Synthesis of Silicon Nitride Nanoparticles by Upcycling Silicon Wafer Waste Using Thermal Plasma Jets.

Silicon (Si) waste generation is a critical issue in the development of semiconductor industries, and significant amounts of Si waste are disposed via landfilling. Herein, we propose an effective and high value-added recycling method for generating nitride nanoparticles from Si waste, such as poor-grade Si wafers, broken wafers, and Si scrap with impurities. Si waste was crushed and used as precursors, and an Ar-N2 thermal plasma jet was applied at 13 kW (300 A) under atmospheric pressure conditions.

Electrodeposition of Cobalt-Phosphate Oxygen Evolution Catalyst on Inert Electrode for Electrolysis.

This study describes the electrodepositon of potentially competent oxygen evolution catalyst on inert anode using phosphate buffered solution containing cobalt ions. The thickness of deposited amorphous cobalt-phosphate catalyst thin film varies depending on the deposition potential and deposition time. The electrodeposited catalyst can actively be used to improve water oxidation reaction under neutral condition.

Thermal Plasma Synthesis of Crystalline Gallium Nitride Nanopowder from Gallium Nitrate Hydrate and Melamine.

Gallium nitride (GaN) nanopowder used as a blue fluorescent material was synthesized by using a direct current (DC) non-transferred arc plasma. Gallium nitrate hydrate (Ga(NO₃)₃∙H₂O) was used as a raw material and NH₃ gas was used as a nitridation source. Additionally, melamine (C₃H₆N₆) powder was injected into the plasma flame to prevent the oxidation of gallium to gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃).

Removal kinetics for gaseous NO and SO by an aqueous NaClO solution mist in a wet electrostatic precipitator.

Removal kinetics for NO and SO by NaClO solution mist were investigated in a wet electrostatic precipitator. By varying the molar concentrations of NO, SO, and NaClO, the removal rates of NO and SO confirmed to range from 34.8 to 72.

Synthesis of Cubic Boron Nitride Nanoparticles from Boron Oxide, Melamine and NH3 by Non-Transferred Ar-N2 Thermal Plasma.

Cubic boron nitride (c-BN) which is has extremely high hardness and thermal conductivity comparable to the diamond was synthesized in nanoparticle form by using non-transferred thermal plasma. The input power of arc plasma was fixed at 13.5 kW and the operating pressure was also fixed at atmospheric pressure.

Controlled Synthesis of Magnetite Porous/Hollow Nanoparticles Through a Template-Free Solvothermal Process.

Magnetite Fe3O4 porous/hollow nanospheres were synthesized controllably through a one-pot template-free solvothermal process, requiring only FeCl3 x 6H2O as iron precursor and addition of ammonium acetate in an ethylene glycol solution. SEM observations indicated that the porous/hollow nanospheres were composed of numerous small grains. The initial concentrations of Fe precursor and ammonium acetate as well as the molar ratio of Fe precursor to ammonium acetate played crucial roles to control particle diameter and porosity of the Fe3O4 porous/hollow nanospheres.

Preparation of magnetite hollow structure for drug delivery application.

Monodispersed Fe3O4 nanospheres with hollow interior and porous shell structures were synthesized without any template by refluxing iron precursor solution in a Teflon-line autoclave at 200 degrees C. Those nanoparticles exhibited a ferromagnetic behavior with a high saturation magnetization of 76 emu/g. The hollow structure was formed based on the assembly of many small particles to form large-sized spheres, followed by chemical conversion coupled with Oswald ripening process.

Simultaneous treatment of NO and SO2 with aqueous NaClO2 solution in a wet scrubber combined with a plasma electrostatic precipitator.

NO and SO2 gases that are generally produced in thermal power plants and incinerators were simultaneously removed by using a wet scrubber combined with a plasma electrostatic precipitator. The wet scrubber was used for the absorption and oxidation of NO and SO2, and non-thermal plasma was employed for the electrostatic precipitation of aerosol particles. NO and SO2 gases were absorbed and oxidized by aerosol particles of NaClO2 solution in the wet scrubber.

Synthesis of few layer graphene by non-transferred arc plasma system.

Graphene has recently been the focus of a great deal of attention owing to its outstanding properties, which include high mobility, high thermal conductivity and high structural stability. In this study, a few layer graphene was successfully synthesized from methane gas using a non-transferred direct current arc plasma system. Non-transferred thermal plasma offers high temperature, steep temperature gradient and high enthalpy to enhance the reaction kinetics of graphene synthesis.

Synthesis of SiO(x) powder using DC arc plasma.

SiO(x) was prepared by DC arc plasma and applied to the anode material of lithium ion batteries. A pellet of a mixture of Si and SiO2 was used as the raw material. The ratios of the silicon and silicon dioxide (SiO2) mixtures were varied by controlling the Si-SiO2 molar ratio (Si-SiO2 = 1-4).

Determination of organic acids in Salicornia herbacea by solid-phase extraction combined with liquid chromatography.

A solid-phase extraction (SPE) method for the determination of procatechuic acid, ferulic acid and caffeic acid in Salicornia herbacea L. (Hamcho) has been developed. The optimal conditions were obtained by using a C18 SPE cartridge.

Seed-mediated synthesis of iron oxide and gold/iron oxide nanoparticles.

In this study, we prepared magnetic iron oxide and gold/iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) and characterized their morphologies and properties by XRD, TEM, EDX, VSM and UV-vis measurements. The magnetite iron oxide NPs of 10 nm were synthesized by coprecipitation of Fe2+ and Fe+3 in the solution of NH4OH and then they were used as seed particles for the subsequent growth to prepare the magnetite NPs of different particle sizes and also to prepare gold/iron oxide composite NPs. All those magnetite NPs are superparamagnetic and the gold/iron oxide composite NPs combine the optical and magnetic properties, which are contributed by gold and iron oxide components, respectively.

A preliminary investigation of alpha-lipoic acid treatment of antipsychotic drug-induced weight gain in patients with schizophrenia.

Weight gain and other metabolic disturbances have now become discouraging, major side effects of atypical antipsychotic drugs (AAPDs). The novel strategies required to counteract these serious consequences, however, should avoid modulating the activities of the neurotransmitter receptors involved because those receptors are the therapeutic targets of AAPDs. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase is an enzyme that plays a pivotal role in energy homeostasis.

Measurement of dispersion stability of surface-modified nanosized carbon black in various liquids.

The dispersion stability of nano-sized carbon black produced by a thermal plasma process was investigated using a novel multiple light scattering method. The effect of surface modification of carbon black on the dispersion stability was monitored in various polar and non-polar liquids including water, methanol, styrene, and toluene. The results show that carbon black functionalized with carboxylic anion groups has much improved colloidal stability in a polar solvent and the degree of dispersion stability is strongly related to the solubility parameter value of liquids.

Production of nanosized carbon black from hydrocarbon by a thermal plasma.

Thermal plasma conditions (optimal heat and radical sources for the thermal decomposition) can be used to accelerate thermodynamically favorable chemical reactions or provide the energy required for endothermic reforming processes. Direct thermal decomposition of hydrocarbon (methane, acetylene, and propane) was carried out using a thermal plasma system which is an environmentally favorable process. In case of thermal decomposition, high purity of the hydrogen and solidified nano-sized carbon can be achieved without any contaminant.