• Carbon letters
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• v.24
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

We studied the basic properties and fabrication of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) prepared using eco-friendly reduction agents in the graphene solution process. Hydrazine is generally used to reduce graphene oxide (GO), which results in polluting emissions as well as fixed nitrogen functional groups on different defects in the graphene sheets. To replace hydrazine, we developed eco-friendly reduction agents with similar or better reducing properties, and selected of them for further analysis. In this study, GO layers were produced from graphite flakes using a modified Hummer's method, and rGO layers were reduced using hydrazine hydrate, L-ascorbic acid, and gluconic acid. We measured the particle sizes and the dispersion stabilities in the rGO dispersed solvents for the three agents and analyzed the structural, electrical, and optical properties of the rGO films. The results showed that the degree of reduction was in the order L-ascorbic acid ${\geq}$ hydrazine > glucose. GO reduced using L-ascorbic acid had a sheet resistance of $121k{\Omega}/sq$, while that reduced using gluconic acid showed worse electrical properties than the other two reduction agents. Therefore, L-ascorbic acid is the most suitable eco-friendly reduction agent that can be substituted for hydrazine.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.39-46
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• 2017

This study represents a fundamental research for a passenger-ship escape guidance system that is a ship-borne agent, and it is for the support of escape decision-making by providing accurate maritime safety information in real time. We conducted a passenger escaping experiment on a training ship, SAEYUDAL, using the situation-aware escape guidance system, which has been developed for on-board application based on products for buildings. It is shown that the system contributes to the shortening of the escape duration and the dispersion of the escaping persons by generating and guiding the safe escape routes which dangerous areas are considered. From the experiment on ship's heeling condition, it is revealed that the heeling angle is linearly related to the escape duration. Therefore, this study shows that the shortening of the escape duration enables a safe and rapid mustering that is the most important process under emergency and appropriate incident responses to minimize loss of lives.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.93.2-93.2
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• 2011

In this work, graphite nanofibers (GNFs) were prepared for using catalyst supports in fuel cells. The GNFs were chemically activated to obtain high surface area and small pore diameter with different potassium hydroxide (KOH) amounts, i.e., 0, 1, 3, 4, and 5 g as an activating agent. And then Pt-Ru was deposited onto activated GNFs (A-GNFs) by chemical reduction method. The characteristics of Pt-Ru catalysts deposited onto A-GNFs were determined by specific surface area and pore size analyzer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and inductive coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The electrochemical properties of Pt-Ru/A-GNFs catalysts were also analyzed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments. From the results, the A-GNFs carbon supports activated with 4 g of KOH (A4g-GNFs) showed that the highest specific surface areas. In addition, the A4g-GNFs led to uniform dispersion of Pt-Ru onto A4g-GNFs, resulting in the enhancement of electrochemical activity of Pt-Ru catalysts.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.240-248
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• 2011

All-vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) has been studied actively as one of the most promising electrochemical energy storage systems for a wide range of applications such as electric vehicles, photovoltaic arrays, and excess power generated by electric power plants at night time. Among consisting elements of the VRFB, the ion exchange membrane and the electrode play important roles. In this study, carbon PVC coposite sheets for the VRFB have been developed and electrochemical characteristics investigated. Current collector for VRFB, carbon PVC composite sheets (CPCS), were prepared with G-1028 as a conducting particle, PVC as a polymer, Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as a plasticizer and fumed Silica (FS) as a dispersion agent. CPCS has been shown to have the characteristics as an excellent current collector for VRFB and electrochemical properties of specific resistivity 0.31 ${\Omega}cm$, which were composed of G-1028 80 wt%, PVC 10 wt%, DBP 5 wt% and FS 5 wt%.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.209-213
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• 2014

A graft copolymer of poly(vinyl chloride)-g-poly(oxyethylene methacrylate) (PVC-g-POEM) was synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and used as a structure-directing agent to prepare $Al@Fe_2O_3$ core-shell nanocomposites through a sol-gel process. The amphiphilic property of PVC-g-POEM allows for good dispersion of Al particles and leads to specific interaction with iron ethoxide, a precursor of $Fe_2O_3$. Secondary bonding interaction in the sol-gel composites was characterized by Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The well-organized morphology of $Al@Fe_2O_3$ core-shell nanocomposites was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to analyze the elemental composition and crystallization structure of the composites.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.175-182
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• 2004

Colloidal coating solution was prepared to enhance the hydrophilic property of the film surface. Water and ethanol were used as the dispersion media and (glycidoxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GPS) as a binder in the colloidal silica coatings. Ethylene diamine was added to the colloidal silica solution as the curing agent. The colloidal silica solution was regarded as a hard-sphere suspension model with low volume fraction of the silica particles. Rheological properties of the silica suspensions modified with GPS have been investigated as a function of pH and concentration. The acidic solution showed high viscosity change by fast hydrolysis reaction and adsorption of the organic binders on the surface of silica particles. However, the hydrolysis was slow at the basic condition and the binders combined with themselves by condensation. The viscosity change was smallest at pH 7. The viscosity increased with the curing time after adding ethylenediamine, and the increase of viscosity at low pH was higher than that at high pH. The hydrophilic properties of the coating film were investigated by the contact angle of water and film surface. The smallest contact angle was shown under the strong acidic condition of pH 2.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.242-246
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• 2004

Nano-sized a-alumina with a narrow distribution was prepared by using Flame Spray Pyrolysis (FSP). The microemulsion of water in oil (W/O) was prepared to make ultrafine droplets for FSP process. Kerosene (fuel) as a continuos phase and Al(NO$_3$)$_3$$.$9$H_2O$ (oxidizer) aqueous solution as a dispersed phase were prepared for microemulsification. The microemulsion with dispersion stability was obtained by adjusting the composition of 80 vol% kerosene, 10 vol% aqueous solution, and 10 vol% emulsifying agent. Microemulsion was sprayed onto the flame by using two-fluid nozzle spray gun under the condition of 0.03 ㎫ air pressure. The synthesized products were $\alpha$-alumina phase with the size of 20 to 30 nm.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.223-228
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• 2005

In the present work, a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) composite, filled with Zn-ion coated structural silica encapsulated with the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA), was synthesized using the conventional melt-blending technique in a sigma internal mixer. The catalytic activity of the Zn-ions (originating from the structural silica) towards the oxirane group (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA): encapsulating agent) was assessed by infrared spectroscopy. Two composites, each with a filler content of $2.5 wt\%$ were developed. The first one was obtained by melt blending the Zn-ion coated structural silica with LDPE in a co-rotating sigma internal mixer. The second one was obtained by melt blending the same LDPE, but with DGEBA encapsulated Zn-ion coated structural silica. Epoxy resin encapsulation of the Zn-ion coated structural silica resulted in its having good interfacial adhesion and a homogeneous dispersion in the polymer matrix. Furthermore, the encapsulation of epoxy resin over the Zn-ion coated structural silica showed improvements in both the mechanical and thermal properties, viz. a $33\%$ increase in the elastic modulus and a rise in the onset degradation temperature from 355 to $371^{\circ}C$, in comparison to the Zn-ion coated structural silica.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.476-482
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• 2009

The crystallization behavior of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) in the presence and absence of polypyrrole nanoparticles (PPy NPs) was investigated in terms of the heterogeneous nucleation effect of PPy NPs using FTIR, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimeter and polarized optical microscope analysis. PPy NPs were prepared by dispersion polymerization method stabilized by PVA in aqueous solution. A polymer nanocomposite with uniform dispersity could be readily obtained due to the enhanced compatibility between the filler and matrix. Compared with the PPy NP-absent PVA, the PPy NP/PVA nanocomposite exhibited an enhanced degree of crystallinity. The degree of crystallinity increased up to 17% at the PPy NP concentration of 1 wt%, compared to the pristine PVA. The PPy NP acted as an effective nucleating agent during the crystallization process, thereby enhancing the degree and rate of crystallization. The kinetics study of the crystallization also revealed the decreased value of the Avrami coefficient in the case of the PPy NP/PVA nanocomposite.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.271-278
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• 2019

Polyurethane elastomers (PUEs) were synthesized using trans-1,4-bis(isocyanatomethyl) cyclohexane (1,4-H₆XDI), poly(oxytetramethylene) glycol, 1,4-butanediol (BD), and 1,1,1-trimethylol propane (TMP). To control the molecular aggregation state and mechanical properties of these PUEs, hard segment contents of 20 and 30 wt% and BD/TMP ratios of 10/0 and 8/2 were chosen. Differential scanning calorimetry and small-angle X-ray scattering measurements revealed that the degree of microphase separation increased with an increase in both hard segment content and BD ratio. The Young's modulus and strain at break of the 1,4-H₆XDI-based PUE were 6-20 MPa and 5-15, respectively. Incorporation of 20% TMP as a cross-linking agent into BD increased the melting temperature of the hard segment chains, that is, heat resistance, and decreased the Young's modulus. This could be due to the low density of the physical cross-linking network and the dispersion of hard segment chains in the soft segment matrix in the PUE in the presence of 20% TMP.