• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.118-123
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• 2008

In the present study, the effect of oxyfluorination treatment on multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs) supports was investigated by analyzing surface functional groups. The surface characteristics were determined by Fourier transformed-infrared (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). After the deposition of platinum nanoparticles on the above treated carbon supports, a crystalline size and a loading level had been investigated. Electrochemical properties of the treated MWNTs-supported Pt (Pt/MWNTs) catalysts were analyzed by current-voltage curve measurements. From the results of surface analysis, an oxygen and fluorine-containing functional group had been introduced to the surface of carbon supports. The oxygen and fluorine contents were the highest value at the treatment of 100 temperature. The Pt/100-MWNTs showed the smallest particle crystalline size of 3.5 nm and the highest loading level of 9.4% at the treatment of 100 temperature. However, the sample treated at the higher temperature showed the larger crystalline size and the lower loading level. This indicated that the crystalline size and the loading level could be controlled by changing the temperature of oxyfluorination treatment. Accordingly, an electrochemical activity was enhanced by increasing the temperature of treatment upto 100, and then decreased in the case of 200 and 300. The highest specific current density of 120 mA/mg had been obtained in the case of Pt/100-MWNTs.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.540-544
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• 2015

A bath for electrodeposition of platinum nanoparitcles on low-cost graphite substrates was developed to attach nanoparticles directly onto a substrate, and electrochemical characteristics of the electrodeposition of platinum nanoparticles were investigated. The reaction mechanism was examined by the analysis of polarization behavior. Cyclic voltammetry measurements revealed that the elecrodeposition of platinum nanoparticles was limited by mass transfer. The chronoamperometric study showed an instantaneous nucleation mechanism during the electrodeposition of platinum nanoparticles on graphite. Because graphite is much cheaper than other carbon-based substrates, the electrodeposition of platinum nanoparticles on the graphite is expected to have useful applications.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.110-115
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• 2013

The electrochemical performance and microstructure of Al-Si, Al-Si/C was investigated as anode for lithium ion battery. The Al-Si nano composite with 5 : 1 at% ratio was prepared by arc-discharge nano powder process. However, some of problem is occurred, when Al nano composite was synthesized by this manufacturing. The oxidation film is generated around Al-Si particles for passivating processing in the manufacture. The oxidation film interrupts electrical chemistry reaction during lithium ion insertion/extraction for charge and discharge. Because of the existence the oxidation film, Al-Si first cycle capacity is very lower than other examples. Therefore, carbon synthsized by glucose ($C_6H_{12}O_6$) was conducted to remove the oxidation film covered on the composite. The results showed that the first discharge cycle capacity of Al-Si/C is improved to 113mAh/g comparing with Al-Si (18.6mAh/g). Furthermore, XRD data and TEM images indicate that $Al_4C_3$ crystalline exist in Al-Si/C composite. In addition the Si-Al anode material, in which silicon is more contained was tested by same method as above, it was investigated to check the anode capacity and morphology properties in accordance with changing content of silicon, Si-Al anode has much higher initial discharge capacity(about 500mAh/g) than anode materials based on Aluminum as well as the morphology properties is also very different with the anode based Aluminum.

• Composites Research
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.17-22
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• 2011

Recently transparent electrodes using carbon nanotube (CNT) have been studied actively to replace conventional ITO. In this work, CNT or ITO coated poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were prepared by controlling the surfaces since the cohesion degree depends upon drying conditions. As transparent electrode application, 3 drying temperatures were set as 20, 80, and $120^{\circ}C$ to produce the change of surface properties. Interfacial durability and electrical properties of prepared transparent electrodes were evaluated by electrical resistance measurement. Surface change with changing drying temperature was observed by FE-SEM, whereas the transparency change was measured by UV-spectroscopy. The electronic properties of nanoparticle coated surface were evaluated using cyclic voltametry method upon the surface change with controlled drying temperature. Durability of CNT coated surfaces was better than ITO coated ease. As drying temperature increased, better coated surface was prepared due to improved cohesion among nanoparticles, which resulted in increased electrical properties.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.158-162
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• 2015

To substitute indium tin oxide (ITO), many substituents have been studied such as metal nanowires, carbon based materials, 2D materials, and conducting polymers. These materials are not good enough to apply to an electrode because theses exhibit relatively high resistance. So metal grids are required as an additionalelectrode to improve the conductivities of substituents. The metal grids were printed by electrohydrodynamic printing system using Ag nanoparticle based ink. The Ag grids showed high uniformity and the line width was about $10{\mu}m$. The Ag nanoparticles are surrounded by dispersants such as unimolecular and polymer to prevent aggregation between Ag nanoparticles. The dispersants lead to low conductivity of Ag grids. Thus, the sintering process of Ag nanoparticles is strongly recommended to remove dispersants and connect each nanoparticles. For sintering process, the interface and microstructure of the Ag grid were controlled in 1.0 torr Ar atmosphere at aound $400^{\circ}C$ of temperature. From the sintering process, the uniformity of the Ag grid was improved and the defects on the Ag grids were reduced. As a result, the resistivity of Ag grid was greatly reduced up to $5.03({\pm}0.10){\times}10^{-6}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$. The metal grids embedded substrates containing low pressure Ar sintered Ag grids showed 90.4% of transmittance in visible range with $0.43{\Omega}/{\square}$ of sheet resistance.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.42 no.11 s.282
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• pp.722-728
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• 2005

A wet-chemical route was utilized to obtain nanosized crystalline goethite ($\alpha$-FeOOH) particle, which was known as an oxidation catalyst in reducing carbon monoxide (CO) and dioxine during incineration. A cost-effective $FeSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$ was used as starting raw material and a successive process of hydrolysis-oxidation was utilized as synthetic method. The effects of the initial $Fe^{2+}$ concentration, hydrolysis time and oxidation period on the crystalline phase and particle characteristics were systematically investigated by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and BET analyses. It was found that the spindle-shaped crystalline $\alpha$-FeOOH particle with the width of 70 nm and the length of 200 nm could be obtained successfully when the initial concentration of 1.5 M, hydrolysis time of 4h, and oxidation period of 10 h, respectively. In addition, it was observed that the spindle-shaped $\alpha$-FeOOH particle consisted of nano-sized primary crystallites of $30\~50\;nm$, which were de-agglomerated into individual particle and successively re­agglomerated into spherical or irregular-shaped agglomerates beyond certain periods in the hydrolysis and oxidation process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.636-636
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• 2013

Since first discovery of strong Raman spectrum of molecules adsorbed on rough noble metal, surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been widely used for detection of molecules with low concentration. Surface plasmons at noble metal can enhance Raman spectrum and using Au nanostructures as substrates of SERS has advantages due to it has chemical stability and biocompatibility. However, the photoluminescence (PL) background from Au remains a problem because of obtaining molecular vibration information. Recently, graphene, two-dimensional atomic layer of carbon atoms, is also well known as PL quenchers for electronic and vibrational excitation. In this study, we observed SERS of single layer graphene on or under monolayer of Au nanoparticles (NPs). Single layer graphene is grown by chemical vapor deposition and transferred onto or under the monolayer of Au NPs by using PMMA transfer method. Monolayer of Au NPs prepared using Langmuir-Blodgett method on or under graphene surface provides closed and well-packed monolayer of Au NPs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy (WItec, 532 nm) were performed in order to confirm effects of Au NPs on enhanced Raman spectrum. Highly enhanced Raman signal of graphene by Au NPs were observed due to many hot-spots at gap of closed well-packed Au NPs. The results showed that single layer graphene provides larger SERS effects compared to multilayer graphene and the enhancement of the G band was larger than that of 2D band. Moreover, we confirm the appearance of D band in this study that is not clear in normal Raman spectrum. In our study, D band appearance is ascribed to the SERS effect resulted from defects induced graphene on Au NPs. Monolayer film of Au NPs under the graphene provided more highly enhanced graphene Raman signal compared to that on the graphene. The Au NPs-graphene SERS substrate can be possibly applied to biochemical sensing applications requiring highly sensitive and selective assays.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.87-96
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• 2014

In the present study, a yeast species isolated from CETP, Vellore, Tamilnadu was identified as Cryptococcus sp. VITGBN2 based on molecular techniques and was found to be a potent producer of acidic diacetate sophorolipid in mineral salt media containing vegetable oil as additional carbon source. The chemical structure of the purified biosurfactant was identified as acidic diacetate sophorolipid through GC-MS analysis. This sophorolipid was used as a stabilizer for synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZON). The formation of biofunctionalized ZON was characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, XRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activities of naked ZON and sophorolipid functionalized ZON were tested based on the diameter of inhibition zone in agar well diffusion assay, microbial growth rate determination, protein leakage analysis, and lactate dehydrogenase assay. Bacterial pathogen Salmonella enterica and fungal pathogen Candida albicans showed more sensitivity to sophorolipid biofunctionalized ZON compared with naked ZON. Among the two pathogens, S. enterica showed higher sensitivity towards sophorolipid biofunctionalized ZON. SEM analysis showed that cell damage occurred through cell elongation in the case of S. enterica, whereas cell rupture was found to occur predominantly in the case of C. albicans. This is the first report on the dual role of yeast-mediated sophorolipid used as a biostabilizer for ZON synthesis as well as a novel functionalizing agent showing antimicrobial property.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.967-972
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• 2004

The role of transfer films formed during sliding of polymer composites against steel counterfaces was studied in terms of the tribological behaviors of composites. Four kinds of composites were included in this study: (1) unfilled PPS, (2) PPS+2%CuO, (3) PPS+2%CuO+5% carbon fiber (CF), and (4) PPS+2%CuO+15%Kevlar. The filler material CuO was in nanoscale particulate form and the reinforcing material was in the form of short fibers. The composites were prepared by compression molding at $310^{\circ}C$ and sliding tests were run in the pin-on-disk sliding configuration. The counterface was made of tool steel hardened to 55-60 HRC and finished to a surface roughness of 0.09-0.10 ${\mu}m$ Ra. Wear tests were run for 6 hrs at the sliding speed of 1 m/s and contact pressure of 0.65 MPa. Transfer films formed on the counterfaces during sliding were investigated using AFM and SEM. The results showed that as the transfer film became smooth and uniform, wear rate decreased. PPS+2%CuO+15%Kevlar composite showed the lowest steady state wear rate in this study and its transfer film showed the smoothest and the most uniform characteristics. The examination of worn surfaces of PPS+2%CuO composite using X-ray area scanning (dot mapping) showed back-transfer of steel counterface material to the polymer pin surface. This behavior is believed to strengthen the polymer pin surface during sliding thereby contributing to the decrease in wear rate.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.153-156
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• 2012

In this study, two different methods were studied to prepare Pt-Pd catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells in order to enhance the electrochemical efficiency. The catalysts were compared with simultaneously deposited Pt-Pd and sequentially deposited Pt-Pd. The electrocatalysts contained 20 wt% of metal loading on carbon black and 1 : 2 of Pt : Pd atomic ratio. Electrochemical properties of the catalysts were compared by measuring cyclic voltammetries and average sizes and lattice parameters were measured by transmission electron microscopy images and x-ray diffraction. As a result, sequentially deposited Pt-Pd/C catalysts showed better electrochemical properties than those of simultaneously deposited Pt-Pd/C catalysts.