• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.221-231
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• 2018

A new procedure to produce poly(vinylidene fluoride)/boron nitride hybrid membrane is presented for application in membrane distillation (MD) process. The influence of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) incorporation on the performance of the polymeric membranes is studied through the present investigation. For this aim, h-BN nanopowders were successfully synthesized using the simple chemical vapor deposition (CVD) route and subsequent solvent treatments. The resulting h-BN nanosheets were blended with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) solution. Then, the prepared composite solution was subjected to phase inversion process to obtain PVDF/h-BN hybrid membranes. Various examinations such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wettability, permeation flux, mechanical strength and liquid entry pressure (LEP) measurements are performed to evaluate the prepared membrane. Moreover, Air gap membrane distillation (AGMD) experiments were carried out to investigate the salt rejection performance and the durability of membranes. The results show that our hybrid PVDF/h-BN membrane presents higher water permeation flux (${\sim}18kg/m^2h$) compared to pristine PVDF membrane. In addition, the experimental data confirms that the prepared nanocomposite membrane is hydrophobic (water contact angle: ${\sim}103^{\circ}$), has a porous skin layer (>85%), as well competitive fouling resistance and operational durability. Furthermore, the total salt rejection efficiency was obtained for PVDF/h-BN membrane. The results prove that the novel PVDF/h-BN membrane can be easily synthesized and applied in MD process for salt rejection purposes.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.211-216
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• 2017

ZnO nanopowder was synthesized using a relatively facile and convenient glycol process. ZnO nanopowder was successfully synthesized at temperatures as low as $125^{\circ}C$ using zinc acetate as the Zn source and 1,4-butanediol as the solvent. Then, the effects of water content on the growth process and morphological evolution of ZnO powders were investigated using 1,4-butanediol and water as binary solvent mixtures. Using pure 1,4-butanediol at a temperature above $125^{\circ}C$, the prepared hexagonal ZnO nanopowder exhibited a quasi-spherical shape with average crystalline size of approximately 30 - 50 nm. It is also demonstrated that the morphology of ZnO powders can be controlled by the addition of various water content in 1,4-butanediol. With increasing water content, the morphologies of the ZnO powders changed sequentially from quasi-spherical to hexagonal plate and pyramid, and finally to hexagonal prismatic with a pyramidal tip. A sharp peak centered at 384 nm in the UV region and a weak broad peak in the visible region between 450 and 700 nm were shown in the room temperature PL spectra of the ZnO synthesized using the glycol process, regardless of the addition of water, suggesting that ZnO nanopowders with the best crystallinity were obtained under these conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.20-25
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• 2014

Explosion characteristics of micro-sized aluminum dusts had been studied by many researchers, but the research of nano-sized aluminum dusts were very insufficient. In this study, an experimental investigation was carried out on the influences of nano and micro-sized aluminum dusts (70 nm, 100 nm, $6{\mu}m$, $15{\mu}m$) on dust explosion properties of aluminum particles by using 20 L explosion apparatus. With decreasing of particle size in suspended aluminum dusts, the LEC (lower explosion concentration) of nano-sized aluminum is lower than that of micro-sized aluminum. The particle size change of nano-sized aluminum dusts seems no obvious explosion differences than that of micro-sized aluminum dusts. From the observation of nano-sized aluminum particles by TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy), it is estimated that increase of particles aggregation may have effects on the explosion characteristics of aluminum nanopowders.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.77-91
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• 2013

High quality nanoparticles of neodymium barium niobium ($NdBa_2NbO_6$) perovskites have been synthesized using an auto ignition combustion technique for the first time. The nanoparticles thus obtained have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermo gravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. UV-Visible absorption and photoluminescence spectra of the samples are also recorded. The structural analysis shows that the nano powder is phase pure with the average particle size of 35 nm. The band gap determined for $NdBa_2NbO_6$ is 3.9 eV which corresponds to UV-radiation for optical inter band transition with a wavelength of 370nm. The nanopowder could be sintered to 96% of the theoretical density at $1325^{\circ}C$ for 2h. The ultrafine cuboidal nature of nanopowders with fewer degree of agglomeration improved the sinterability for compactness at relatively lower temperature and time. During the sintering process the wide band gap semiconducting behavior diminishes and the material turns to a high permittivity dielectric. The microstructure of the sintered surface was examined using scanning electron microscopy. The striking value of dielectric constant ${\varepsilon}_r=43$, loss factor tan ${\delta}=1.97{\times}10^{-4}$ and the observed band gap value make it suitable for many dielectric devices.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.653-658
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• 2018

$ZrO_2$ is a candidate material for hip and knee joint replacements because of its excellent combination of biocompatibility, corrosion resistance and low density. However, the drawback of pure $ZrO_2$ is a low fracture toughness at room temperature. One of the most obvious tactics to cope with this problem is to fabricate a nanostructured composite material. Nanomaterials can be produced with improved mechanical properties(hardness and fracture toughness). The high-frequency induction heated sintering method takes advantage of simultaneously applying induced current and mechanical pressure during sintering. As a result, nanostructured materials can be achieved within very short time. In this study, W and $ZrO_2$ nanopowders are mechanochemically synthesized from $WO_3$ and Zr powders according to the reaction($WO_3+3/2Zr{\rightarrow}W+3/2ZrO_2$). The milled powders are then sintered using high-frequency induction heating within two minutes under the uniaxial pressure of 80MPa. The average fracture toughness and hardness of the nanostructured W-3/2 $ZrO_2$ composite sintered at $1300^{\circ}C$ are $540kg/mm^2$ and $5MPa{\cdot}m^{1/2}$, respectively. The fracture toughness of the composite is higher than that of monolithic $ZrO_2$. The phase and microstructure of the composite is also investigated by XRD and FE-SEM.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.7
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• pp.565-569
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• 2011

Nanopowders of MgO, $Al_2O_3$ and $SiO_2$ were made by high-energy ball milling. The fast sintering of nanostructured $Al_2O_3-MgSiO_3-SiO_2$ composites was investigated from mechanically activated powders of MgO, $Al_2O_3$ and $SiO_2$ by a pulsed-current activated sintering process. Nanocrystalline materials have received much attention as advanced engineering materials with improved physical and mechanical properties; in particular greater strength, hardness, excellent ductility and toughness. Highly dense nanostructured $Al_2O_3- MgSiO_3-SiO_2$ composites were produced with simultaneous application of 80 MPa and pulsed output current of 2800A within 2 minutes. The sintering behavior, grain size and mechanical properties of $Al_2O_3-MgSiO_3-SiO_2$ composites were investigated.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.614-618
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• 2011

Nanopowders of MgO, $Al_2O_3$ and $SiO_2$ were made by high energy ball milling. The rapid sintering of nanostructured $MgAl_2O_4-Mg_2SiO_4$ composites was investigated by a high-frequency induction heating sintering process. The advantage of this process is that it allows very quick densification to near theoretical density and inhibition of grain growth. Nanocrystalline materials have received much attention as advanced engineering materials with improved physical and mechanical properties. As nanomaterials possess high strength, high hardness, excellent ductility and toughness, undoubtedly, more attention has been paid for the application of nanomaterials. Highly dense nanostructured $MgAl_2O_4-Mg_2SiO_4$ composites were produced with simultaneous application of 80MPa pressure and induced output current of total power capacity (15 kW) within 2min. The sintering behavior, gain size and mechanical properties of $MgAl_2O_4-Mg_2SiO_4$ composites were investigated.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.891-896
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• 2012

Nanopowders of MgO and $TiO_2$ were made by high energy ball milling. The rapid synthesis and sintering of the nanostructured $MgTiO_3$ compound was investigated by the high-frequency induction heated sintering process. The advantage of this process is that it allows very quick densification to near theoretical density and inhibition grain growth. Nanocrystalline materials have received much attention as advanced engineering materials with improved physical and mechanical properties. As nanomaterials possess high strength, high hardness, excellent ductility and toughness, undoubtedly, more attention has been paid for the application of nanomaterials. A highly dense nanostructured $MgTiO_3$ compound was produced with simultaneous application of 80 MPa pressure and induced current within 2 min. The sintering behavior, gain size and mechanical properties of $MgTiO_3$ compound were investigated.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.246-256
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• 2021

Mo,Cu-doped CeO₂ (CMCuO) nanopowders were synthesized by the nitrate-fuel combustion method aiming to improve the electrical and electrochemical properties of its Mo-doped CeO₂ (CMO) parent by the addition of copper. An electrical conductivity of ca. 1.22·10^-2 S cm^-1 was measured in air at 800℃ for CMCuO, which is nearly 10 times higher than that reported for CMO. This increase was associated with the inclusion of copper into the crystal lattice of ceria and the presence of Cu and Cu₂O as secondary phases in the CMCuO structure, which also could explain the increase in the charge transfer activities of the CMCuO based anode for the hydrogen and carbon monoxide electro-oxidation processes compared to the CMO based anode. A maximum power density of ca. 120 mW cm^-2 was measured using a CMCuO based anode in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with YSZ electrolyte and LSM-YSZ cathode operating at 800℃ with humidified syngas as fuel, which is comparable to the power output reported for other SOFCs with anodes containing copper. An increase in the area specific resistance of the SOFC was observed after ca. 10 hours of operation under cycling open circuit voltage and polarization conditions, which was attributed to the anode delamination caused by the reduction of the Cu₂O secondary phase contained in its microstructure. Therefore, the addition of a more electroactive phase for hydrogen oxidation is suggested to confer long-term stability to the CMCuO based anode.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.302-307
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• 2007

The reaction morphology was investigated depending on the amounts of HCl and $NH_4OH$, and the effect of pH was studied on the preparation of $TiO_2$ nanopowders. $TiO_2$ nanopowder was prepared using a titanium tetra-isopropoxide. Subsequently, the effect of pH on the characteristics of the prepared $TiO_2$ nanopowder was evaluated depending on the amounts of the catalysts such as HCl and $NH_4OH$. The morphology and phase transformation of $TiO_2$ powder prepared by hydrolysis of titanium tetra-isopropoxide were strongly influenced by the presence of the catalysts. In the case of using $NH_4OH$, the morphology of the $TiO_2$ powder exhibited powder form. For the HCl catalyst, it showed bulk or granule form. The phase transformations of amorphous $Ti(OH)_4$ to anatase $TiO_2$ and the anatase to rutile was significantly influenced by the kind and amount of thecatalysts.