• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.237-242
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• 2012

We report on the NO gas sensing properties of Al-doped zinc oxide-carbon nanotube (ZnO-CNT) wire-like layered composites fabricated by coaxially coating Al-doped ZnO thin films on randomly oriented single-walled carbon nanotubes. We were able to wrap thin ZnO layers around the CNTs using the pulsed laser deposition method, forming wire-like nanostructures of ZnO-CNT. Microstructural observations revealed an ultrathin wire-like structure with a diameter of several tens of nm. Gas sensors based on ZnO-CNT wire-like layered composites were found to exhibit a novel sensing capability that originated from the genuine characteristics of the composites. Specifically, it was observed by measured gas sensing characteristics that the gas sensors based on ZnO-CNT layered composites showed a very high sensitivity of above 1,500% for NO gas in dry air at an optimal operating temperature of $200^{\circ}C$; the sensors also showed a low NO gas detection limit at a sub-ppm level in dry air. The enhanced gas sensing properties of the ZnO-CNT wire-like layered composites are ascribed to a catalytic effect of Al elements on the surface reaction and an increase in the effective surface reaction area of the active ZnO layer due to the coating of CNT templates with a higher surface-to-volume ratio structure. These results suggest that ZnO-CNT composites made of ultrathin Al-doped ZnO layers uniformly coated around carbon nanotubes can be promising materials for use in practical high-performance NO gas sensors.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.499-513
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• 2020

Among the many studies of carbon-based nanomaterials, carbon-based dots (CDs) have attracted considerable interest owing to their large surface area, intrinsic low-toxicity, excellent biocompatibility, high solubility, and low-cost with environmentally friendly routes, as well as their ability for modification with other nanomaterials. CDs have several applications in biosensing, photocatalysis, bioimaging, and nanomedicine. In addition, the fascinating electrochemical properties of CDs, including high active surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, electrocatalytic activity, high porosity, and adsorption capability, make them potential candidates for electrochemical sensing materials. This paper reviews the recent developments and synthesis of CDs and their composites for the proposed electrochemical sensing platforms. The electrochemical principles and future perspective and challenges of electrochemical biosensors are also discussed based on CDs-nanocomposites.

• 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.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2023

Cities cover only 3% of the planet's surface, yet they are responsible for more than 75% of the global emissions. Given the projected urban built area will double by 2060, the carbon emitted from cities will further increase. SOM proposes the Urban Sequoia concept, for buildings that go beyond 'net zero' and absorb carbon from the atmosphere. This concept combines multiple strategies, including the use of an optimised building form with a highly efficient structural system, modularized prefabrication techniques, holistic integration of facade, MEP and interiors' components, bio-based materials, and Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology, to reduce a 40-storey building's whole life cycle carbon emissions by more than 300% over a 100-year lifespan. Calculations of embodied carbon emissions are performed with SOM's in-house Environmental Analysis (EA) Tool to demonstrate the effectiveness of employing Urban Sequoia's design strategies in the design of new buildings using current technologies.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.317-322
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• 2021

Silicon (Si) has been considered as a promising anode material because of its abundant reserves in nature, low lithium ion (Li⁺) intercalation/de-intercalation potential (below 0.5 V vs. Li/Li⁺) and high theoretical capacity of 4200 mA h/g. In this paper, we prepared a silicon-based (Si-based) anode material containing a small amount of silicon carbide by using magnesiothermic coreduction of silica and hexachlorobenzene. Because of good conductivity of silicon carbide, the cycle performance of the silicon-based anode materials containing few silicon carbide is greatly improved compared with pure silicon. The raw materials were formulated according to a silicon-carbon molar ratio of 10:0, 10:1, 10:2 and 10:3, and the obtained products were purified and tested for their electrochemical properties. After 1000 cycles, the specific capacities of the materials with silicon-carbon molar ratios of 10:0, 10:1, 10:2 and 10:3 were still up to 412.3 mA h/g, 970.3 mA h/g, 875.0 mA h/g and 788.6 mA h/g, respectively. Although most of the added carbon reacted with silicon to form silicon carbide, because of the good conductivity of silicon carbide, the cycle performance of silicon-based anode materials was significantly better than that of pure silicon.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.1652-1663
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• 2002

It is desirable to perform nondestructive evaluation to assess material properties and part homogeneity because manufacturing of carbon/carbon (C/C) composites requires complicated and costly processes. In this work several ultrasonic techniques were applied to carbon/carbon composites for the evaluation of spatial variations in material properties that are attributable to the manufacturing process. In a large carbon/carbon composite manufactured by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) method, the spatial variation of ultrasonic velocity was measured and found to be consistent with the densification behavior in CVI process in order to increase the density of C/C composites. Ultrasonic velocity and attenuation depend on a density variation of materials. Low frequency through-transmission scans based on both amplitude and time-of-flight of the ultrasonic pulse were used for mapping out the material property inhomogeneity These results were compared with that obtained by dry-coupling ultrasonics. Pulse-echo C-scans was used to image near-surface material property anomalies such as the placement of spacers between disks during CVI. Also, optical micrograph had been examined on the surface of C/C composites using a destructive way.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2014

The process parameter in optimized KOH alkali activation of soft carbon series coke material in high purity was set with DOE experiments design. The activated carbon was produced by performing the activation process based on the set process parameters. The specific surface area was measured and pore size was analyzed by $N_2$ absorption method for the produced activated carbon. The surface functional group was analyzed by Boehm method and metal impurities were analyzed by XRF method. The specific surface area was increased over 2,000 $m^2/g$ as the mixing ratio of activation agent increased. The micro pores in $5{\sim}15{\AA}$ and surface functional group under 0.4 meq/g were obtained. The contents of the metal impurity in activated carbon which is the factor for reducing the electrochemical characteristics was reduced less than 100 ppm through the cleansing process optimization. The electrochemical characteristics of activated carbon in 38.5 F/g and 26.6 F/cc were checked through the impedance measuring with cyclic voltammetry scan rate in 50~300 mV/s and frequency in 10 mHz ~100 kHz. The activated carbon was made in the optimized activation process conditions of activation time in 40 minutes, mixing ratio of activation agent in 4.5 : 1.0 and heat treatment temperature over $650^{\circ}C$.

• Carbon letters
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.254-259
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• 2012

Nanoporous non-woven carbon fibers for a gas sensor were prepared from a pitch/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) mixed solution through an electrospinning process and their gas-sensing properties were investigated. In order to create nanoscale pores, magnesium oxide (MgO) powders were added as a pore-forming agent during the mixing of these carbon precursors. The prepared nanoporous carbon fibers derived from the MgO pore-forming agent were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), $N_2$-adsorption isotherms, and a gas-sensing analysis. The SEM images showed that the MgO powders affected the viscosity of the pitch/PAN solution, which led to the production of beaded fibers. The specific surface area of carbon fibers increased from 2.0 to $763.2m^2/g$ when using this method. The template method therefore improved the porous structure, which allows for more efficient gas adsorption. The sensing ability and the response time for the NO gas adsorption were improved by the increased surface area and micropore fraction. In conclusion, the carbon fibers with high micropore fractions created through the use of MgO as a pore-forming agent exhibited improved NO gas sensitivity.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.94-99
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• 2014

A commercially used Zr-based amorphous alloy was recycled and the effects of introducing carbon during recycling on the glass forming ability and mechanical properties of the alloy were investigated. The initial carbon content used in this study was 229ppm. The carbon content was gradually increased as the number of recycling iterations was increased and after the $4^{th}$ recycling it rapidly increased. As return scrap was recycled, polygonal particles precipitated, and they were identified as ZrC. The amount of the precipitates also increased with recycling. Tg, Tx and ${\Delta}T$ of the base alloy were 615 K, 696 K and 81 Kr respectively and they changed to 634 K, 706 K and 72 K after the $10^{th}$ recycling. The decrease of the ${\Delta}T$ value indicates deterioration of the glass forming ability. Hardness was not changed during three iterations of recycling but after the $4^{th}$ recycling it significantly increased. This is ascribed to an increase of amount of the hard particles, namely ZrC.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.542-546
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• 2004

We report a new fabrication process for high performance triode type CNT field emitters and their superior electrical properties. The CNT-based triode-type field emitter structure was fabricated by the conventional semiconductor processes. The keys of the fabrication process are spin-on-glass coating and trim-and-leveling of the carbon nanotubes grown in trench structures by employing a chemical mechanical polishing process. They lead to strong adhesion and a uniform distance from the carbon nanotube tips to the electrode. The measured emission property of the arrays showed a remarkably uniform and high current density. The gate leakage current could be remarkably reduced by coating of thin $SiO_{2}$ insulating layer over the gate metal. The field enhancement factor(${\beta}$) and emission area(${\alpha}$) were calculated from the F-N plot. This process can be applicable to fabrication of high power CNT vacuum transistors with good electrical performance.