pH to granulation in enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems. Granules from the SBR were also investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Considerable decreases in the amount of phosphorus released per substrate provided under anaerobic conditions and the content of biomass polyphosphate under aerobic conditions were observed when pH was changed from 7.5 to 7.0, followed by 6.5. Aerobic granulation was also observed at pH 7.0. A number of bacteria with the typical morphological traits of tetrad-forming organisms (TFOs) were observed at pH 7.0, including large members of cluster. Filamentous bacteria were also there in large numbers. The occurrence and growth of granules were further enhanced at pH 6.5. A SEM analysis showed that the aerobic granules had a compact microbial structure with shaperical shape and morphologically consisted of aggregates of small coccoid bacteria and filamentous bacteria encapsulated by extracellular polymeric substance. The main material ions identified by EDX moreover revealed that the structural materials for polyphosphate in the granules include phosphorus, potassium and calcium. Therefore, these results strongly suggested that PAOs are a dominant population in the microbial community of the aerobic granules.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.11
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• pp.905-909
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• 2011

The formation of front metal contact silicon solar cells is required for low cost, low contact resistance to silicon surfaces. One of the available front metal contacts is Ni/Cu plating, which can be mass produced via asimple and inexpensive process. A selective emitter, meanwhile, involves two different doping levels, with higher doping (${\leq}30{\Omega}/sq$) underneath the grid to achieve good ohmic contact and low doping between the grid in order to minimize the heavy doping effect in the emitter. This study describes the formation of a selective emitter and a nickel silicide seed layer for the front metallization of silicon cells. The contacts were thickened by a plated Ni/Cu two-step metallization process on front contacts. The experimental results showed that the Ni layer via SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and EDX (Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) analyses. Finally, a plated Ni/Cu contact solar cell displayed efficiency of 18.10% on a $2{\times}2cm^2$, Cz wafer.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2008

Process of the hydroxyapatite (HA) formation on bioactive titanium metal prepared by NaOH treatment in a modified-simulated body fluid (mSBF) containing bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated by high resolution transmission electron microscope attached with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX). The amorphous titanate, which was formed on titanium surface by NaOH treatment, combined with the calcium ions in the liquid to form an amorphous calcium titanite. With increasing of soaking time in the liquid, an amorphous calcium titanite combined with the phosphate ions to form an amorphous calcium phosphate with low Ca/P atomic ratio, and it grows as aggregates of plate (or needle)-like substance on titanium surface. The crystalline apatite layers, which are needle-shaped with the c axis parallel to the long axis, are formed in an amorphous calcium phosphate with further increase in soaking time. The formation of needle-shaped apatite layers can be explained by electrostatic effects and difference of concentration between calcium, phosphate, and albumin ions.