• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.308-319
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• 2018

Single step electrodeposition of $Cu_2ZnSnS_4$ (CZTS) for solar cell applications was studied using an aqueous thiocyanate based electrolyte. The sodium thiocyanate complexing agent was found to decrease the difference in the deposition potential of the elements. X-ray diffraction analysis of the samples indicates the formation of kesterite phase CZTS. UV-vis studies reveal the band gap of the deposits to be in the range of 1.2 - 1.5 eV. The thickness of the deposit was found to decrease with increase in pH of the electrolyte. Nearly stoichiometric composition was obtained for CZTS films coated at pH 2 and 2.5. I-V characterization of the film with indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate in the presence and the absence of light source indicate that the resistance decrease significantly in the presence of light indicating suitability of the deposits for solar cell applications. Results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopic studies reveal that the cathodic process for sulfur reduction is the slowest among all the elements.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.244-249
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• 2019

SiO has a high theoretical capacity as a promising anode material candidate for high-energy-density Li-ion batteries. However, its practical application is still not widely used because of the large volume change that occurs during cycling. In this report, an active material containing a mixture of SiO and graphite was used to improve the insufficient energy density of the conventional anode with the support of multidimensional conducting agents. To relieve the isolation of the active materials from volume changes of SiO/graphite electrode, two types of conducting agents, namely, 1-dimensional VGCF and 0-dimensional Super-P, were introduced. The combination of VGCF and Super-P conducting agents efficiently maintained electrical pathways among particles in the electrode during cycling. We found that the electrochemical performances of cycleability and rate capability were greatly improved by employing the conducting agent combinations of VGCF and Super-P compared with the electrode using only single VGCF or single Super-P. We investigated the detailed failure mechanisms by using systematic electrochemical analyses.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.191-195
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• 2018

In this study, the influence of microporous structures of activated carbon fibers (ACFs) on dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) gas sensing properties as a nerve agent simulant was investigated. The pore structure was given to carbon fibers by chemical activation process, and an electrode was fabricated for gas sensors by using these fibers. The PAN based ACF electrode, which is an N-type semiconductor, received electrons from a reducing gas such as DMMP, and then electrical resistance of its electrode finally decreased because of the reduced density of electron holes. The sensitivity of the fabricated DMMP gas sensor increased from 1.7% to 5.1% as the micropore volume increased. It is attributed that as micropores were formed for adsorbing DMMP whose molecular size was 0.57 nm, electron transfer between DMMP and ACF was facilitated. In conclusion, it is considered that the appropriate pore structure control of ACFs plays an important role in fabricating the DMMP gas sensor with a high sensitivity.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.27-36
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• 2007

A recent study showed that MTBE can be degraded by Fenton's Reagent (FR). The treatment of MTBE with FR, however, has a definite limitation of extremely low pH requirement (optimum pH $3{\sim}4$) that makes the process impracticable under neutral pH condition on which the ferrous ion precipitate forming salt with hydroxyl anion, which result in the diminishment of the Fenton reaction and incompatible with biological treatment. Consequently, this process using only FR is not suitable for in-situ remediation of MTBE. In order to overcome this limitation, modified Fenton process using NTA, oxalate, and acetate as chelating reagents was introduced into this study. Modified Fenton reaction, available at near neutral pH, has been researched for the purpose of obtaining high performance of oxidation efficiency with stabilized ferrous or ferric ion by chelating agent. In the MTBE degradation experiment with modified Fenton reaction, it was observed that this reaction was influenced by some factors such as concentrations of ferric ion, hydrogen peroxide, and each chelating agent and pH. Six potential chelators including oxalate, succinate, acetate, citrate, NTA, and EDTA were tested to identify an appropriate chelator. Among them, oxalate, acetate, and NTA were selected based on their remediation efficiency and biodegradability of each chelator. Using NTA, the best result was obtained, showing more than 99.9% of MTBE degradation after 30 min at pH 7; the initial concentration of hydrogen peroxide, NTA, and ferric ion were 1470 mM, 6 mM, and 2 mM, respectively. Under the same experimental condition, the removal of MTBE using oxalate and acetate were 91.3% and 75.8%, respectively. Optimum concentration of iron ion were 3 mM using oxalate which showed the greatest removal efficiency. In case of acetate, $[MTBE]_0$ decreased gradually when concentration of iron ion increased above 5 mM. In this research, it was showed that modified Fenton reaction is proper for in-situ remediation of MTBE with great efficiency and the application of chelatimg agents, such as NTA, was able to make the ferric ion stable even at near neutral pH. In consequence, the outcomes of this study clearly showed that the modified Fenton process successfully coped with the limitation of the low pH requirement. Furthermore, the introduction of low molecular weight organic acids makes the process more available since these compounds have distinguishable biodegradability and it may be able to use natural iron mineral as catalyst for in situ remediation, so as to produce hydroxyl radical without the additional injection of ferric ion.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1967-1971
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• 2013

Aim of our study is finding adsorbents suitable for pre-concentration of chemical warfare agents (CWAs). We considered Tenax, bare silica and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-coated silica as adsorbents for dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) and dipropylene glycol methyl ether (DPGME). Tenax showed lower thermal stability, and therefore, desorption of CWA simulants and decomposition of Tenax took place simultaneously. Silica-based adsorbents showed higher thermal stabilities than Tenax. A drawback of silica was that adsorption of CWA simulant (DMMP) was significantly reduced by pre-treatment of the adsorbents with humid air. In the case of PDMS-coated silica, influence of humidity for CWA simulant adsorption was less pronounced due to the hydrophobic nature of PDMS-coating. We propose that PDMS-coated silica can be of potential importance as adsorbent of CWAs for their pre-concentration, which can facilitate detection of these CWAs.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.4084-4092
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• 2012

Theoretical calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) were performed to study the substituent effect on the geometric and electronic structures as well as the biological behavior of technetium-99m-labeled diphosphonate complexes. Optimized structures of these complexes are surrounded by six ligands in an octahedral environment with three unpaired 4d electrons ($d^3$ state) and the optimized geometry of $^{99m}Tc$-MDP agrees with experimental data. With the increase of electron-donating substituent or tether between phosphate groups, the energy gap between frontier orbitals increases and the probability of non-radiative deactivation via d-d electron transfer decreases. The charge distribution reflects a significant ligand-to-metal electron donation. Based on the calculated geometric and electronic structures and biologic properties of $^{99m}Tc$-diphosphonate complexes, several structure-activity relationships (SARs) were established. These results may be instructive for the design and synthesis of novel $^{99m}Tc$-diphosphonate bone imaging agent and other $^{99m}Tc$-based radiopharmaceuticals.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.1217-1220
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• 2007

The saprophytic fungus Ulocladium atrum Preuss is a promising biological control agent for Botrytis cinerea in greenhouse- and field-grown crops. However, despite its known potent antifungal activity, no antifungal substance has yet been reported. In an effort to characterize the antifungal substance from U. atrum, we isolated an antibiotic peptide. Based on extensive spectroscopic analyses, its structure was established as a cyclopeptolide with a high portion of N-methylated amino acids, and its $^1H$ and $^{13}C$ chemical shifts were completely assigned based on extensive 1D and 2D NMR experiments. Compound 1 exhibited potent antifungal activity against the plant pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea and moderate activity against Alternaria alternate and Magnaporthe grisea.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.374-380
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• 2018

PURPOSE. The effect of silica-based glass-ceramic liners on the tensile bond strength between zirconia and resin-based luting agent was evaluated and compared with the effect of 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP)-containing primers. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Titanium abutments and zirconia crowns (n = 60) were fabricated, and the adhesive surfaces of the specimens were treated by airborne-particle abrasion. The specimens were divided into 5 groups based on surface treatment: a control group, 2 primer groups (MP: Monobond Plus; ZP: Z Prime Plus), and 2 liner groups (PL: P-containing Liner; PFL: P-free Liner). All specimens were cemented with self-adhesive resin-based luting agent. After 24-hour water storage and thermocycling (5,000 cycles, $5^{\circ}C/55^{\circ}C$), the tensile bond strength was measured using a universal testing machine. Failure mode analysis and elemental analysis on the bonding interface were performed. The data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test, Dunn's post hoc test, and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS. The liner groups and primer groups showed significantly higher tensile bond strengths than that of the control group (P<.05). PFL showed a significantly higher tensile bond strength than the primer groups (P<.05). The percentage of mixed failure was higher in the primer groups than in the control group (P<.001), and all the specimens showed mixed failure in the liner groups (P<.001). A chemical reaction area was observed at the bonding interface between zirconia and liner. CONCLUSION. The application of liner significantly increased the tensile bond strength between zirconia and resin-based luting agent. PFL was more effective than MDP-containing primers in improving the tensile bond strength with the resin-based luting agent.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.225-227
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• 2011

This study investigates the effect of crushed fine aggregate and chemical admixture (durability improvement agent, named DIA) on blast furnace slag-based brick. The control brick was made with recycled fine aggregate of 100% and, no cement was used. Test results showed that all specimens developed similar strength, except for the specimen without partial replacement of crushed fine aggregate at 3 days. However, it is interesting to note that this specimen without crushed fine aggregate resulted in the highest strength at 7 days. In addition, the DIA had a major effect on the absorption ratio of brick specimens. For the brick specimens with partial replacement of crushed fine aggregate with 10%, the addition of DIA with only 1% was enough to satisfy the code regulated by KS F 4004.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.49-58
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• 2011

The maximum drying shrinkage velocity was proposed to verify bulk and stiffness improvement mechanism during drying according to papermaking parameters. It was based on the wet-web shrinkage behavior without the restraint of wet-web during drying, so intact drying impact could be measured. Bulking agent reduced the drying shrinkage and the maximum drying shrinkage velocity, so paper bulk increased and paper strength decreased. When adding cationic starch to stock with the bulking agent for strengthening, the bulk was increased further with additional decreasing of the drying shrinkage and the maximum drying shrinkage velocity. Paper strength also increased except tensile stiffness index with decreasing the drying shrinkage and the maximum drying shrinkage velocity. When using additional strength additives for strengthening of fiber interfaces extended by bulking agent and cationic starch, amphoteric strength additive increased paper stiffness without loss of paper bulk. It was considered that the added amphoteric strength additives were cross-linked to the stretched cationic starch and this cross-linking increased elasticity of fiber-polymer-fiber interfaces without changing the drying behavior. Paper bulk could be increased with decreasing the maximum drying shrinkage velocity. The drying shrinkage of paper also could be controlled by fiber-to-fiber bonding interfaces by the bulking agent. In this case, paper strength including stiffness was decreased by reducing fiber-to-fiber bonding but it could be improved by strengthening fiber-to-fiber interfaces with polymer complex without loss of bulk.