• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.35 no.9
• /
• pp.2660-2664
• /
• 2014

A simple method of depositing titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) nanoparticles onto graphene oxide (GO) as a catalytic support was devised for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). Thiol groups were utilized as linkers to secure the $TiO_2$ nanoparticles. The resultant GO-supported $TiO_2$ (GO-$TiO_2$) sample was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements, revealing that the anatase $TiO_2$ nanoparticles had effectively anchored to the GO surface. In the photodegradation of MB, GO-$TiO_2$ exhibited remarkably enhanced photocatalytic efficiency compared with thiolated GO and pure $TiO_2$ nanoparticles. Moreover, after five-cycle photodegradation experiment, no obvious deactivation was observed. The overall results showed that thiolated GO provides a good support substrate and, thereby, enhances the photodegradation effectiveness of the composite photocatalyst.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.19-25
• /
• 2023

Due to high application of concrete structures in construction industry, however, the quality improvement is essential. One of the new ways for this purpose is adding the nanoparticles to the concrete. In this work, vibration analysis of concrete beams reinforced by graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles based on mathematical model has been investigated. For the accuracy of the presented model, the experimental study is done for comparing the compressive strength. Since the nanoparticles can not be solved in water without any specific process, at the first, GO nanoparticles should be dispersed in water by using shaker, magnetic striker, ultrasonic devices and finally mechanical mixer. For modelling of the strucuture, sinusoidal shear deformation beam theory (SSDBT) is utilized. Mori-Tanak model model is utilized for obtaining the effective properties of the beam including agglomeration influences. Utilizing the energy method and Hamilton's principal, the motion equations are calculated. The frequency of the concrete beam is obtanied by analytical method. Three samples with 0.02% GO nanoparticles are built and its compressive strength is compared which shows a good accuracy with maximum 1.29% difference with mathematical model and other papers. The aim of this work from the theoretical study is investigating the effects of nanoparticles volume percentage and agglomeration, length and thickness of the beam on the frequency of the structure. The results show that the with enhancing the GO nanoparticles, the frequency is increased. For example, with enhancing the volume percent of GO nanoparticles from zero to 0.08%, the compressive strength is increased 48.91%. and 46.83%, respectively for two cases of with and without agglomeration.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.73-79
• /
• 2022

Due to the extensive use of concrete structures in various applications, the improvement of their strength and quality has become of great importance. A new way of achieving this purpose is to add different types of nanoparticles to concrete admixtures. In this work, a mathematical model has been employed to analyze the vibration of concrete beams reinforced by graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles. To verify the accuracy of the presented model, an experimental study has been conducted to compare the compressive strengths of these beams. Since GO nanoparticles are not readily dissolved in water, before producing the concrete samples, the GO nanoparticles are dispersed in the mixture by using a shaker, magnetic striker, ultrasonic devices, and finally, by means of a mechanical mixer. The sinusoidal shear deformation beam theory (SSDBT) is employed to model the concrete beams. The Mori-Tanaka model is used to determine the effective properties of the structure, including the agglomeration influences. The motion equations are calculated by applying the energy method and Hamilton's principle. The vibration frequencies of the concrete beam samples are obtained by an analytical method. Three samples containing 0.02% GO nanoparticles are made and their compressive strengths are measured and compared. There is a good agreement between our results and those of the mathematical model and other papers, with a maximum difference of 1.29% between them. The aim of this work is to investigate the effects of nanoparticle volume fraction and agglomeration and the influences of beam length and thickness on the vibration frequency of concrete structures. The results show that by adding the GO nanoparticles, the vibration frequency of the beams is increased.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.11
• /
• pp.3261-3264
• /
• 2013

Carbon nanocomposites composed of carbon nanostructures and metal nanoparticles have become one of useful materials for various applications. Here we present the preparation and antibacterial activity of CNT-Ag and GO-Ag nanocomposites. Their physical properties were characterized by TEM, XPS, and Raman measurements, revealing that size-similar and quasi-spherical Ag nanoparticles were anchored to the surface of the CNT and GO. The antibacterial activities of CNT-Ag and GO-Ag were investigated using the growth curve method and minimal inhibitory concentrations against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The antibacterial activities of the carbon nanocomposites were slightly different against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The proposed mechanism was discussed.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.12
• /
• pp.3586-3590
• /
• 2013

We present here an efficient and simple method for preparation of highly active heterogeneous ZnO photocatalyst (graphene oxide-zinc oxide: GO-ZnO), specifically by deposition of ZnO nanoparticles onto thiolated GOs. The resultant GO-ZnO sample was characterized by TEM, XRD, Auger, XPS, and Raman measurements, revealing that the size-similar and quasi-spherical ZnO nanoparticles were anchored to the thiolated GO surfaces. The average particle diameter was about 2.5 nm. In the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) under ultraviolet (UV) light, GO-ZnO exhibited remarkably enhanced photocatalytic efficiency compared with thiolated GO and pure ZnO particles. This strong photocatalytic performance of GO-ZnO can be attributed to the suppression of electron recombination and the enhancement of mass transportation. The results showed that thiolated GO is the preferable supporting material.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.209-214
• /
• 2024

Graphene oxide (GO), known for its high stiffness, thermal conductivity, and electrical conductivity, is being utilized as a reinforcement in nanocomposite materials. This study evaluates the mechanical properties of epoxy nanocomposites incorporating GO and edge modified GO (E-GO), which has hydroxyl groups substituted only on its edges. GO/E-GO was uniformly dispersed in epoxy resin using ultrasonic dispersion, and mechanical properties were assessed through tensile testing. The results showed that the addition of nanoparticles increased both tensile strength and toughness. The tensile strength of the epoxy without nanoparticles was 74.4 MPa, while the highest tensile strength of 90.7 MPa was observed with 0.3 wt% E-GO. Additionally, the modulus increased from 2.55 GPa to 3.53 GPa with the addition of nanoparticles. Field emission scanning electron microscopy of the fracture surface revealed that the growth of cracks was impeded by the nanoparticles, preventing complete fracture and causing the cracks to split in multiple directions. E-GO, with surface treatment only on the edges, exhibited higher mechanical properties than GO due to its superior dispersion and surface treatment effects. These results highlight the importance of nanoparticle surface treatment in developing high-performance nanocomposite materials.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.67 no.6
• /
• pp.415-419
• /
• 2023

In this study, we report the one-pot synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) containing platinum nanoparticles with catalytic activity to break down hydrogen peroxide as a peroxidase-mimicking catalyst. A single reducing agent was used to reduce graphene oxide and a platinum precursor at a moderately low temperature of 70℃. The rGO was homogeneously decorated with platinum nanoparticles. The catalytic activity of Pt-rGO was investigated for the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'- tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), a peroxidase substrate, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The Pt-rGO coupled with glucose oxidase was also able to detect glucose at millimolar concentrations (up to 1 mM). Our results show that the Pt-rGO composite is a promising catalyst for the detection of hydrogen peroxide. This method was also applied for the detection of glucose.

• Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
• /
• v.67
• /
• pp.417-428
• /
• 2018

In this study, we fabricated hierarchically self-assembled thin films composed of graphene oxide (GO) sheets and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) and Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) techniques and investigated their gas-sensing performance. First, a thermally oxidized silicon wafer ($Si/SiO_2$) was hydrophobized by depositing the LB films of cadmium arachidate. Thin films of ligand-capped Au NPs and GO sheets of the appropriate size were then sequentially transferred onto the hydrophobic silicon wafer using the LB and the LS techniques, respectively. Several different films were prepared by varying the ligand type, film composition, and surface pressure of the spread monolayer at the air/water interface. Their structures were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), and their gas-sensing performance for $NH_3$ and $CO_2$ was assessed. The thin films of dodecanethiol-capped Au NPs and medium-sized GO sheets had a better hierarchical structure with higher uniformity and exhibited better gas-sensing performance.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.206-209
• /
• 2013

Nanocomposites comprised of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles were synthesized by a sol-gel process. The synthesized samples were studied by X-ray powder diffraction, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The results show that the MgO nanoparticles, with an average diameter of 70 nm, are decorated uniformly on the surface of the GOs. By controlling the concentration of the MgO precursors and reaction cycles, it was possible to control the loading density and the size of the resulting MgO particles. Because the MgO particles are robustly anchored on the GO structure, the MgO/GOs nanocomposites will have future applications in the fields of adsorption and chemical sensing.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.1199-1204
• /
• 2013

Nanocomposites consisting of Sn nanoparticles and graphene oxide (GO) were electrophoretically deposited onto Cu current collectors that was used for anodes in Li ion batteries (LIBs). In order to optimize the electrochemical performance of nanocomposites as an anode material by controlling the oxygen functionality, the GO was subjected to $O_3$ treatment prior to electrophoretic deposition (EPD). During thermal reduction of the GO in the nanocomposites, the Sn nanoparticles were reduced in size, along with the formation of SnO and/or $SnO_2$ at a small fraction, relying on the oxygen functionalities of the GO. The variation in the duration of time for the $O_3$ irradiation resulted in a small change in total oxygen content, but in a significantly different fraction of each functional group in the GO, which influenced the Sn nanoparticle size and the amount of SnO (and/or $SnO_2$). As a result, the EPD films prepared with the GO that possessed the least amount of carboxylic groups (made by treating GO in an $O_3$ environment for 3 h) showed the best performance, when compared with the nanocomposites composed of untreated GO or GO that was $O_3$-treated for a duration of less than 3 h.