In this study, (3,4-epoxycyclohexane)methyl 3,4-epoxycyclohexylcarboxylate acrylate was synthesized by reacting (3,4-epoxycyclohexane)methyl 3,4-epoxycyclohexylcarboxylate with acrylic acid to minimize hardening shrinkage and to improve heat resistance, which are known as disadvantages of photopolymers for 3D printing application. Urethane acrylate was synthesized by reacting 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamino alcohol, 2-hexylethyl acrylate, and isophorone diisocyanate in order to improve the mechanical properties without deteriorating the heat resistance. The physical properties before and after the synthesis of the acrylate and the mechanical properties when the urethane acrylate was applied were investigated. The reaction progress of the composite was examined by FTIR and 13C NMR. The heat deflection temperature, flexural strength, and surface hardness of the molding were measured. The curing behavior by Photo-DSC ultraviolet irradiation was also examined.
Photoelectrochemical cells have been used in photolysis of water to generate hydrogen as a clean energy source. A high efficiency electrode for photoelectrochemical cell systems was realized using a ZnO hierarchical nanostructure. A ZnO nanofiber mat structure was fabricated by electrospinning of Zn solution on the substrate, followed by oxidation; on this substrate, hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanorods on the ZnO nanofibers was carried out to form a ZnO hierarchical structure. The thickness of the nanofiber mat and the thermal annealing temperature were determined as the parameters for optimization. The morphology of the structures was examined by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The performance of the ZnO nanofiber mat and the potential of the ZnO hierarchical structures as photoelectrochemical cell electrodes were evaluated by measurement of the photoelectron conversion efficiencies under UV light. The highest photoconversion efficiency observed was 63 % with a ZnO hierarchical structure annealed at 400˚C in air. The morphology and the crystalline quality of the electrode materials greatly influenced the electrode performance. Therefore, the combination of the two fabrication methods, electrospinning and hydrothermal synthesis, was successfully applied to fabricate a high performance photoelectrochemical cell electrode.