Orange peel (OP) exhibits a sorption capacity towards anionic dyes such as reactive blue 19 (RB19). Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a cationic surfactant was used to modify the surface nature of OP to enhance its adsorption capacity for anionic dyes from an aqueous solution. Four adsorbents were investigated: the OP, sodium hydroxide-treated OP (SOP), CTAB-modified OP and CTAB-modified SOP. The physical and chemical properties of these sorbents were determined using nitrogen adsorption at 77 K and by scanning electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques. The adsorption of the RB19 dye was assessed with these sorbents at different solution pH levels and temperatures. The effect of the contact time was considered to determine the order and rate constants of the adsorption process. The adsorption data were analyzed considering the Freundlich, Langmuir, Elovich and Tempkin models. The adsorption of RB19 by the assessed sorbents is of the chemisorption type following pseudo-first-order kinetics. CTAB modification brought about a significant increase in RB19 adsorption, which was ascribed to the grafting of the sorbent with a cationic surfactant.

Dye removal from waste water via adsorption by activated carbons (ACs) developed from agricultural wastes represents an ideal alternative to other expensive treatment options. Physical and chemical ACs were prepared from rice husks. The textural properties of the ACs were characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller-N2 adsorption and scanning electron microscopy. The chemistry of the carbon surface was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, base and acid neutralization capacities, pH of the active carbon slurry, and pHpzc. The adsorption capacities of the ACs for the basic dye (methylene blue) and acid dye (acid green 25) were determined using parameters such as contact time, pH, and temperature. NaOH-ACs showed the highest surface area and total pore volume, whereas steam-ACs showed the lowest ones.

Bagasse fly ash (BFA) is one of the important wastes generated in the sugar industry; it has been studied as a prospective low-cost adsorbent in the removal of congo red (CR) from aqueous solutions. Chemical treatment with H2O2 was applied in order to modify the adsorbability of the raw BFA. Batch studies were performed to evaluate the influence of various experimental parameters such as dye solution pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, and temperature. Both the adsorbents were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrophotometer and nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. Equilibrium isotherms for the adsorption of CR were analyzed by Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin models using non-linear regression technique. Intraparticle diffusion seems to control the CR removal process. The obtained experimental data can be well described by Langmuir and also followed second order kinetic models. The calculated thermodynamic parameters indicate the feasibility of the adsorption process for the studied adsorbents. The results indicate that BFA can be efficiently used for the treatment of waste water containing dyes.

염료감응형 태양전지를 위한 겔 고분자 전해질막을 제조하였다. 고분자물질로는 Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)를 사용하였으며, 가소제로서 poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)을 첨가하였고, 전해질염 및 I-/I3-의 공급원으로서 KI 및 I2를 첨가하여 고분자 전해질막을 제조하였으며, 이와 같은 고분자 전해질막을 바탕으로 염료감응형 태양전지를 제조하였다. 고분자 전해질 내의 가소제로서의 PEG는 95%의 함량으로 주입되었으며, 전해질 내의 EO 1 mole 당 KI mole 수([KI]/[EO] 비)가 0.022, 0.044, 0.066 및 0.088이 되도록 KI가 주입되었다. 이러한 방식으로 제조된 겔 전해질막은 상온에서 왁스(wax) 형태를 보였다. 낮은 KI 함량의 영역에서는 KI 함량이 증가하면서 전해질막을 통한 이온전도도가 증가하였으며, [KI]/[EO]비가 0.066인 때에 이온전도도는 최대값을 보인 후 0.088로 증가하면서 이온전도도는 감소하였다. 염료감응형 태양전지에 있어서는 고분자 전해질막 내의 KI 함량이 증가하면서 VOC는 지속적으로 감소하였다. 반면, JSC의 경우 낮은 KI 함량의 범위에서는 KI 함량이 증가하면서 JSC는 증가하였으며 [KI]/[EO]비가 0.044인 때에 JSC가 최대값을 보인 후 그 이상의 높은 범위에서는 KI함량의 증가에 따라 JSC는 감소하였다.

원자전달 라디칼 중합(ATRP)에 의해 poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) 주사슬과 poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PSSA) 곁사슬로 되어있는 양쪽성 PVC-g-PSSA 가지형 공중합체를 합성하였다. PVC-g-PSSA 가지형 공중합체 고분자를 템플레이트로 사용하고 졸겔법을 적용하여, 결정성 아타네제상의 미세기공 이산화티타튬 필름을 제조하였다. TiO2 전구체인 TTIP를 친수성인 PSSA 영역과 선택적으로 작용시켜 TiO2 메조기공 필름을 성장하였으며, 이를 주사전자 현미경 (SEM)과 엑스레이회절 (XRD)분석을 통해 분석하였다. 스핀코팅 횟수와 P25 도입에 따른 염료감응 태양전지 성능을 체계적으로 분석하였다. 그 결과 준고체 고분자 전해질을 이용하였을 때, 100 mW/㎠ 조건에서 에너지 변환 효율이 2.7%에 이르렀다.

The hybrid structured photo-electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells was fabricated based on the composites of nanoparticles and nanowires. Three samples with different hybrid structures were prepared with 17 vol%, 43 vol%, and 100 vol% nanowires. The energy conversion efficiency was enhanced from 5.54% for pure nanoparticle cells to 6.01% for the hybrid structure with 17 vol% nanowires. For the hybrid structured layers with high nanowires concentration (43 vol% and 100 vol%), the efficiency decreased with the nanowire concentration, because of the decrease of specific surface area, and of thus decreased current density. The random orientations of nanowires can be preserved by the doctor blade process, resulted in the enhanced efficiency. The hybrid structured layer can possess the advantages of the high surface area of nanoparticles and the rapid electron transport rate and the light scattering effect of nanowires.

Four activated carbons were produced by two-stage process as followings; semi-carbonization of indigenous biomass waste, i.e. cotton stalks, followed by chemical activation with KOH under various activation temperatures and chemical ratios of KOH to semi-carbonized cotton stalks (CCS). The surface area, total pore volume and average pore diameter were evaluated by N2-adsorption at 77 K. The surface morphology and oxygen functional groups were determined by SEM and FTIR, respectively. Batch equilibrium and kinetic studies were carried out by using a basic dye, methylene blue as a probe molecule to evaluate the adsorption capacity and mechanism over the produced carbons. The obtained activated carbon (CCS-1K800) exhibited highly microporous structure with high surface area of 950 m2/g, total pore volume of 0.423 cm3/g and average pore diameter of 17.8 a. The isotherm data fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm with monolayer adsorption capacity of 222 mg/g for CCS-1K800. The kinetic data obtained at different concentrations were analyzed using a pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion equations. The pseudo-second-order model fitted better for kinetic removal of MB dye. The results indicate that such laboratory carbons could be employed as low cost alternative to commercial carbons in wastewater treatment.

To fabricate TiO2 nanoparticle-based dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) at a low-temperature, DSSCs were fabricated using hydropolymer and ZnO nanoparticles composites for the electron transport layer around a low-temperature (200˚C). ZnO nanoparticle with 20 nm and 60 nm diameter were used and Pt was deposited as a counter electrode on ITO/glass using an RF magnetron sputtering. We investigate the effect of ZnO nanoparticle concentration in hydropolymer and ZnO nanoparticle solution on the photoconversion performance of the low temperature fabricated (200˚C) DSSCs. Using cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,20 bipyridy1-4,40 dicarboxylato) ruthenium (II) bis-tetrabutylammonium (N719) dye as a sensitizer, the corresponding device performance and photo-physical characteristics are investigated through conventional physical characterization techniques. The effect of thickness of the ZnO photoelectrode and the morphology of the ZnO nanoparticles with the variations of hydropolymer to ZnO ratio on the photoconversion performance are also investigated. The morphology of the ZnO layer after sintering was examined using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). 60 nm ZnO nanoparticle DSSCs showed an incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) value of about 7% higher than that of 20 nm ZnO nanoparticle DSSCs. The maximum parameters of the short circuit current density (Jsc), the open circuit potential (Voc), fill factor (ff), and efficiency (η) in the 60 nm ZnO nanoparticle-based DSSC devices were 4.93 mA/cm2, 0.56V, 0.40, and 1.12%, respectively.

The adsorption of Acid Blue 92 onto three low cost and ecofriendly biosorbents viz., cow dung ash, mango stone ash and parthenium leaves ash and commercial activated carbon have discussed in this work. The ash of all the mentioned bio-wastes was prepared in the muffle furnace at 500℃ and all the adsorbents were stored in an air thermostat. Experiments at total dye concentrations of 10~100 mg/L were carried out with a synthetic effluent prepared in the laboratory. The parameters such as pH and dye concentration were varied. Equilibrium adsorption data followed both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The results indicate that cow dung ash, mango stone ash and parthenium leaves ash could be employed as low-cost alternatives to commercial activated carbon in wastewater treatment for the removal of dye.

염료감응형 태양전지에 사용되기 위한 유기/무기 복합소재를 합성하였다. 다양한 분자량(600, 1,500, 2,000, 3,400)의 polyethylene glycol 양 끝단을 ethoxysilane기로 치환하여 전구체를 제조하였으며, 전구체간의 졸-겔 반응을 통하여 복합소재를 합성하였다. 전해질막은 유기/무기 복합소재를 KI 및 I2로 도핑하여 제조하였으며, 제조한 전해질의 이온전도도 특성을 측정하였다. 전해질막의 이온전도도는 원료로 사용한 PEG에 크게 영향을 받았으며 가장 높은 이온전도도는 분자량 2,000의 PEG를 사용한 전해질막에서 볼 수 있었다. 복합전해질막은 이온전도도에 있어서 큰 향상을 보였다. PEO 전해질막에 비하여 분자량 2,000의 PEG를 사용하여 제조한 복합전해질막은 월등하게 높은 이온전도도를 보였다.

염료감응형 태양전지를 위한 고분자 전해질막을 제조하였다. 고분자물질로는 Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)를 사용하였으며, 가소제로서 poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)를 첨가하였고, 전해질염 및 I - /I3 - ,의 공급원으로서 KI 및 I2를 첨가하여 고분자 전해질막을 제조하였으며, 이와 같은 고분자 전해질막을 바탕으로 염료감응형 태양전지를 제조하였다. 고분자 전해질 내의 가소제로서의 PEG 함량은 0%에서 85%의 범위로 변화하였다. 이러한 PEG 함량 전 구간에서 고분자 전해질막은 그 형태를 자체적으로 유지하는(self supporting) 완벽한 고체 전해질막의 형태로 제조되었다. PEG 함량이 증가하면서 전해질막을 통한 이온전도도와 I3- 이온의 확산도계수는 증가하였다. 염료감응형 태양전지에 있어서는 고분자 전해질막 내의 PEG 함량이 증가하면서 그 효율이 증가함을 볼 수 있었다.

Expanded graphite (EG) is synthesized by chemical intercalation of natural graphite (NG) and rapid expansion at high temperature, with titanium n-butoxide (TNB) used as titanium source by a sol-gel method to prepare EG-TiO2 composite. The performances of the prepared EG-TiO2 composite are characterized by BET surface area measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). To compare the photocatalytic activities of the EG-TiO2 composite, three kinds of dye solutions, methylene blue (MB), methylene orange (MO) and rhodamine B (RhB), and two kinds of light source, UV light and visible light (VL), are used. Comparing the results, it can be clearly seen that the degradation of all of the dye solutions under irradiation by UV light is much better than that under irradiation by visible light, and the decomposition of MB solution was better than that of both of MO and RhB solution.

The effect of light scattering layers (400 nm, TiO particle) of 4 m thickness on the dye-sensitized solar cell has been investigated with a 12 m thickness of photo-anode (20 nm, TiO particle). Two different structures of scattering layers (separated and back) were applied to investigate the light transmitting behaviors and solar cell properties. The light transmittance and cell efficiency significantly improved with inserting scattering layers. The back scattering layer structure had more effective transmitting behavior, but separated scattering layer (center: 2 m, back: 2 m) structure (9.83% of efficiency) showing higher efficiency (0.6%), short circuit current density (0.26 mA/cm) and fill factor (0.02). The inserting separating two scattering layers improved the light harvesting, and relatively thin back scattering layer (2 m of thickness) minimized interruption of ion diffusion in liquid electrolyte.

염료감응형 태양전지에 사용되기 위한 유기/무기 복합소재를 합성하였다. 다양한 분자량(400, 600, 1,500, 3,400)의 polyethylene glycol의 양 끝단을 ethoxysilane기로 치환하여 전구체를 제조하였으며, 전구체의 졸-겔 반응을 통하여 복합소재를 합성하였다. 전해질막은 유기/무기 복합소재를 NaI 및 I2로 도핑하여 제조하였으며, 제조한 전해질막의 이온전도 특성을 측정하였다. 전해질막의 이온전도도는 원료로 사용한 PEG에 크게 영향을 받았으며 가장 높은 이온전도도는 분자량 1,500의 PEG를 원료로 사용한 전해질 막에서 볼 수 있었다. 복합전해질막은 전도도에 있어서 큰 향상을 보였다. PEO 전해질막에 비하여 분자량 1,500의 PEC로 제조한 복합전해질막은 월등하게 높은 이온전도도를 보였다.

A nanocomposite consisting of Fe3O4 and MWCNT was produced via sol-gel technique using FeCl3 along with MWCNT by calcination at 300℃. The degradation effect of rhodamine B dye has been investigated under UV illumination in a darkroom. The degradation reaction was studied by monitoring the discoloration of dye as a function of irradiation time using UV-visible spectrophotometeric technique. The Fe3O4-MWCNT samples have continuous degradation ability under the UV illumination with the first order kinetics and the dye removal was better than in the pristine Fe3O4. The resultant composite catalyst was found to be efficient for the photo-Fenton reaction of the dye.

염색폐수처리를 위하여 피페라진, 메타페닐렌디아미, 트리메소일 클로라이드를 이용하여 계면중합법으로 폴리아마이드계 나노분리막과 폴리아마이드계 역삼투막을 제조하였으며, 이들을 오스모닉스사로부터 구입한 역삼투막의 투과특성과 비교하였다. 이들의 기본 분리투과특성 조사를 위하여 PEG 600, Na2SO4, NaCl 수용액을 이용하였으며, 제조된 분리막들은 전형적인 나노복합막과 저압용 역삼투막의 특성을 나타내었다. 제조된 이들 분리막들을 이용하여 국내 염료 제조업체인 (주)경인양행으로부터 공급된 실제 염색폐수를 처리하였으며, 이때 이들의 분리투과특성을 살펴보았다. 또한 분리막을 이용한 폐수처리 시 발생되는 분리막 오염을 제거하기 위하여 일정시간마다 CIP를 실시하였다. 이때 3종류의 서로 다른 화학세정제를 사용하였으며, 이들의 세척성능을 살펴보았다.