• Advances in nano research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.231-244
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• 2017

Graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by modified Hummer's method to produce reduced graphene oxide (RGO) following standard thermal and chemical reduction processes. Prepared RGO colloids were utilized to fabricate RGO films over glass and FTO coated glass substrates through drop-coating. A systematic study was performed to evaluate the effect of reduction degree on the optical and electrical properties of the RGO film. We demonstrate that both the reduction process (thermal and chemical) produce RGO films of similar optical and electrical behaviors. However, the RGO films fabricated using chemically reduced GO colloid render better performance in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), when they are used as counter electrodes (CEs). It has been demonstrated that RGO films of optimum thicknesses fabricated using RGO colloids prepared using lower concentration of hydrazine reducer have better catalytic performance in DSSCs due to a better catalytic interaction with redox couple. The better catalytic performance of the RGO films fabricated at optimal hydrazine concentration is associated to their higher available surface area and lower grain boundaries.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.1593-1601
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• 2021

Oxide dispersion strengthening (ODS) tungsten alloys are highly desirable in irradiation applications. However, how to improve the properties of ODS-tungsten alloys efficiently has been worth studying for a long time. Here we report a nanostructuring approach that achieves W-La₂O₃ alloy with a high level of flexural strength and Vickers hardness at room temperature, which have the maximum value of 581 MPa and 703 Hv, respectively. This method named solution combustion synthesis (SCS) can generate 30 nm coating structures W-La₂O₃ composite powders by using Keggin-type structural polyoxometalates as raw materials in a fast and low-cost process. The composite powder can be fabricated to W-La₂O₃ alloy with an optimal microstructure of submicrometric W grains coexisting with nanometric oxide particles in the grain interior, and a stability interface structure of grain boundaries (GBs) by forming transition zones. The method can be used to prepare new ODS alloys with excellent properties in the future.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.109-116
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• 2016

To achieve the fabrication of high-quality Ag-coated Cu particles through a wet chemical process, we reported herein pretreatment conditions using an ammonium-based mixed solvent for the removal of a $Cu_2O$ layer on Cu particles that were oxidized in air for 1 hr at $200^{\circ}C$ or for 3 days at room temperature. Furthermore, we discussed the results of post-Ag plating with respect to removal level of the oxide layer. X-ray diffraction results revealed that the removal rate of the oxide layer is directly proportional to the concentration of the pretreatment solvent. With the results of Auger electron spectroscopy using oxidized Cu plates, the concentrations required to completely remove 50-nm-thick and 2-nm-thick oxides within 5 min were determined to be X2.5 and X0.13. However, the optimal concentrations in an actual Ag plating process using Cu powder increased to X0.4 and X0.5, respectively, because the oxidation in powder may be accelerated and the complete removal of oxide should be tuned to the thickest oxide layer among all the particles. Back-scattered electron images showed the formation of pure fine Ag particles instead of a uniform and smooth Ag coating in the Ag plating performed after incomplete removal of the oxide layer, indicating that the remaining oxide layer obstructs heterogeneous nucleation and plating by reduced Ag atoms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.105-110
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• 2020

Radioactive Oxides are formed on the surface of the primary equipment in a nuclear power plant. In order to remove the oxide film that is formed on the surfaces of the equipment, chemical and physical decontamination technologies are used. The disadvantage of traditional technologies is that they produce secondary radioactive wastes. Therefore, in this study, the short-pulsed laser eco-friendly technology was used in order to reduce production of the secondary radioactive wastes. They were also used to minimize the damages that were caused on the base material and to remove the contaminated oxide film. The study was carried out using a Stainless steel 304 specimen that was coated with nickel-ferrite particles. Further, the laser source was selected with two different wavelengths. Furthermore, the depth of the coating layer was analyzed using a 3D laser microscope by changing the laser ablation conditions. Based on the analysis, the optimal conditions of ablation were determined using a 1064nm short-pulsed laser ablation technique in order to remove the radioactively contaminated oxide film from the irradiated stainless steel surface.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.439-445
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• 2022

In this study, Silicon and petroleum pitch were coated on the surface of Si/C fiber manufactured using electrospinning to improve the electrochemical performances. SiO₂/PAN fiber was prepared by electrospinning with TEOS and PAN at various ratios dissolved in DMF. The characteristics of carbonization, reduction, and pitch coating processes were investigated for the optimal process of the pitch coated Si/C fiber anode composite. Anode composite prepared with TEOS/PAN = 4/6 (CR-46) after carbonization and reduction process has a capacity of 657 mAh/g. To improve capacity and stability, Si powder and PFO pitch were coated at the surface of CR-46. When the pitch composition was fixed at 10 wt%, it was found that the capacity increased as the weight ratio of silicon increased, but the stability decreased. The pitch coated Si/C fiber composite with 10 wt% silicon has high capacity of 982.4 mAh/g and capacity retention of 86.1%. In the test to evaluate rate performance, the rate capability was 80.2% (5C/0.1C).

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.51-56
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• 2016

To fabricate a copper (Cu)-based fine conductive filler having antioxidation property, submicron silver (Ag)-coated Cu particles were fabricated and their antioxidation property was evaluated. After synthesizing the Cu particles of $0.705{\mu}m$ in average diameter by a wet-reduction process, Ag-coated Cu particles were fabricated by successive Ag plating using ethylene grycol solvent. Main process parameters in the Ag plating were the concentration of reductant (ascorbic acid), the injection rate of Ag precursor solution, and the stirring rate in mixed solution. Thus, Ag plating characteristics and the formation of separate fine pure Ag phase were observed with different combinations of process parameters. As a result, formation of the separate pure Ag phase and aggregation between Ag-coated Cu particles could be suppressed by optimization of the process parameters. The Ag-coated Cu particles which were fabricated using optimal conditions showed slight aggregation, but excellent antioxidation property. For example, the particles indicated the weight gain not exceeding 0.1% until $225^{\circ}C$ when they were heated in air at the rate of $10^{\circ}C/min$ and no weight gain until 75 min when they were heated in air at $150^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.521-531
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• 2021

Vacuum Pressure Impregnation (VPI) is a process that enhances physical properties by coating some types of epoxy resins on windings of stator used in large rotators such as generators and motors. During vacuum and pressurization of the VPI process, resin gas is generated by vaporization of epoxy resin. When the tank is opened for curing after finishing impregnation, resin gas is leaked out of the tank. If the leaked resin gas spreads throughout the workplace, there are safety and environmental problems such as fire, explosion and respiratory problems. So, exhaust system for resin gas is required during the process. In this study, a case study of exhaust efficiency by location of vent was conducted using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in order to design a system for exhausting resin gas generated by the VPI process. The optimal exhaust system of this study allowed more than 90% of resin gas to be exhausted within 1,800 seconds and reduced the fraction of resin gas below the Low Explosive Limit (LEL).

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.888-894
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• 2015

Inorganic composite particles have excellent physical and chemical characteristics and have been applied in various industries. Recently, many studies have examined the optical properties, such as light scattering, refraction, transmission characteristics, by coating organic-inorganic materials on a substrate, such as mica. Mica is widely applied as a pigment, plastics, painted products, and ceramics because of its high chemical stability, durability and non-toxicity. Magnesium oxide has a range of properties, such as high light transmittance, corrosion resistance and non-toxicity, and it is used as an optical material and polymer additives. To use the optical properties of mica and magnesium oxide, mica was coated with magnesium hydroxide by a dissolution and recrystallization process. In this study, the optimal conditions for the haze value of the particles were found by adjusting the amount of precursors and pH. Magnesium hydroxide layers were formed on the surfaces of mica and converted to MgO after calcination at $400^{\circ}C$ for 4 h. The results showed that the value of MgO-coated mica haze can be controlled easily by the amount of the magnesium hydroxide and pH. The optical properties of the inorganic composite powder were analyzed using a hazemeter and the highest haze value was 85.92 % at pH 9. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized composite was analyzed by SEM, XRD, EDS, and PSA.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.425-432
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• 2020

The appearance of Korean traditional roof tiles is beautiful and excellent in water resistance, fire resistance and durability, but a high sintering temperature of 1,200℃ or higher is required. Therefore, due to the economical and heavy weight problem, the current trend is to use different roof finishing materials than Korean traditional roof tiles. By adding nanoaluminosilicate to clay and kaolin, which are the materials of the clay roof tiles, the sintering temperature is sintered at a low temperature of 1,000℃ or less, and the optimal mixing and material process is designed to satisfy the characteristics required as a Korean traditional roof tile. The results of this study again demonstrate the superiority of Korean traditional tiles with roof finishing materials using nanoaluminate. The properties of Korean traditional roof tiles that satisfy the criteria of KS F 3510 by applying fire resistance of natural minerals and nanoparticle technology to flexural strength of 2800N, Bulk specific gravity of 2.0g/㎤ and absorption rate of less than 10.0%, through which and researched materials development.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.149-156
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• 2019

Recently, skyscraper building and apartment fires, which were rapidly spread out from a low floor to a rooftop, have become a frequent occurrence in mass media. This fire problems have a fatal disadvantage that the exterior wall finish of the building emits toxic gas in case of fire by using dry bit method or organic insulating material. Therefore, in order to remedy these problems, many exterior wall finishing construction methods have been proposed, but the current trend is to use existing construction methods due to problems such as economy, weight, and durability. On the other hand, in countries such as Germany and Japan, ceramic sidings are used as exterior finishing material for buildings, which is environmentally friendly, excellent natural beauty, long life, easy maintenance and high-quality exterior materials. However, those ceramic sidings have still the problems such as manufacturing cost and weight problem because of boosting the sintering temperature up to 1,350℃ or more. Also, conventional CRC, MgO, FRP sidings which are composed of pulp, glass fiber and organic materials, have been reports of deformation due to ultraviolet rays, discoloration, corrosion and scattering, surface rupture, lifting and peeling. Therefore, in this study as an alternative to solve this problem, halosite nano kaolin produced in Sancheong in Korea and frit flux were used to satisfy the required properties as ceramic siding using low temperature sintering (below 1,000℃) and lightweight materials such as pearlite. This study aims to design the optimal formulation and process of materials and to study the characteristics of nano-coated ceramic siding material development and to present relevant basic data. The findings show that ceramic siding for nanocoated building materials is excellent as a natural ceramic siding building material. The fire resistance of natural minerals and nano particle refining technology satisfy the bending strength of 80kgf / cm2, the volume ratio of 2.0 and the absorption rate of less than 10.0%.