Fabrication of Ni/TiO visible light responsive photocatalyst for decomposition of oxytetracycline.

Nickel-impregnated TiO photocatalyst (NiTP) responding to visible light was prepared by the liquid phase plasma (LPP) method, and its photoactivity was evaluated in degrading an antibiotic (oxytetracycline, OTC). For preparing the photocatalyst, nickel was uniformly impregnated onto TiO (P-25) powder, and the nickel content increased as the number of LPP reactions increased. In addition, the morphology and lattice of NiTP were observed through various instrumental analyses, and it was confirmed that NiO-type nanoparticles were impregnated in NiTP.

Preparation and Characterization of Silver-Iron Bimetallic Nanoparticles on Activated Carbon Using Plasma in Liquid Process.

The mono and bi-metallic nanoparticles have conspicuous properties and are widely used in the environment, energy, and medical fields. In this study, bimetallic nanoparticles composed of silver and iron were precipitated on the surface of activated carbon in a single process using plasma in liquid process (PLP). Silver-iron ions and various radicals were actively generated in the aqueous reactant solution by the PLP.

Acetaldehyde Adsorption Characteristics of Ag/ACF Composite Prepared by Liquid Phase Plasma Method.

Ag particles were precipitated on an activated carbon fiber (ACF) surface using a liquid phase plasma (LPP) method to prepare a Ag/ACF composite. The efficiency was examined by applying it as an adsorbent in the acetaldehyde adsorption experiment. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry confirmed that Ag particles were distributed uniformly on an ACF surface.

Enhanced Surface Energetics of CNT-Grafted Carbon Fibers for Superior Electrical and Mechanical Properties in CFRPs.

Surface enhancement of components is vital for achieving superior properties in a composite system. In this study, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were grown on carbon fiber (CF) substrates to improve the surface area and, in turn, increase the adhesion between epoxy-resin and CFs. Nickel (Ni) was used as the catalyst in CNT growth, and was coated on CF sheets via the electroplating method.

Facile Preparation of Ni-Co Bimetallic Oxide/Activated Carbon Composites Using the Plasma in Liquid Process for Supercapacitor Electrode Applications.

In this study, a plasma in a liquid process (PiLP) was used to facilely precipitate bimetallic nanoparticles composed of Ni and Co elements on the surface of activated carbon. The physicochemical and electrochemical properties of the fabricated composites were evaluated to examine the potential of supercapacitors as electrode materials. Nickel and cobalt ions in the aqueous reactant solution were uniformly precipitated on the AC surface as spherical nanoparticles with a size of about 100 nm by PiLP reaction.

Preparation of Boron Nitride-Coated Carbon Fibers and Synergistic Improvement of Thermal Conductivity in Their Polypropylene-Matrix Composites.

The purpose of this study is to prepare boron nitride (BN)-coated carbon fibers (CF) and to investigate the properties of as-prepared fibers as well as the effect of coating on their respective polymer-matrix composites. A sequence of solution dipping and heat treatment was performed to blanket the CFs with a BN microlayer. The CFs were first dipped in a boric acid solution and then annealed in an ammonia-nitrogen mixed gas atmosphere for nitriding.

Pitch-Derived Activated Carbon Fibers for Emission Control of Low-Concentration Hydrocarbon.

The unburned hydrocarbon (HC) emissions of automobiles are subject to strong regulations because they are known to be converted into fine dust, ozone, and photochemical smog. Pitch-based activated carbon fibers (ACF) prepared by steam activation can be a good solution for HC removal. The structural characteristics of ACF were observed using X-ray diffraction.

Fast recovery process of carbon fibers from waste carbon fibers-reinforced thermoset plastics.

In this work, we report a fast recycling process for carbon fiber-reinforced thermosetting resin matrix composites, to obtain recycled carbon fibers. Steam (HO) was selected as an oxidant to decompose the resin of the composites. The recycling reaction temperature and time were set in the range of 600-800 °C and 60 min, respectively.

Activated Carbons from Thermoplastic Precursors and Their Energy Storage Applications.

In this study, low-density polyethylene (LDPE)-derived activated carbons (PE-AC) were prepared as electrode materials for an electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) by techniques of cross-linking, carbonization, and subsequent activation under various conditions. The surface morphologies and structural characteristics of the PE-AC were observed by field-emission scanning electron microscope, Cs-corrected field-emission transmission electron microscope, and X-ray diffraction analysis, respectively. The nitrogen adsorption isotherm-desorption characteristics were confirmed by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, nonlocal density functional theory, and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda equations at 77 K.

Mesopore-Rich Activated Carbons for Electrical Double-Layer Capacitors by Optimal Activation Condition.

In this study, activated polymer-based hard carbon using steam activation (APHS) with mesopore-rich pore structures were prepared for application as electrodes in electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLC). The surface morphologies and structural characteristics of APHS were observed using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis, respectively. The textural properties were described using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda equations with N/77 K adsorption isotherms.

Preparation and Characterization of Bimetallic Fe-Ni Oxide Nanoparticles Using Liquid Phase Plasma Process.

The Fe-Ni oxide bimetallic nanoparticles (FNOBNPs) were synthesized in the liquid phase plasma (LPP) method employed an iron chloride and nickel chloride as metal precursors. The sphericalshaped FNOBNPs were synthesized by the LPP process and, the size of particles was growing along with the progression of LPP reaction. The synthesized FNOBNPs were comprised of Fe₃O₄ and NiO.

Facile Synthesis of Chromium Oxide on Activated Carbon Electrodes for Electrochemical Capacitor Application.

Chromium oxide/carbon nanocomposites (COCNC) were synthesized by using a liquid phase plasma process, and the electrical properties of the supercapacitor electrode were investigated. Spherical chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃) nanoparticles with the size of 100-150 nm were dispersed uniformly on activated carbon powder surface. The quantity of chromium oxide nanoparticle precipitate increased with increasing LPP reaction time and the specific capacitance of COCNC increased with increasing LPP reaction time.

Tin Oxide/Carbon Nanocomposites as the Electrode Material for Supercapacitors Using a Liquid Phase Plasma Method.

Tin oxide/carbon nanocomposite (TOCNC) was synthesized using a liquid phase plasma method, to be used as the electrode of supercapacitor. Spherical tin oxide amorphous nanoparticles with the size of 5 nm were dispersed uniformly on activated carbon powder (ACP) surface. The quantity of tin oxide nanoparticle precipitate increased with increasing LPP duration and the specific capacitance of TOCNC increased with increasing LPP duration.

Recycling and characterization of carbon fibers from carbon fiber reinforced epoxy matrix composites by a novel super-heated-steam method.

In order to manufacture high quality recycled carbon fibers (R-CFs), carbon fiber-reinforced composite wastes were pyrolysed with super-heated steam at 550 °C in a fixed bed reactor for varying reaction times. The mechanical and surface properties of the R-CFs were characterized with a single fiber tensile test, interface shear strength (IFSS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface analysis showed that there was no matrix char residue on the fiber surfaces.

The Effect of CO2 Activation on the Electrochemical Performance of Coke-Based Activated Carbons for Supercapacitors.

The present study developed electrode materials for supercapacitors by activating coke-based activated carbons with CO2. For the activation reaction, after setting the temperature at 1,000 degrees C, four types of activated carbons were produced, over an activation time of 0-90 minutes and with an interval of 30 minutes as the unit. The electrochemical performance of the activated carbons produced was evaluated to examine the effect of CO2 activation.

Effects of oxyfluorination on surface and mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced polarized-polypropylene matrix composites.

In this work, oxyfluorination treatments on carbon fiber surfaces were carried out to improve the interfacial adhesion between carbon fibers and polarized-polypropylene (P-PP). The surface properties of oxyfluorinated carbon fibers were characterized using a single fiber contact angle, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The mechanical properties of the composites were calculated in terms of work of adhesion between fibers and matrices and also measured by a critical stress intensity factor (K(IC)).

Structure of single-wall carbon nanotubes: a graphene helix.

Evidence is presented in this paper that certain single-wall carbon nanotubes are not seamless tubes, but rather adopt a graphene helix resulting from the spiral growth of a nano-graphene ribbon. The residual traces of the helices are confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The analysis also shows that the tubular graphene material may exhibit a unique armchair structure and the chirality is not a necessary condition for the growth of carbon nanotubes.

Effects of mechanical ball milling with active gases on hydrogen adsorption behaviors of graphite flakes.

This study examined the effects of the mechanical milling conditions on the hydrogen adsorption behaviors of graphite flakes under different gas streams. A ball mill technique with various gas streams during treatments was used to introduce oxygen-containing functional groups on the graphite surfaces. The structural properties of graphite were evaluated by XRD, and the surface properties and textural properties were observed SEM, FT-IR, XPS and N2/77 K adsorption isotherms.

D-(+)-galactose-conjugated single-walled carbon nanotubes as new chemical probes for electrochemical biosensors for the cancer marker galectin-3.

D-(+)-Galactose-conjugated single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were synthesized for use as biosensors to detect the cancer marker galectin-3. To investigate the binding of galectin-3 to the d-(+)-galactose-conjugated SWCNTs, an electrochemical biosensor was fabricated by using molybdenum electrodes. The binding affinities of the conjugated SWCNTs to galectin-3 were quantified using electrochemical sensitivity measurements based on the differences in resistance together with typical I-V characterization.

Preparation and characterization of highly porous carbons for hydrogen storage.

In this work, Porous Carbons (PCs) were prepared by using a chemical acid treatment, and the hydrogen storage behaviors of PCs doped by Pt nanoparticles were investigated. The hydrogen storage capacities of the Pt-doped carbons with a platinum content of 0.2-1.

Ultramicropore formation in PAN/camphor-based carbon nanofiber paper.

We propose a new chemical route for forming ultramicropores in carbon nanofibers by using a pore former, camphor, in electrospun polyacrilnitrile nanofibers. The resulting carbon nanofibers form mostly ultramicropores. Total specific surface area was 886 m(2) g(-1), which is similar to the activated carbon nanofibers in CO(2) and steam activation.

Efficient synthesis of individual single-walled carbon nanotube by water-based catalyst with poly(vinylpyrrolidone).

Individual single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were synthesized on the patterned water-soluble catalyst by thermal chemical vapor deposition. The individual SWCNTs were obtained by introducing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a dispersant. The number of SWCNTs between two electrodes were approximately 1-2 with an average diameter of about 1.

Evidence of graphitic AB stacking order of graphite oxides.

Graphite oxide (GO) samples were prepared by a simplified Brodie method. Hydroxyl, epoxide, carboxyl, and some alkyl functional groups are present in the GO, as identified by solid-state 13C NMR, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. Starting with pyrolytic graphite (interlayer separation 3.

Enhancement of conductivity by diameter control of polyimide-based electrospun carbon nanofibers.

Oxydianiline-pyromellitic dianhydride poly(amic acid) (ODA-PMDA PAA) was polymerized with a catalyst support of triethyl amine for controlling molecular weight. This polymer was used for electrospinning in the preparation of PAA nanofibers, a precursor of carbon nanofibers. Here the amount of catalyst and concentration of PAA solution were optimized to produce polyimide-based carbon nanofibers approximately 80 nm in diameter.

Electroactive superelongation of carbon nanotube aggregates in liquid crystal medium.

We report an effect of superelongation of carbon nanotube (CNT) aggregates driven by the electric field in a liquid crystal (LC) medium. The CNT aggregates started to elongate above a certain threshold field and sustained the elongation up to nearly 400% in the linear region with a large electroactive constant of 70 (V/microm)-1. The original morphology of the CNT aggregates was restored upon removal of the field.