• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
• /
• 2016.11a
• /
• pp.59-75
• /
• 2016

Reduced or black $TiO_{2-x}$ materials with oxygen-deficiency have been achieved by creating oxygen vacancies and/or defects at the surface using different methods. Fascinatingly, they exhibited an extended absorption in VIS and IR instead of only UV light with bandgap decrease from 3.2 (anatase) to ~1 eV. However, despite the dramatic enhancement of optical absorption in black $TiO_{2-x}$ materials, they have failed to show expected visible light-assisted water splitting efficiency. This was ascribed to the high concentration of the surface defects and/or oxygen vacancies, considered as an electron donor to enhance donor density and improve the charge transportation in black $TiO_2$ can also act as charge recombination centers, which eventually decrease photocatalytic activity. Therefore, a black ot reducd $TiO_2$ material with optimized properties would be highly desired for visible light photocatalysis. In this report, a new controlled magnesiothermic reduction has been developed to synthesize reduced black $TiO_{2-x}$ in the presence $H_2/Ar$ for photocatalytic $H_2$ production from methanol-water system. The material possesses an optimum band gap and band position, oxygen vacancies, and surface defects and shows significantly improved optical absorption in the visible and infrared region. The synergistic effects enable the reduced $TiO_{2-x}$ material to show an excellent hydrogen production ability along with long-term stability under the full solar wavelength range of light and visible light, respectively, in the methanol-water system in the presence of Pt as a co-catalyst. These values are superior to those of previously reported black $TiO_2$ materials. On the basis of all the results, it can be realized that the outstanding activity and stability of the reduced of $TiO_{2-x}$ NPs suggest that a balanced combination of different factors like $Ti^{3+}$, surface defects, oxygen vacancy, and recombination center is achieved along with optimized bandgap and band position during the preparation employing magnesiothermic reduction in the presence of $H_2$. The controlled magnesiothermic reduction in the presence of $H_2$ is one of the best alternative ways to produce active and stable $TiO_2-based$ photocatalyst for $H_2$ production.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.214-218
• /
• 2020

In this study, Mg_xZn_1-xO thin films, which can be applied not only to active layers of light-emitting devices (LEDs), such as UV-LEDs, but also to solar cells, high mobility field-effect transistors, and power semiconductor devices, are fabricated using the sol-gel method. ZnO and Mg_0.3Zn_0.7O solution synthesized by the sol-gel method and the thin film were grown by spin coating on a Si (100) substrate and sapphire substrate. The solutions are synthesized by dissolving precursor materials in 2-methoxyethanol (2-ME) solvent, and then monoethanolamine (MEA) was added to the mixed solution as a sol stabilizer. Zinc acetate dihydrate is used as a ZnO precursor, while Mg nitrate hexahydrate and Mg acetate tetrahydrate are used as an MgO precursor. Then, the optical and structural characteristics of the fabricated thin films are compared. The molar concentration of the Zn precursor in the solvent is fixed at 0.3 M, and the amount of the Mg precursor is 30% of Mg²⁺/Zn²⁺. The optical characteristics are measured using an UV-vis spectrophotometer, and the transmittance of each wavelength is measured. Structural characteristics are measured using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Composition analyses are performed using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The Mg_0.3Zn_0.7O thin film was well formed at the ratio of the Mg precursor added regardless of the type of Mg precursor, and the c-axis of the thin film was decreased, while the band gap was increased to 3.56 eV.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.347-351
• /
• 2014

We studied the green synthesis and antibacterial activity of chitosan-silver (Ag) nanocomposite films for application in food packaging. Green synthesis of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) was achieved by a chemical reaction involving a mixture of chitosan-silver nitrate ($AgNO_3$) in an autoclave at 0.1 MPa, $121^{\circ}C$, for 15-120 s. The formation of AgNPs in chitosan was confirmed by both UV-Visible spectrophotometry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the effects of chitosan-$AgNO_3$ concentration and reaction time on the synthesis of AgNPs in chitosan were examined. The resulting chitosan-Ag composite films were characterized by various analytical techniques and their antibacterial activity was evaluated based on the formation of halo zones around films, indicating inhibition of the growth of Escherichia coli. A fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis showed that free amino groups in chitosan acted as effective reductants and AgNP stabilizers. The composite films exhibited enhanced antibacterial activity with increasing Ag content on the surface of as-prepared composite films.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.25 no.10
• /
• pp.805-810
• /
• 2012

Transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) have wide range of application areas in transparent electrode for display devices, Transparent coating for solar energy heat mirrors, and electromagnetic wave shield. $SnO_2$ is intrinsically an n-type semiconductor due to oxygen deficiencies and has a high energy-band gap more than 3.5 eV. It is known as a transparent conducting oxide because of its low resistivity of $10^{-3}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ and high transmittance over 90% in visible region. In this study, co-doping effects of Al and Y on the properties of $SnO_2$ were investigated. The addition of Y in $SnO_2$ was tried to create oxygen vacancies that increase the diffusivity of oxygen ions for the densification of $SnO_2$. The addition of Al was expected to increase the electron concentration. Once, we observed solubility limit of $SnO_2$ single-doped with Al and Y. $\{(x/2)Al_2O_3+(x/2)Y_2O_3\}-SnO_2$ was used for the source of Al and Y to prevent the evaporation of $Al_2O_3$ and for the charge compensation. And we observed the valence changes of aluminium oxide because generally reported of valence changes of aluminium oxide in Tin - Aluminium binary system. The electrical properties, solubility limit, densification and microstructure of $SnO_2$ co-doped with Al and Y will be discussed.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.105-119
• /
• 2012

Indigenous bacteria isolated from contaminated sites play important roles to remediate contaminated groundwater. Chromium has the most stable oxidation states. Cr(VI) is toxic, carcinogenic, and mobile, but Cr(III) is less toxic and immobile. In this study, indigenous microorganism (MMPH-0) was enriched from Cr(VI) contaminated groundwater, and identified by 16S rRNA gene analysis. Using MMPH-0, the effect of stimulating with e-donors (glucose, lactate, acetate, and no e-donor control), respiration conditions, biomass, tolerance, and geochemical changes on Cr(VI) reduction were investigated in batch experiments for 4 weeks. The changes of Cr(VI) concentration and geochemical conditions were monitored using UV-vis-spectrophotometer and Eh-pH meter. And the morphological and chemical characteristics of MMPH-0 and precipitates in the effluents were characterized by TEM-EDS and SEM-EDS analyses. MMPH-0 (Enterobacter aerogenes) was able to tolerate up to 2000 mg/L Cr(VI) and reduce Cr(VI) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. MMPH-0 performed faster and higher efficiency of Cr(VI) reduction with electron donors (over 70% after 1 week with e-donor, 10-20% after 4 weeks without e-donor). The changes of Eh-pH in effluents showing the tendency from oxidizing to reducing condition and a bit of acidic change in pH due to microbial oxidation of organic matters donating electrons and protons suggested the roles of MMPH-0 on Cr(VI) in the contaminated water catalyzing to transit geochemical stable zone for more stable $Cr(OH)_3$ or Cr(III) precipitates. TEM/SEM-EDS analyses of MMPH-0 and precipitates indicate direct and indirect Cr(VI) reduction: extracellular polymers capturing Cr component outside cells. These results suggested diverse indigenous bacteria and their biogeochemical reactions might enhance more effective and feasible remediation technology of redox sensitive heavy metals in metal-contaminated in groundwater.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.11 no.6
• /
• pp.994-1001
• /
• 2001

An easier way of understanding the BNR system was proposed from the study on substrate, nutrient removal tendency, microbial community and its metabolic function by applying the municipal settled sewage. During the anaerobic period, the phosphorus release rate per VFACOD we varied depending on the phosphorus content in the sludge. When the phosphorus content in the sludge was $6\%$ VSS, according to influent VFACOD, the phosphorus release rate and PHA production were $0.35 gPO_4P/gVFACOD$ and 1.0 gPHA/gVFACOD, respectively. The $NO_3N$ requirement for the phosphorus uptake as an electron acceptor was about $0.5 gNO_3N/gPO_4P_{uptake}$ based on the proposed equation with PHA, biomass, production, and the concentration of phosphorus release/uptake. Bacterial-community analysis of the sludge, as determined by FISH and 16SrDNA characterization FISH, revealed that the beta-subclass proteobacteria were the most abundant group ($27.9\%$ of the proteobacteria-specific probe EUB338), and it was likely that representative of the beta-subclass played key roles in activated sludge. The next dominant group found was the gamma-protebacteria ($15.4\%$ of probe EUB338). 16S rDNA clone library analysis showed that the members of${\beta}$- and ${\gamma}$-proteobacteria were also the most abundant groups, and $21.5\%$ (PN2 and PN4) and $15.4\%$ (PN1 and PN5) of total clones were the genera of denitrifying bacteria and PAO, respectively. Prediction of the microbial community composition was made with phosphorus content (Pv, $\%$ P/VSS) in wasted sludge and profiles of COD, PHA, $PO_4P,\;and\;NO_3N$ in an anaerobic-anoxic SBR unit. Generally, the predicted microbial composition based upon metabolic function, i.e., as measured by stoichiometry, is fairly similar to that measure by the unculturable dependent method. In this study, a proposal was made on he microbial community composition that was more easily approached to analyze the reactor behavior.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.147-156
• /
• 2005

It is well-known that polyethersulfone (PES) has high $CO_2$ selectivity over $N_2\;(or\;CH_4)$ and excellent pressure resistance of $CO_2$ plasticization among muy commercialized engineering plastics[1-4]. Asymmetric PES hollow fiber membranes for flue gas separation were developed by dry-wet spinning technique. The dope solution consists of PES, NMP and acetone. Water and water/NMP mixtures are used in outer and inner coagulants, respectively. Gas permeation rate (i.e., permeance) and $CO_2/N_2$ selectivity were measured with pure gas, respectively and the micro-structure of hollow fiber membranes was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The effects of polymer concentration, ratio of NMP to acetone, length of air gap, evaporation condition and silicone coating were investigated on the $CO_2/N_2$ separation properties of the hollow fibers. Optimized PES hollow fiber membranes exhibited high permeance of $25\~50$ GPU and $CO_2/N_2$ selectivity of $30\~40$ at room temperature and have the apparent skin layer thickness of about $0.1\;{\mu}m$. The developed PES hollow fiber membranes, would be a good candidate suitable for the flue gas separation process.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.347-351
• /
• 2003

II-Ⅵ ZnO compound semiconductor thin films were grown on $\alpha$-Al$_2$O$_3$(0001) single crystal substrate by radical beam assisted molecular beam epitaxy and the optical properties were investigated. Zn(6N) was evaporated using Knudsen cell and O radical was assisted at the partial pressure of 1$\times$10$^{4}$ Torr and radical beam source of 250-450 W RF power. In $\theta$-2$\theta$ x-ray diffraction analysis, ZnO thin film with 500 nm thickness showed only ZnO(0002)and ZnO(0004) peaks is believed to be well grown along c-axis orientation. Photoluminescence (PL) measurement using He-Cd ($\lambda$=325 nm) laser is obtained in the temperature range of 9 K-300 K. At 9 K and 300 K, only near band edge (NBE) is observed and the FWHM's of PL peak of the ZnO deposited at 450 RF power are 45 meV and 145 meV respectively. From no observation of any weak deep level peak even at room temperature PL, the ZnO grains are regarded to contain very low defect density and impurity to cause the deep-level defects. The peak position of free exciton showed slightly red-shift as temperature was increased, and from this result the binding energy of free exciton can be experimentally determined as much as $58\pm$0.5 meV, which is very closed to that of ZnO bulk. By van der Pauw 4-point probe measurement, the grown ZnO is proved to be n-type with the electron concentration($n_{e}$ ) $1.69$\times$10^{18}$$cm^3$, mobility($\mu$) $-12.3\textrm{cm}^2$/Vㆍs, and resistivity($\rho$) 0.30 $\Omega$$\cdot$cm.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.419-426
• /
• 2009

The antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of acid-soluble and pepsin-solubilizable shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) collagens (SC) (ASSC: acid-soluble shark skin collagen, ASMC: acid-soluble shark meat collagen, PSSC: pepsin-solubilizable shark skin collagen, PSMC: pepsin-solubilizable shark meat collagen) and standard marine collagen (STMC) as materials, and the ability of these materials to inhibit tyrosinase and elastase, were investigated. The electron-donating ability of SC ($1{\sim}5\;g/mL$) was $14.91{\sim}17.21%$, which was $3.0{\sim}3.6$-fold higher than that of STMC at the same concentration. Also, the SOD(superoxide dismutase)-like activity of SC (5.80 mg/mL) was $4.67{\sim}37.28%$, thus $3.0{\sim}3.6$-fold greater than that of STMC. The MIC values of SC against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enteritidis were $5{\mu}g$/disc, which were remarkably lower than that of STMC ($200{\mu}g$/disc). There was no antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli in STMC, but the MIC against E. coli was $200{\mu}g$/disc for acid-soluble SC and $100{\mu}g$/disc for pepsin-solubilizable SC. The inhibition of tyrosinase by SC (3-5 mg/mL) was $58.95{\sim}98.16%$, $3.34{\sim}3.74$-fold higher than that of STMC ($17.67{\sim}26.25%$). Also, elastase inhibition by SC (at 1 mg/mL) was $53.33{\sim}80.0%$, $1.1{\sim}4.0$-fold greater than that of STMC. These results indicated that shark collagens may be valuable new functional materials owing to their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and because the inhibitory activities against elastase and tyrosinase are better than those of standard marine collagen.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.172-179
• /
• 2003

This study was carried out to find the preventive medical and therapeutic effects of Sarcodon asparatus on adult disease by employing several biological and biochemical assays. Nitrate scavenging ability(NSA) of Sarcodan asparatus extracts was displayed up to 99.9% at pH 1.2 in a dose-dependent manner. They also had 90.4% electron donating ability(EDA) at the concentration of 0.1 mg/mL. Extracts of Sarcodon asparatus were also able to function as a powerful antioxidant at all concentrations(0.01∼l.0 mg/mL). Furthermore, we observed that 1 mg/mL concentration of the extracts was more powerful than BHT, With respect to fibrolytic activity, Sarcodon asparatus showed 1,843.8 unit/g, which was higher than streptokinase(1,189 unit/g). The inhibitory effects of the extracts on angiotensin converting enzyme, measured by the normal and pretreatment methods, were 53 and 58%, respectively. We also performed cytotoxicity effect of Sarcodon asparatus extracts on a various cancer cell lines. The growth inhibitory effects of the extracts(5.0 mg/mL) on A549, HeLa, AGS, and SK-Hep-1 cells were 78.9, 55.3, 69.0, and 42.5 %, respectively. Interestingly, Sarcodon asparatusextracts induced mutation on Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 when Ames test was done.