• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.3671-3676
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• 2013

A series of carbon nanotube, $C_{60}$, and graphene modified $TiO_2$ nanocomposites were prepared by hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction, $N_2$ adsorption, UV-Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and Electrochemical impedance spectra were used to characterize the prepared composite materials The results reveal that incorporating $TiO_2$ with carbon materials can extend the adsorption edge of all the $TiO_2$-carbon nanocomposites to the visible light region. The photocatalytic activities were tested in the degradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) under visible light. No obvious difference in essence was observed in structural and optical properties among three series of carbon modified $TiO_2$ nanocomposites. Three series of carbon materials modified $TiO_2$ composites follow the analogous tentative reaction mechanism for TCP degradation. GR modified $TiO_2$ nanocomposite exhibits the strongest interaction and the most effective interfacial charge transfer among three carbon materials, thus shows the highest electron-hole separation rate, leading to the highest photocatalytic activity and stability.

• Journal of Applied Reliability
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.78-82
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate failure characteristic and mechanism of four commercial water-repellent coatings for elevated temperature machinery applications. Method: Thermal degradation was performed for up to 64 thermal cycles. 1 cycle consists of 15 minute holding at 523K under 300rpm revolution and 15 minute-natural cooling. Contact angle was measured and microstructure of the coating layer was observed by using a scanning electron microscope. Results: Four kinds of commercial repellent coating showed hydrophobic or super-hydrophobic property implying that all coatings are suitable for room temperature application. Contact angle of three kinds of commercial coatings decreased rapidly after thermal exposure, while only one specimen having hydrophobic surface showed extremely slow degradation. Conclusion: Observed decrease in contact angle of the coatings were attributed to formation of macro-sized pores and disappearance of micro-protrusion during thermal exposure. Optimum water-repellent coating needs to be selected under the consideration of initial contact angle as sell as service temperature.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2015

Cu doping by copper or $Cu_2Te$ materials enhances p+ formation in CdTe near the back contact interface, allowing better formation of ohmic contact. However, the Cu in CdTe junction is also considered as a principal component of CdTe cell degradation. In this paper, Na-doped ZnTe layer was employed as a back contact material to improve the stability of CdTe solar cells. As a process variable, post $CdCl_2$ treatment of CdS/CdTe film was conducted before or after depositing ZnTe:Na on CdTe. The change of the photovoltaic properties of CdTe cells were investigated with aging time. Low-temperature photoluminescence analysis was conducted to describe the degradation mechanism. The result showed that the CdTe solar cells with better stability compare to Cu contact were achieved using an optimized ZnTe:Na back contact.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1025-1031
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• 2009

Several kinds of biodegradable hydrogels were prepared via in situ photopolymerization of Pluronic F127/poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) macromer and acrylic acid (AA) comonomer in aqueous medium. The swelling kinetics measurements showed that the resultant hydrogels exhibited both thermo- and pH-sensitive behaviors, and that this stimuli-responsiveness underwent a fast reversible process. With increasing pH of the local buffer solutions, the pH sensitivity of the hydrogels was increased, while the temperature sensitivity was decreased. In vitro hydrolytic degradation in the buffer solution (pH 7.4, $37^{\circ}C$), the degradation rate of the hydrogels was greatly improved due to the introduction of the AA comonomer. The in vitro release profiles of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in-situ embedded into the hydrogels were also investigated: the release mechanism of BSA based on the Peppas equation was followed Case II diffusion. Such biodegradable dual-sensitive hydrogel materials may have more advantages as a potentially interesting platform for smart drug delivery carriers and tissue engineering scaffolds.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1979-1985
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• 2003

Fretting is a kind of surface degradation mechanism observed in mechanical components and structures. The fretting damage decreases in 50-70% of the plain fatigue strength. This may be observed in the fossil power plant and the nuclear power plant used in special environments and various loading conditions. The thermal degradation of material is observed when the heat resisting steel is exposed for long period time at the high temperature. In the present study, the degraded 1Cr-0.5Mo steel used for long period time at high temperature (about 515$^{\circ}C$) and artificially reheat-treated materials are prepared. These materials are used for evaluating an effect of thermal aging on the fretting fatigue behavior. Through the experiment, it is found that the fretting fatigue endurance limit of the reheat-treated 1Cr-0.5Mo steel decreased about 46% from the non-fretting fatigue endurance limit, while the fretting fatigue endurance limit of the degraded 1Cr-0.5Mo steel decreased about 53% from the non-fretting fatigue endurance limit. The maximum value of fatigue endurance limit difference is observed as 57%(244 MPa) between the fretting fatigue of degraded material and non-fretting fatigue of reheat-treated material. These results can be a basic data to a structural integrity evaluation of heat resisting steel considered to thermal degradation effect.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.97-102
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• 2020

Recently, various degradation mechanisms of lithium secondary battery cathode materials have been revealed. As a result, many studies on overcoming the limitation of cathode materials and realizing new electrochemical properties by controlling the degradation mechanism have been reported. Li-rich layered oxide is one of the most promising cathode materials due to its high reversible capacity. However, the utilization of Li-rich layered oxide has been restricted, because it undergoes a unique atomic structure change during the cycle, in turn resulting in unwanted electrochemical degradations. To understand an atomic structure deterioration mechanism and suggest a research direction of Li-rich layered oxide, we deeply evaluated the atomic structure of 0.4Li₂MnO₃_0.6LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ Li-rich layered oxide during electrochemical cycles, by using an atomic-resolution analysis tool. During a charge process, Li-rich materials undergo a cation migration of transition metal ions from transition metal slab to lithium slab due to the structural instability from lithium vacancies. As a result, the partial structural degradation leads to discharge voltage drop, which is the biggest drawback of Li-rich materials.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.625-630
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• 2009

Embedding of active devices in a printed circuit board has increasingly been adopted as a future electronic technology due to its promotion of high density, high speed and high performance. One responsible technology is to embedded active device into a dielectric substrate with a build-up process, for example a chipin-substrate (CiS) structure. In this study, desmear treatment was performed before Cu metallization on an FR-4 surface in order to improve interfacial adhesion between electroless-plated Cu and FR-4 substrate in Cu via structures in CiS systems. Surface analyses using atomic force microscopy and x-ray photoemission spectroscopy were systematically performed to understand the fundamental adhesion mechanism; results were correlated with peel strength measured by a 90o peel test. Interfacial bonding mechanism between electrolessplated Cu and FR-4 substrate seems to be dominated by a chemical bonding effect resulting from the selective activation of chemical bonding between carbon and oxygen through a rearrangement of C-C bonding rather than from a mechanical interlocking effect. In fact, desmear wet treatment could result in extensive degradation of FR-4 cohesive strength when compared to dry surface-treated Cu/FR-4 structures.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.638-645
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• 2009

High alumina refractory used in a coal gasifier was analyzed and the degradation mechanism by molten slag was investigated. The depth of refractory severely damaged by slag varied between 12~40 mm, including the adhered slag layer. The sample also showed the cracks formed in parallel to the slag/refractory interface. The degree of degradation varied with the micro-structures in the refractory. Fused alumina grains showed the uneven boundary and pore formation just along the edges, while the tablet alumina showed the slag penetrated between sintered alumina around which the formation of Al-Fe phase was observed. Calcium aluminate cements were not observed at the high temperature zone near the slag/refractory interface, probably due to dissolution into molten slag. Around large grains of alumina, rod shape alumina, which appeared to be recrystallized during cooling, were observed, and large pores were also formed around those grains. Therefore, in high alumina refractories, hot molten slag dissolves the bonding phase and rod-shape alumina phase is recrystallized upon cooling. During this process, cracks are developed due to structural change, and the degradation occurs by physical causes such as structural spalling.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2012

Bonding strength of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder joint due to degradation characteristic of OSP surface finish was investigated, compared with SnPb finish. The thickness variation and degradation mechanism of organic solderability preservative(OSP) coating were also analyzed with the number of reflow process. To analyze the degradation degree of solder joint strength, FR-4 PCB coated with OSP and SnPb were experienced preheat treatment as a function of reflow number from 1st to 6th pass, respectively. After 2012 chip resistors were soldered with Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu on the pre-heated PCB, the shear strength of solder joints was measured. The thickness of OSP increased with increase of the number of reflow pass by thermal degradation during the reflow process. It was also observed that the preservation effect of OSP decreased due to OSP degradation which led Cu pad oxidation. The mean shear strength of solder joints formed on the Cu pads finished with OSP and SnPb were 58.1 N and 62.2 N, respectively, through the pre-heating of 6 times. Although OSP was degraded with reflow process, the feasibility of its application was proven.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.424-430
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• 2000

In order to develop an ultrasonic evaluation method for properties degradation of high temperature materials, a number of Cr-Mo-V steel samples were heat-treated and their damage mechanism was examined. Ultrasonic parameters such as velocity, attenuation, and more recently developed nonlinear acoustic parameter were measured. The nonlinear acoustic parameter was found to be most sensitive to material degradation mainly attributed to the precipitation of impurities in grain boundaries. When compared to the electrical resistivity results, the nonlinear parameters showed similar behavior. There existed a relatively good correlation between the nonlinear parameter and the fracture appearance transition temperature (FATT) obtained by Charpy V-notch impact test. Based on the relationship between the FATT and the fracture toughness ($K_{IC}$), correlation between the nonlinear parameter and $K_{IC}$ was established.