• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.100-115
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• 2022

In this study, integrated hybrid system (IHS) composed of two alternatively-operating UV/photocatalytic reactor (AOPR) process and biofilter processes of a biofilter system having two units (i.e., R_up and R_dn) with an improved design (R reactor) and a conventional biofilter (L reactor) was constructed, and its transient behavior was observed to perform the successful treatment of waste air containing ethanol and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). At the IHS-operating stages of HA1, HA2 and HA3T of reversed feed direction, the AOPR process showed not only ethanol-removal efficiencies of 55, 50 and 45%, respectively, but also H₂S-removal efficiencies of 70, 60 and 37%, respectively. In particular, a drastic decrease of H₂S-removal efficiency at the stage of HA3T was observed due to a doubling of H₂S-inlet concentration fed to AOPR from 10 ppmv to 20 ppmv at the stage of HA3T. The order of ethanol-breakthroughs and the order of the magnitude of ethanol-removal efficiencies at the sampling ports of each unit of R reactor at the stages of HA1, HB1, HA2, HB2, and the first half of HA3T, were reversed, respectively, at the stages of the second half of HA3T and HB3T. In case of H₂S, R reactor did not show H₂S-breakthrough as prominent as the ethanol-breakthrough, but showed the trend similar to the ethanol-breakthrough.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.447-454
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• 2014

Organic solar cells (OSCs) have intensively studied in recent years due to their advantages such as cost effectiveness and possibility of applications in flexible devices. In spite of the high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10 %, the OSCs still have a draw back of their low environmental stability due to the oxidization of aluminum cathode and etching of transparent conducting oxide as electrode. To solve these problems, the inverted structured OSCs (I-OSCs) having greatest potential for achieving an improvement of device performances are suggested. Therefore, there are a lot of studies to develope of interface layer based on organic/inorganic materials for the electron transport layer (ETL) and passivation layer, significant advancements in I-OSCs have driven the development of interface functional materials including electron transport layer. Recent efforts to employing 2D/3D zinc oxide (ZnO) based ETL into I-OSCs have produced OSCs with a power conversion efficiency level that matches the efficiency of ~9 %. In this review, the technical issues and recent progress of ZnO based ETL in I-OSCs to enhancement of device efficiency and stability in terms of materials, process and characterization have summarized.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2017

Arsenic (As) has been considered as the most toxic one among various hazardous materials and As contamination can be caused naturally and anthropogenically. Major forms of arsenic in groundwater are arsenite [(As(III)] and/or arsenate [(As(V)], depending on redox condition: arsenite and arsenate are predominant in reduced and oxidized environments, respectively. Because arsenite is much more toxic and mobile than arsenate, there have been a number of studies on the reduction of its toxicity through oxidation of As(III) to As(V). This study was initiated to develop photocatalytic oxidation process for treatment of groundwater contaminated with arsenite. The performance of two types of light sources (UV lamp and UV LED) was compared and the feasibility of goethite as a photocatalyst was evaluated. The highest removal efficiency of the process was achieved at a goethite dose of 0.05 g/L. Based on the comparison of oxidation efficiencies of arsenite between two light sources, the apparent performance of UV LED was inferior to that of UV lamp. However, when the results were appraised on the basis of their emitting UV irradiation, the higher performance was achieved by UV LED than by UV lamp. This study demonstrates that environmentally friendly process of goethite-catalytic photo-oxidation without any addition of foreign catalyst is feasible for the reduction of arsenite in groundwater containing naturally-occurring goethite. In addition, this study confirms that UV LED can be used in the photo-oxidation of arsenite as an alternative light source of UV lamp to remedy the drawbacks of UV lamp, such as long stabilization time, high electrical power consumption, short lifespan, and high heat output requiring large cooling facilities.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2011

In this study, combined effect of airflow rate, $TiO_2$ concentration, solution pH and $Ca^{+2}$ addition on HA (humic acid) fouling in submerged, photocatalytic hollow-fiber microfiltraiton was investigated systematically. Results showed that UV irradiation alone without $TiO_2$ nanoparticles could reduce HA fouling by 40% higher than the fouling obtained without UV irradiation. Compared to the HA fouling without UV irradiation and $TiO_2$ nanoparticles, the HA fouling reduction was about 25% higher only after the addition of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles. Both adsorptive and hydrophilic properties of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles for the HA can be involved in mitigating membrane fouling. It was also found that the aeration itself had lowest effect on fouling mitigation while the HA fouling was affected significantly by solution pH. Transient behavior of zeta potential at different solution pHs suggested that electrostatic interactions between HA and $TiO_2$ nanoparticles should improve photocatalytic efficiency on HA fouling. $TiO_2$ concentration was observed to be more important factor than airflow rate to reduce HA fouling, implying that surface reactivity on $TiO_2$ naoparticles should be important fouling mitigation mechanisms in submerged, photocatalyic microfiltraiton. This was further supported by investigating the effect of $Ca^{+2}$ addition on fouling mitigation. At higher pH (= 10), addition of $Ca^{+2}$ can play an important role in bridging between HA and $TiO_2$ nanoparticles and increasing surface reactivity on nanoparticles, thereby reducing membrane fouling.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.884-889
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• 2018

In this study, polyaniline $(PANI)/WO_3$ electrode was prepared as an anode of a lithium ion capacitor, and its electrochemical characteristics were measured and analyzed. When PANI was electrochemically deposited on the surface of $WO_3$ electrode, the capacity of $PANI/WO_3$ was improved with increase of the deposited amounts of PANI. Furthermore, the effect of light irradiation on capacity and coulombic efficiency was examined by irradiating sunlight during charging and discharging. When the light was irradiated to the $WO_3$ electrode and the $PANI/WO_3$ electrode, those capacities and coulombic efficiencies were increased compared to that measured under the dark condition. It is attributed to the photocatalytic property of $WO_3$ that can generate photoelectrons by light irradiation. In $PANI/WO_3$ electrode, PANI also can be excited under the light irradiation with affecting the electrochemical property of electrode. The photoelectrons improve the capacity by participating in the intercalation of $Li^+$ ions, and also improve the coulombic efficiency by facilitating electrons' transport. Under the dark condition, the capacity of $PANI/WO_3$ was gradually reduced with increase of cycles due to a poor stability of PANI. However, the stability of PANI was significantly improved by the light irradiation, which is attributed to the oxidation-reduction reaction originated from the photogenerated electrons and holes in $PANI/WO_3$.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.583-591
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• 2008

In this study, two series of CNT/$TiO_2$ electrodes were prepared. The decrease of surface area compared with that of the pristine carbon nanotubes (CNTs) indicated the blocking of micropores on the surface of the CNTs; was further supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and field emission SEM (FE-SEM) observations. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that the CNT/$TiO_2$ composites contained a mix of anatase and rutile forms of $TiO_2$ particles when the precursor was $TiO_2$ powder, whereas when the precursor was Ti ($OC_4H_7$) (TNB), the composites contained only the typical single and clear anatase $TiO_2$ particles. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) spectra showed the presence of C, O and Ti peaks for all samples. It was found that catalytic decomposition of methylene blue (MB) solution could be attributed to synthetic effects between the $TiO_2$ photocatalysis and electro-assisted CNTs network, and that photoelectrocatalytic oxidation increased with an increase of CNT composition. It was also found that the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation efficiency for MB is higher than that of photocatalytic oxidation. Moreover, the CNT/$TiO_2$ composites catalyst prepared by the impregnation method demonstrates higher photoelectrocatalytic activity than the mechanical mixture with the same CNT content.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.424-424
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• 2008

Dye-sensitized Solar Cell (DSC) is a new type of solar cell by using photocatalytic properties of $TiO_2$. The electric potential distribution in DSCs has played a major role in the operation of such cells. Models based on a built-in electric field which sets the upper limit for the open circuit voltage(Voc) and/or the possibility of a Schottky barrier at the interface between the mesoporous wide band gap semiconductor and the transparent conducting substrate have been presented. $TiO_2$ thin films were deposited on the FTO substrate by Nd:YAG Pulsed Laser Deposition(PLD) at room temperature and post-deposition annealing at $500^{\circ}C$ in flowing $O_2$ atmosphere for 1 hour. The structural properties of $TiO_2$ thin films have investigated by X-ray diffraction(XRD) and atomic force microscope(AFM). Thickness of $TiO_2$ thin films were controlled deference deposition time and measurement by scanning electron microscope(SEM). Then we manufactured a DSC unit cells and I-V and efficiency were tested using solar simulator.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.691-696
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• 2003

To improve the photocatalyticactivity of $TiO_2$-coated coal fly ash, tungsten hydroxide was doped by impregnation method and was oxidized by heat treatment in temperature ranges of $WO^{\circ}C$ for 2 hrs. The changes of crystal structure and crystal size of $TiO_2$and $WO_3$on coal fly ash were investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal structure of titanium dioxide showed only anatase type and $TiO_2$-$WO_3$ compounds appeared in the heat treatment temperature ranges of $500∼600^{\circ}C$. By adding $V_3$in $TiO_2$coated on fly ash, the growth of crystal size of anatase was restrained and the anatase phase was stabilized in temperature ranges of TEX>$500∼<800^{\circ}C$. And $WO_3$acted as a trap site of electrons excited from anatase by irradiating UV. The maximum removal efficiency of NO gas for $TiO_2$/$WO_3$-coated coal fly ash was 84% and appeared when the ammonium tungstate of $1.3${\times}$10^{-3}$ M was doped and then heated at $600^{\circ}C$ for 2 hrs.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.691-698
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• 2015

In the area of high traffic volume, such as expressway across large cities, the amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted into the atmosphere as air pollution can be significant since NOx gases are the major cause of smog and acid rain. Recently, the importance of NOx removal has arisen in the world. Titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$), that is one of photocatalytic reaction material, is very efficient for removing NOx. Therefore, application of $TiO_2$ concrete is a good alternative in order to remove NOx which is a main cause of air pollution. This experimental study aimed to evaluate the long-term performance of $TiO_2$ concrete such as NOx removal efficiency due to performance period and environmental resistance for application of road structures. It was found that the $TiO_2$ is reasonable applicable on the road structure because $TiO_2$ concrete has a long-term performance.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.10 no.11
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• pp.3031-3038
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• 2009

Cobalt-loaded activated carbon fibers (ACFs) supported titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) photocatalyst was developed by sol-gel method. The Co-ACFs/$TiO_2$ photocatalyst were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X.ray diffraction patterns (XRD), energy dispersive X.ray analysis (EDX) and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. Decomposition efficiency of methylene blue (MB) solution by Co-ACFs/$TiO_2$ photocatalyst reached almost 100% under 300 min reaction. The MB molecules in the bulk solutions were supposed to be condensed around $TiO_2$ particles by adsorption of ACFs. Therefore, the photocatalyst possesses the combined effect of adsorption by activated carbon fibers and photocatalytic reactivity of $TiO_2$ on MB degradation. Due to the cobalt has electron transition effece, thus improved the photodegradation of MB solution.