• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2022

In this investigation, Bi₂MoO₆ deposited graphene nanocomposite (BMG) was synthesized using a simple microwave assisted hydrothermal synthesis method. The synthesized BMG nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and photocurrent analysis. The study revealed that the catalysts prepared have high crystalline nature, enhanced light responsive property, high catalytic activity, and good stability. XRD results of BMG composite exhibit a koechlinite phase of Bi₂MoO₆. The surface property is shown by SEM and TEM, which confirmed a homogenous composition in the bulk particles of Bi₂MoO₆ and nanosheets of graphene. The catalytic behavior was investigated by the decomposition of Rhodamine B as a standard dye. The results exhibit excellent yields of product derivatives at mild conditions under ultrasonic/visible light-medium. Approximately 1.6-times-enhanced sono-photocatalytic activity was observed by introduction of Bi₂MoO₆ on graphene nanosheet compared with control sample P25 during 50 min test.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2022

To date, nondestructive tests (NDT) applications and advances in detecting the dispersion and defections of the nano concrete (NC) materials fields are very limited. The current paper provides a review of the dispersion efficiency of nanomaterials in cement-based materials and how NDT can be efficiently used in detecting and visualizing the defections and dispersions of NC. The review identifies the characteristics of different types of nanoparticles used in NC. Nanomaterials influences on concrete characteristics and their dispersion degree are presented and discussed. The main aim of this article is to present and compare the common NDT that can be used for detecting and visualizing the defections and dispersions of different kinds of nanomaterials utilized in NC. The different microscopy and X-ray methods are explicitly reviewed and compared. Based on the collected data, it can be concluded that the fully detecting and visualizing of NC defections and dispersions have not been fully discovered and that needs further investigations. So, the distinction of this paper lies in defining NDT that can be employed for detecting and/or visualizing NC defections and dispersions.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.143-155
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• 2022

Ceramic oxide layers successfully were formed on the surface of cast Al alloys with high Si contents using plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process in electrolytes containing Na₂SiO₃, NaOH, and additives. The microstructure of the oxide layers was systematically analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), and energy X-ray dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). XRD analysis indicated that the PEO untreated high-silicon Al alloys (i.e., 17.1 and 11.7 wt.% Si) consist of Al, Si and Al₂Cu phases whereas Al₂Cu phase selectively disappeared after PEO treatment. PEO process yielded an amorphous oxide layer with few second phases including γ-Al₂O₃ and Fe-rich phases. The corrosion behaviors of high-silicon Al alloys treated by PEO process were investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and other electrochemical techniques (i.e., open circuit potential and polarization curve). Electroanalytical studies indicated that high-silicon Al alloys treated by PEO process have greater corrosion resistance than high-silicon alloys untreated by PEO process.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

This work studied the inhibitory effect of the combination of benzoate-intercalated hydrotalcite (HT-BZ) and Ce³⁺-loaded clay (Clay-Ce) on carbon steel (CS). HT-BZ was prepared by the co-precipitation method and Clay-Ce was fabricated by a cation exchange reaction. HT-BZ and Clay-Ce were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) coupled with zeta potential measurement. Electrochemical measurements coupled with scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) were used for studying the inhibitory action of the mixture of HT-BZ and Clay-Ce on steel electrodes immersed in 0.1 M NaCl. For comparison, the inhibitory effect of HT-BZ or Clay-Ce alone was also evaluated. The results showed that HT-BZ combined with Clay-Ce provided synergistic inhibition of the CS substrate. The mixture of 0.5 g/L HT-BZ + 0.5 g/L Clay-Ce provided 93.5% inhibition efficiency. The protective mechanism of the HT-BZ + Clay-Ce mixture consisted of the reaction of released BZ and Ce³⁺ and the deposition of HT-BZ and Clay-Ce structures on the CS substrate.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.52
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• pp.14.1-14.10
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• 2022

An electron probe X-ray microanalyzer (EPMA) is an essential tool for studying chemical composition distribution in the microstructure. Quantifying chemical composition using standard specimens is commonly used to determine the composition of individual phases. However, the local difference in chemical composition in the standard specimens brings the deviation of the quantified composition from the actual one. This study introduces how to overcome the error of quantification in EPMA in the practical aspect. The obtained results are applied to evaluate the chemical com position of retained austenite in multi-phase steel. Film-type austenite shows higher carbon content than blocky-type one. The measured carbon contents of the retained austenite show good coherency with the calculated value from the X-ray diffraction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2022.04a
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• pp.101-102
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• 2022

A new hydrazone derivatives namely (E)-N'-(4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene)-2-(5-methoxy-2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)acetohydrazide (HIND) has been confirmed for mitigating the corrosion of the steel rebar exposed to chloride contaminated synthetic concrete pore solution (ClSCPS). The mitigation of corrosion properties has been characterized by weight loss and electrochemical methods (Electrochemical impedance, Potentiodynamic polarization studies) as well as surface observations. The presence of HIND in the ClSCPS decreased the corrosion of steel rebar by adsorption of HIND molecules on the surface of the steel rebar. The optimal HIND concentration was 0.5 mmol/L, corresponding to an inhibition efficiency of 88.4%. The use of HIND enables the corrosion process to have a higher energy barrier. X-ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy interpretations confirmed that HIND mitigates the corrosion attack on the surface steel rebar.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.376-384
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• 2023

Nitrogen-doped graphene was synthesized by a hydrothermal method using graphene oxide (GO) as the raw material, urea as the reducing agent and nitrogen as the dopant. The morphology, structure, composition and electrochemical properties of the samples are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis, electrical conductivity and electrochemical tests. The results show that urea can effectively reduce GO and achieve nitrogen doping under the hydrothermal conditions. By adjusting the mass ratio of raw materials to dopants, the graphene with different nitrogen doping contents can be obtained; the nitrogen content range is from 5.28~6.08% (atomic fraction percentage).When the ratio of dopant to urea is 1:30, the nitrogen doping content reaches a maximum of 6.08%.The supercapacitor performance test shows that the nitrogen content prepared by the ratio of 6.08% is the best at 0.1 A·g^-1. The specific capacitance is 95.2 F·g^-1.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.553-561
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• 2008

$CNT/TiO_2$ composites were prepared by using multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and various titanium alkoxide precursors. The composites were comprehensively characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The photoactivity of the prepared materials under UV irradiation, was tested using the conversion of MB from model aqueous solution. Finally, according to the results of methylene blue (MB) removal experiment, we could see that sample CTOS have better MB removal effect than samples CTIP and CTPP.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.404-416
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• 2020

Bacteria that are resistant to high temperatures and alkaline environments are essential for the biological repair of damaged concrete. Alkaliphilic and halotolerant Bacillus sp. AK13 was isolated from the rhizosphere of Miscanthus sacchariflorus. Unlike other tested Bacillus species, the AK13 strain grows at pH 13 and withstands 11% (w/v) NaCl. Growth of the AK13 strain at elevated pH without urea promoted calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) formation. Irregular vaterite-like CaCO₃ minerals that were tightly attached to cells were observed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed the presence of CaCO₃ around the cell. Isotope ration mass spectrometry analysis confirmed that the majority of CO₃^2- ions in the CaCO₃ were produced by cellular respiration rather than being derived from atmospheric carbon dioxide. The minerals produced from calcium acetate-added growth medium formed smaller crystals than those formed in calcium lactate-added medium. Strain AK13 appears to heal cracks on mortar specimens when applied as a pelletized spore powder. Alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. AK13 is a promising candidate for self-healing agents in concrete.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.275-280
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• 2012

To understand the effect of aerosols on the growth and physiological conditions of trees in forests, it is important to know the state of aerosols that are deposited on the surface of the leaves or needles. In this study, we developed methods of visualization of submicron-sized aerosols that were artificially deposited from the gas-phase or liquid phase onto tree leaves or needles in trees. Firstly, we used field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) to observe black carbon (BC) particles that were artificially sprayed onto the leaves or needles. The distribution of BC particles deposited on the leaves and needles were distinguished based on the size and morphological features of the particles. The distribution and agglomerates size of BC particles differed between two spraying methods of BC particles employed. Secondly, we tried to visualize gold (Au) particles that were artificially sprayed onto the leaves using energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) coupled to FE-SEM. We detected the Au particles based on the characteristic X-ray spectrum, which was secondarily generated from the Au particles. In contrast to the case of BC particles, the Au particles did not form agglomerates and were uniformly distributed on the leaf surfaces. The present results show that our methods provide useful information of adsorption and/or behavior of fine particles at the submicron level on the surface of the leaves.