• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.550-556
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• 2019

This study was carried out to improve the photocatalytic reaction of TiO₂ photocatalyst. During the photocatalytic reaction, OH radicals are generated and they have an excellent oxidation capability for wastewater treatment. To evaluate the OH radicals generated according to crystallographic structure of TiO₂ nanotubes photocatalyst, a probe compound, 4-Chlorobenzoic acid was monitored to evaluate OH radical. Ultraviolet light was applied for photocatalytic reaction of TiO₂. The 4-Chlorobenzoic acid solution was prepared at laboratory. TiO₂ nanotube was grown on titanium plate by using anodization method. The annealing temperature for TiO₂ nanotube was varied from 400 to 900 ℃ and the crystal forms of the TiO₂ nanotube was analyzed. Depending on annealing temperature, TiO₂ nanotubes have shown different crystal forms; 100% anatase (0 % rutile), 18.4 % rutile (81.6 % anatase), 36.6 % rutile (63.4 % anatase) and 98.6% rutile (1.4% anatase). As the annealing temperature increases, the rutile ratio increases. OH radical generation from 18.4 % rutile TiO₂ nanotube plate was about 3.8 times higher than before annealing and 1.4 times higher than only 100 % anatase-TiO₂ nanotube. The efficiency of the 18.4% rutile TiO₂ nanotube was the best in comparison to TiO₂ nanotube with 18.4 %, 36.6 % and 98.6 % rutile. As a result, photocatalytic ability of 18.4 % rutile-TiO₂ nanotube plate was higher than 100 % anatase-TiO₂ nanotube plate.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.196-202
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• 2009

A visible-light photoactive $TiO_{2-x}N_x$ photocatalyst was synthesized successfully by means of cogrinding of anatase-$TiO_2(a-TiO_2)$ in $NH_3$ ambient, followed by heat-treatment at $200^{\circ}C$ in air environment. In general, it is well known that the grinding-operation induces phase transformation of a-$TiO_2$ to rutile $TiO_2$. This study investigates the influence of the amount of $NH_3$ gas on the phase transformation rate of a-$TiO_2$ and enhancement of visible-light photocatalytic activity, and also examines the relation between the photocatalytic activity and the period of grinding time. The phase transformation rate of a-$TiO_2$ to rutile is retarded with the amount of NH3 injected. And the visible-light photocatalytic activity of samples, was more closely related to the period of grinding time than $NH_3$ amount injected, which means that the doping amount of nitrogen into $TiO_2$ more effective to mechanical energy than $NH_3$ amount injected. XRD, XPS, FT-IR, UV-vis, Specific surface area (SSA), NOx decomposition techniques are employed to verify above results more clearly.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.299-307
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• 2019

Photocatalysis is an environment friendly technique for degrading organic dyes in water. Tungsten oxide is becoming an active area of research in photocatalysis nanomaterials for having a smaller bandgap than the previously favored titanium dioxide. Synthesis of hierarchical structures, doping platinum (Pt), coupling with nanocomposites or other semiconductors are investigated as valid methods of improving the photocatalytic degradation efficiency. These impact the reaction by creating a redshift in the wavelength of light used, effecting charge transfer, and the formation/recombination of electron-hole pairs. Each of the methods mentioned above are investigated in terms of synthesis and photocatalytic efficiency, with the simplest being modification on the morphology of tungsten oxide, since it does not need synthesis of other materials, and the most efficient in photocatalytic degradation being complex coupling of metal oxides and carbon composites. The photocatalysis technology can be incorporated with water purification membrane by modularization process and applied to advanced water treatment system.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1137-1144
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• 2013

$TiO_2$ composites with seven different carbon materials (activated carbons, graphite, carbon fibers, single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, graphene oxides, and reduced graphene oxides) that are virgin or treated with nitric acid are prepared through an evaporation method. The photocatalytic activities of the as-prepared samples are evaluated in terms of $H_2$ production from aqueous methanol solution (photo-catalytic reduction: PCR) and degradation of aqueous pollutants (phenol, methylene blue, and rhodamine B) (photocatalytic oxidation: PCO) under AM 1.5-light irradiation. Despite varying effects depending on the kinds of carbon materials and their surface treatment, composites typically show enhanced PCR activity with maximum 50 times higher $H_2$ production as compared to bare $TiO_2$. Conversely, the carbon-induced synergy effects on PCO activities are insignificant for all three substrates. Colorimetric quantification of hydroxyl radicals supports the absence of carbon effects. However, platinum deposition on the binary composites displays the enhanced effect on both PCR and PCO reactions. These differing effects of carbon materials on PCR and PCO reactions of $TiO_2$ are discussed in terms of physicochemical properties of carbon materials, coupling states of $TiO_2$/carbon composites, interfacial charge transfers. Various surface characterizations of composites (UV-Vis diffuse reflectance, SEM, FTIR, surface area, electrical conductivity, and photoluminescence) are performed to gain insight on their photocatalytic redox behaviors.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.146-154
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• 2016

Objective: Different methods have been utilized to prevent enamel demineralization and other complications during orthodontic treatment. However, none of these methods can offer long-lasting and effective prevention of orthodontic complications or interventions after complications occur. Considering the photocatalytic effect of $TiO_2$ on organic compounds, we hoped to synthesize a novel bracket with a $TiO_2$ thin film to develop a photocatalytic antimicrobial effect. Methods: The sol-gel dip coating method was used to prepare $TiO_2$ thin films on ceramic bracket surfaces. Twenty groups of samples were composed according to the experimental parameters. Crystalline structure and surface morphology were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively; film thickness was examined with a surface ellipsometer. The photocatalytic properties under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation were analyzed by evaluating the degradation ratio of methylene blue (MB) at a certain time. Antibacterial activities of selected thin films were also tested against Lactobacillus acidophilus and Candida albicans. Results: Films with 5 coating layers annealed at $700^{\circ}C$ showed the greatest photocatalytic activity in terms of MB decomposition under UV light irradiation. $TiO_2$ thin films with 5 coating layers annealed at $700^{\circ}C$ exhibited the greatest antimicrobial activity under UV-A light irradiation. Conclusions: These results provide promising guidance in prevention of demineralization by increasing antimicrobial activities of film coated brackets.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.417-421
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• 2018

$TiO_2$ has excellent photocatalytic properties and several studies have reported the increase in its specific surface area. The structure of $TiO_2$ nanofibers indicates promising improved photocatalytic properties and these nanofibers can thus potentially be applied in air pollution sensors and pollutant removal filters. In this study, a $TiO_2$ nanofiber was fabricated by the electrospinning method. The fabrication processing factors such as the applied voltage, the distance between nozzle and collector, and the inflow rate of solution were controlled. The precursor was titanium (IV) isopropoxide and as-spun $TiO_2$ nanofibers were heated at $450^{\circ}C$ for 2 h to obtain an anatase crystalline structure. The microstructure was analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The anatase phase was observed in the $TiO_2$ nanofibers after heat treatment. The diameter of $TiO_2$ nanofibers increased with the flow rate, but decreased with decreasing applied voltage and nozzle to collector distance. The diameter of $TiO_2$ nanofibers was controlled in the range of 364 nm to 660 nm. These nanofibers are expected to be very useful in photocatalytic applications.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2022

Growing industrialization leads to severe water pollution. Organic effluents from pharmaceuticals and textile industries released in wastewater adversely affect the environment and human health. Presence of antibiotics used for antibacterial treatment in wastewater leads to the growth of drug resistance bacteria, which is very harmful for human being. Various small organic molecules are used for the preparation of organic dye molecules in the textile industries. These molecules hardly degrade, which is present in the wastewater effluents from printing and dyeing industries. In order to address these problems, photoactive catalyst is embedded in the membrane and wastewater are passed through it. Through this process, organic molecules are photodegraded and at the same time, the degraded compounds are separated by the membrane. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is a semiconductor which behave as excellent photocatalyst. Photocatalytic ability is enhanced by the making its composite with other transition metal oxide and incorporated into polymeric membrane. In this review, the degradation of dye and drug molecules by photocatalytic membrane are discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.15-31
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• 2024

The antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine sulphate (HCQ) has taken much attention during the first COVID-19 pandemic phase for the treatment of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) patients. Hence it is interest to study the electrochemical properties and photocatalytic degradation of the HCQ drug. Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles, graphene oxide (GO) and CuO/GO NC (nanocomposite) modified carbon paste electrodes (MCPE) are used for the detection of HCQ in an aqueous medium. Electrochemical behaviour of HCQ (20 μM) was observed using CuO/MCPE, GO/MCPE and CuO/GO NC/MCPE in 0.1 M phosphate buffer at pH 7 with a scan rate of 20 to 120 mV s^-1 by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) of HCQ was performed for 0.6 to 16 μM HCQ. The CuO/GO NC/MCPE showed a reasonably good sensitivity of 0.33 to 0.44 μA μM cm^-2 with LOD of 69 to 92 nM for HCQ. Furthermore, the CuO/GO NC was used as a catalyst for the photodegradation of HCQ by monitoring its UV-Vis absorption spectra. About 98% was degraded in about 34 min under visible light and after 4 cycles it was 87%. The improved photocatalytic activity may be attributed to decrease in bandgap energy and enhanced ability for the electrons to migrate. Thus, CuO/GO NC showed good results for both sensing and degradation applications as well as reproducibility.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.837-845
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• 2017

A recirculating integrated system composed of a fluidized biofilter filled with waste-tire crumb media fixed with return sludge from wastewater treatment facility of D dyeing industrial center, and a UV/photocatalytic reactor packed with calcined $TiO_2$ coated-glass beads as photocatalyst-support, was constructed and was run to treat authentic textile-dyeing wastewater from D-dyeing industrial center, which was mixed with an alkaline polyester-weight-reducing wastewater and a wastewater from sizing process. As a result, its total removal efficiency(RE(tot)) of $COD_{cr}$ and colors were ca. 81% and 55%, respectively. The synergy effect of the recirculating integrated system to enhance total removal efficiency(RE(tot)) of $COD_{cr}$ and colors were evaluated at most ca. 7% and 3%, respectively. The fluidized biofilter and the UV/photocatalytic reactor were responsible for ca. 94% and 6% of the total $COD_{cr}$ removal efficiency, respectively, and were also responsible for ca. 86% and 14% of the total color-removal efficiency, respectively. Thus, the degree of the UV/photocatalytic reactor-unit process's contribution to RE(tot) of color, was about 2.4 times of that to RE(tot) of $COD_{cr}$. Therefore, the UV/photocatalytic reactor facilitated the more effective elimination of colors by breaking down the chemical bonds oriented from colors of dyes such as azo-bond, than $COD_{cr}$. In addition, the effect of the removal efficiency of each unit process(i.e., the fluidized biofilter or the UV/photocatalytic reactor) of the recirculating integrated system on RE(tot) of $COD_{cr}$ and colors, was analysed by establishing its model equation with an analytic correlation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2003.08a
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• pp.69-69
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• 2003