• Carbon letters
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• v.24
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• pp.103-110
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• 2017

Carbon-based magnetic nanostructures in several instances have resulted in improved physicochemical and catalytic properties when compared to multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and magnetic nanoparticles. In this study, magnetic MWCNTs with a structure of $Ni_xZn_xFe_2O_4/MWCNT$ as peroxidase mimics were fabricated by the one-pot hydrothermal method. The structure, composition and morphology of the nanocomposites were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The magnetic properties were investigated with a vibrating sample magnetometer. The peroxidase-like catalytic activity of the nanocomposites was investigated by colorimetric and electrochemical tests with 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and $H_2O_2$ as the substrates. The results show that the synthesis of the nanocomposites was successfully performed. XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline structures of the $Ni_xZn_xFe_2O_4/MWCNT$ nanohybrids and MWCNTs. The main peaks of the $Ni_xZn_xFe_2O_4/MWCNT$s crystals were presented. The $Ni_{0.25}Zn_{0.25}Fe_2O_4/MWCNT$ and $Ni_{0.5}Zn_{0.5}Fe_2O_4/MWCNT$ nanocatalysts showed nearly similar physicochemical properties, but the $Ni_{0.5}Zn_{0.5}Fe_2O_4/MWCNT$ nanocatalyst was more appropriate than the $Ni_{0.25}Zn_{0.25}Fe_2O_4/MWCNT$ nanocatalyst in terms of the magnetic properties and catalytic activity. The optimum peroxidase-like activity of the nanocatalysts was obtained at pH 3.0. The $Ni_{0.5}Zn_{0.5}Fe_2O_4/MWCNT$ nanocatalyst exhibited a good peroxidase-like activity. These magnetic nanocatalysts can be suitable candidates for future enzyme-based applications such as the detection of glucose and $H_2O_2$.

• Nano
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.1850134.1-1850134.10
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• 2018

Increasing active sites and enhancing electric conductivity are critical factors to improve sensing performance toward phenol. Herein, Ni nanoparticle was successfully anchored on acidified multiwalled carbon nanotube (a-MWCNT) surface by electroless plating technique to avoid Ni nanoparticle agglomeration and guarantee high conductivity. The crystal structure, phase composition and surface morphology were characterized by XRD, SEM and TEM measurement. The as-prepared Ni/a-MWCNT nanohybrid was immobilized onto glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface for constructing phenol sensor. The phenol sensing performance indicated that Ni/a-MWCNT/GCE exhibited an amazing detection performance with rapid response time of 4 s, a relatively wide detection range from 0.01 mM to 0.48 mM, a detection limit of $7.07{\mu}M$ and high sensitivity of $566.2{\mu}A\;mM^{-1}\;cm^{-2}$. The superior selectivity, reproducibility, stability and applicability in real sample of Ni/a-MWCNT/GCE endowed it with potential application in discharged wastewater.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2022

Recently, research on the development of low-cost/high-efficiency water electrolysis catalysts to replace noble metal catalysts is being actively conducted. Since overvoltage reduces the overall efficiency of the water splitting device, lowering the overvoltage of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the most important task in order to generate hydrogen more efficiently. Currently, noble metal catalysts show excellent characteristics in OER performance, but they are experiencing great difficulties in commercialization due to their high price and efficiency limitations due to low reactivity. In this study, a water electrolysis catalyst Ni-MWCNT was prepared by successfully doping Ni into the MWCNTs structure through the pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) process. High resolution-transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were performed for the structure and chemical composition of the synthesized Ni-MWCNT. Catalytic oxygen evolution reaction evaluation was performed by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) overvoltage characteristics, Tafel slope, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and Chronoamperometry (CA) was used for measurement.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.269-272
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• 2005

Nondestructive damage sensing and load transferring mechanism of Ni nanowire strands and multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/epoxy composites were investigated using electro-micromechanical techniques. MWCNT composite was especially prepared for high volume contents, 50 vol % of reinforcement. Electro-micromechanical techniques were applied to measure apparent modulus and contact resistance of Ni nanocomposites with their alignment and different diameters, and adding contents. Applied cyclic load affected on apparent modulus and electrical properties on nanocomposites due to various inherent properties of each CNMs. Contact resistivity on humidity sensing was a good indicator for monitoring as for multifunctional applications. Further study on actuation as well as sensing will be investigated for the following work continuously.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.449-454
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• 2013

In this work, the effect of electroless Ni-plating of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on thermal conductivity and fracture toughness properties of MWCNTs/$Al_2O_3$/epoxy composites was investigated. The surface properties of the Ni-plated MWCNTs were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Thermal conductivity was tested using a thermal conductivity measuring system. The fracture toughness of the composites was carried out through the critical stress intensity factor ($K_{IC}$) measurement. As a result, the electroless Ni-plated MWCNTs led to a significant change of surface characteristics of the MWCNTs. Thermal conductivity and fracture toughness of the MWCNTs/$Al_2O_3$/epoxy composites were greater than those of non-treated ones. These results were probably due to the improvement of intermolecular interaction between the Ni-MWCNTs and the matrix resins.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2012

This paper reported a simple deposition-precipitation method, introducing the metal (Ni, Ag and Sn) and $Na_2S{\cdot}5H_2O$ to preparedispersion metal sulfide nanoparticles on the surface of the Multi-walled carbon nanotube for synthesis of CNT-$M_xS_y$ ($NiS_2$, $Ag_2S$, SnS) composite photocatalysts. The characterization of the prepared CNT-$M_xS_y$ ($NiS_2$, $Ag_2S$, SnS) composites was performed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis and BET analysis. Furthermore, the MB degradation rate constant for CNT-SnS composite was $5.68{\times}10^{-3}$ under visible light irradiation, which was much higher than the corresponding values for other samples. The detailed formation and photocatalytic mechanism are also provided here.

• Carbon letters
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• v.21
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• pp.33-50
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• 2017

In this study, Fe-Ni bimetallic catalyst supported on kaolin is prepared by a wet impregnation method. The effects of mass of kaolin support, pre-calcination time, pre-calcination temperature and stirring speed on catalyst yields are examined. Then, the optimal supported Fe-Ni catalyst is utilised to produce multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using catalytic chemical vapour deposition (CCVD) method. The catalysts and MWCNTs prepared using the optimal conditions are characterized using high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), high-resolution scanning electron microscope (HRSEM), electron diffraction spectrometer (EDS), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD/EDS patterns of the prepared catalyst confirm the formation of a purely crystalline ternary oxide ($NiFe_2O_4$). The statistical analysis of the variance demonstrates that the combined effects of the reaction temperature and acetylene flow rate predominantly influenced the MWCNT yield. The $N_2$ adsorption (BET) and TGA analyses reveal high surface areas and thermally stable MWCNTs. The HRTEM/HRSEM micrographs confirm the formation of tangled MWCNTs with a particle size of less than 62 nm. The XRD patterns of the MWCNTs reveal the formation of a typical graphitized carbon. This study establishes the production of MWCNTs from a bi-metallic catalyst supported on kaolin.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.499-504
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• 2015

The composite anodes of expanded graphite (EG) and multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) for microbial fuel cells were fabricated by using coal tar pitch (CTP) binder containing nickel (Ni), and the effect of the anodes with the binders on the performance of the MFCs were examined in a batch reactor. During the start-up of the MFCs, quick increase in voltage was observed after a short lag phase time, indicating that the CTP binder is biocompatible. The biomass attatched on the anode surface was more at higher Ni content in the binder, as well as at smaller amount of CTP binder for the fabrication of the anode. The internal resistance of the MFC was smaller for the anode with more biomass. Based on the results, the ideal combination of CTP and Ni for the CTP binder for anode was 2 g and 0.2 g, respectively. The maximum power density was $731.8mW/m^2$, which was higher 23.7% than the anode with Nafion binder as control. The CTP binder containing Ni for the fabrication of anode is a good alternative in terms of performance and economics of MFCs.

• Carbon letters
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• v.28
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• pp.72-80
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• 2018

In this study, an empirical relationship between the energy band gap of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and synthesis parameters in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor using factorial design of experiment was established. A bimetallic (Fe-Ni) catalyst supported on $CaCO_3$ was synthesized via wet impregnation technique and used for MWCNT growth. The effects of synthesis parameters such as temperature, time, acetylene flow rate, and argon carrier gas flow rate on the MWCNTs energy gap, yield, and aspect ratio were investigated. The as-prepared supported bimetallic catalyst and the MWCNTs were characterized for their morphologies, microstructures, elemental composition, thermal profiles and surface areas by high-resolution scanning electron microscope, high resolution transmission electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermal gravimetry analysis and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller. A regression model was developed to establish the relationship between band gap energy, MWCNTs yield and aspect ratio. The results revealed that the optimum conditions to obtain high yield and quality MWCNTs of 159.9% were: temperature ($700^{\circ}C$), time (55 min), argon flow rate ($230.37mL\;min^{-1}$) and acetylene flow rate ($150mL\;min^{-1}$) respectively. The developed regression models demonstrated that the estimated values for the three response variables; energy gap, yield and aspect ratio, were 0.246 eV, 557.64 and 0.82. The regression models showed that the energy band gap, yield, and aspect ratio of the MWCNTs were largely influenced by the synthesis parameters and can be controlled in a CVD reactor.