• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.59-62
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• 2013

We investigated the effects of ZnO thin film deposition methods on the performance of inverted polymer solar cells with a structure of ITO/ZnO/P3HT:PCBM/MoO3/Al. The ZnO thin films were deposited by various methods (spin coating of nanoparticles, sol-gel process, atomic layer deposition) and their morphology was analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The device with ZnO nanoparticle thin films showed the highest power conversion efficiency of 3 % with low series resistance and high shunt resistance. The superior performance of the device with the ZnO nanoparticle layer is attributed to better electron extraction capability.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.93-107
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• 2012

Epoxy resin is widely used in high voltage apparatus as insulation. Fillers are often added to epoxy resin to enhance its mechanical, thermal and chemical properties. The addition of fillers can deteriorate electrical performance. With the new development in nanotechnology, it has been widely anticipated that the combination of nanoparticles with traditional resin systems may create nanocomposite materials with enhanced electrical, thermal and mechanical properties. In the present paper we have carried out a comparative study on dielectric properties, space charge and dielectric breakdown behavior of epoxy resin/nanocomposites with nano-fillers of $SiO_2$ and $Al_2O_3$. The epoxy resin (LY556), commonly used in power apparatus was used to investigate the dielectric behavior of epoxy resin/nanocomposites with different filler concentrations. The epoxy resin/nanocomposite thin film samples were prepared and tests were carried out to measure their dielectric permittivity and tan delta value in a frequency range of 1 Hz - 1 MHz. The space charge behaviors were also observed by using the pulse electroacoustic (PEA) technique. In addition, traditional epoxy resin/microcomposites were also prepared and tested and the test results were compared with those obtained from epoxy resin/nanocomposites.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.275-280
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• 2008

The effects of the surfactant type, i.e., CTAB(cationic), SDS(anionic), and GA(polymeric), on the stability of 0.1 vol.% $Al_2O_3$ nanofluids were investigated. The changes in size and zeta potential of nanoparticles in nanofluids with pH, surfactant concentration, and time were experimentally observed. The nanofluids adding CTAB, which ionizes of the same charge with the bare particle surface, was found to have the best stability regardless of the surfactant concentration, whereas those with SDS became unstable under low surfactant concentration conditions, i.e. lower than the critical micellel concentration(CMC), before the charge reversal occurred. With higher SDS concentration over CMC, they became stable. Gum Arabic, which had been used often to stabilize the nanofluids, was also tested. In result, it was found that the type and concentration of surfactants to add should be selected considering pH and the sign of the bare particle surface charge.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.222-224
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• 2006

A non-vacuum process for $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ (CIGS) thin film solar cells from nanoparticle precursors was described in this work CIGS nanoparticle precursors was prepared by a low temperature colloidal route by reacting the starting materials $(CuI,\;InI_3,\;GaI_3\;and\;Na_2Se)$ in organic solvents, by which fine CIGS nanoparticles of about 20nm in diameter were obtained. The nanoparticle precursors were mixed with organic binder material for the rheology of the mixture to be adjusted for the doctor blade method. After depositing the mixture of CIGS with binder on Mo/glass substrate, the samples were preheated on the hot plate in air to evaporate remaining solvents ud to burn the organic binder material. Subsequently, the resultant (porous) CIGS/Mo/glass simple was selenized in a two-zone Rapid Thermal Process (RTP) furnace in order to get a solar ceil applicable dense CIGS absorber layer. Complete solar cell structure was obtained by depositing. The other layers including CdS buffer layer, ZnO window layer and Al electrodes by conventional methods. The resultant solar cell showed a conversion efficiency of 0.5%.

• Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
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• v.68
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• pp.173-179
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• 2018

Electrochemical characterization was conducted on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-ceramic composite (PVA-CC) separators for supercapacitor applications. The PVA-CC separators were fabricated by mixing various ceramic particles including aluminum oxide ($Al_2O_3$), silicon dioxide ($SiO_2$), and titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) into a PVA aqueous solution. These ceramic particles help to create amorphous regions in the crystalline structure of the polymer matrix to increase the ionic conductivity of PVA. Supercapacitors were assembled using PVA-CC separators with symmetric activated carbon electrodes and electrochemical characterization showed enhanced specific capacitance, rate capability, cycle life, and ionic conductivity. Supercapacitors using the $PVA-TiO_2$ composite separator showed particularly good electrochemical performance with a 14.4% specific capacitance increase over supercapacitors using the bare PVA separator after 1000 cycles. With regards to safety, PVA becomes plasticized when immersed in 6 M KOH aqueous solution, thus there was no appreciable loss in tear resistance when the ceramic particles were added to PVA. Thus, the enhanced electrochemical properties can be attained without reduction in safety making the addition of ceramic nanoparticles to PVA separators a cost-effective strategy for increasing the ionic conductivity of separator materials for supercapacitor applications.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.148-158
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• 2019

The corrosion protection of AA2024 PPy coated samples doping with nanosized metal oxides, including $TiO_2$ and $CeO_2$ nanoparticles and $Nd_2O_3$ nanorods, during exposure to the solutions of 0.1 M $H_2SO_4$ and 3.5% NaCl was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and linear polarization resistance (LPR) techniques. The nanorods of $Nd_2O_3$ were synthesized by cathodic pulse electrochemical deposition technique. The barrier properties of the different PPy coatings containing nanosized metal oxides immersed in $H_2SO_4$ solution were ranked as follows: $Nd_2O_3$ > $TiO_2$ > $CeO_2$. Therefore, the $Nd_2O_3$ coating sample provided the highest corrosion protection at any time of immersion up to 72 hours after immersing in $H_2SO_4$ solution. On the other hand, the $CeO_2$ coating sample displayed the best anticorrosive properties among the other coating samples after immersion in NaCl solution up to 28 days. This is due to the inhibition effect of cerium ions on aluminum alloys at near-neutral solutions.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.76 no.5
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• pp.561-578
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• 2020

The present work addresses the surface integrity and chip morphology in finish hard turning of AISI D3 steel under nanofluid assisted minimum quantity lubrication (NFMQL) condition. The surface integrity aspects include microhardness, residual stress, white layer formation, machined surface morphology, and surface roughness. This experimental investigation aims to explore the feasibility of low-cost multilayer (TiCN/Al2O3/TiN) coated carbide tool in hard machining applications and to assess the propitious role of minimum quantity lubrication using graphene nanoparticles enriched eco-friendly radiator coolant based nano-cutting fluid for machinability improvement of hardened steel. Combined approach of central composite design (CCD) - analysis of variance (ANOVA), desirability function analysis, and response surface methodology (RSM) have been subsequently employed for experimental investigation, predictive modelling and optimization of surface roughness. With a motivational philosophy of "Go Green-Think Green-Act Green", the work also deals with economic analysis, and sustainability assessment under environmental-friendly NFMQL condition. Results showed that machining with nanofluid-MQL provided an effective cooling-lubrication strategy, safer and cleaner production, environmental friendliness and assisted to improve sustainability.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.111-120
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• 2022

To solve the corrosion problem of industrial equipment and other constructions containing metals, corrosion protection can be performed by using coating which provides a barrier between the metal and its environment. Coatings play a significant role in protecting irons and steels in harsh marine and acid environments. This study was conducted to identify an anti-corrosive epoxy coating for carbon steel composite with 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 wt% concentrations of nanoparticles of SiO₂ using the dip-coating method. The electrochemical behavior was analyzed with open circuit potential (OCP) technics and polarization curves (Tafle) in 3.5 wt% NaCl and 5 vol% H₂SO₄ media. The structure, composition, and morphology were characterized using different analytical techniques such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectrum (FT-IR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Results revealed that epoxynano SiO₂ coating demonstrated a lower corrosion rate of 2.51 × 10^-4 mm/year and the efficiency of corrosion protection was as high as 99.77%. The electrochemical measurement showed that the nano-SiO₂ / epoxy coating enhanced the anti-corrosive performance in both NaCl and H₂SO₄ media.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.303-312
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• 2023

The present study investigates the effects of Cattaneo-Christov thermal effects of stagnation point in Walters-B nanofluid flow through lubrication of power-law fluid by taking the slip at the interfacial condition. For the solution, the governing partial differential equation is transformed into a series of non-linear ordinary differential equations. With the help of hybrid homotopy analysis method; that consists of both the homotopy analysis and shooting method these equations can be solved. The influence of different involved constraints on quantities of interest are sketched and discussed. The viscoelastic parameter, slip parameters on velocity component and temperature are analyzed. The velocity varies by increase in viscoelastic parameter in the presence of slip parameter. The slip on the surface has major effect and mask the effect of stagnation point for whole slip condition and throughout the surface velocity remained same. Matched the present solution with previously published data and observed good agreement. It can be seen that the slip effects dominates the effects of free stream and for the large values of viscoelastic parameter the temperature as well as the concentration profile both decreases.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.664-668
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• 2011

Spherical alumina precursors represented by $AlO_xCl_y(OH)_z$, 30~200 nm in particle diameter, were prepared by partial hydrolysis of $AlCl_3$ vapor in a 500 ml reactor. Investigated on the particle morphology and size were the effects of the reaction time, the stirring speed and the reaction temperature. The particle morphology and size was insensitive to the reaction time in the range 20 to 300 s. The variation of the stirring speed from 0 to 300 and 800 rpm showed that the particle size was the largest at 0 rpm. As the temperature was varied from 180 to 190, 200, $140^{\circ}C$, the particle size showed a maximum at $190^{\circ}C$. By calcination of the as-produced particles at $1,200^{\circ}C$ for 6h with a heating rate of $10^{\circ}C$/min, ${\alpha}$-alumina particles 45 nm in surface area equivalent diameter were obtained. The particle shape after calcination turned wormlike due to sintering between neighboring particles. A rapid calcination at $1400^{\circ}C$ for 0.5 h with a higher heating rate of $50^{\circ}C$/min reduced the sintering considerably. An addition of $SiCl_4$ or TMCTS(2,4,6,8-tetramethylcyclosiloxane) to the $AlCl_3$ reduced the sintering effectively in the calcination step; however, peaks of ${\gamma}$ or mullite phase appeared. An addition of $AlF_3$ to the particles obtained from the hydrolysis resulted in a hexagonal disc shaped alumina particles.