Porous materials such as polymeric foam are widely adopted in engineering and biomedical fields. Porous materials often exhibit complex nonlinear behaviors and are sensitive to material and environmental factors including cell size and shape, amount of porosity, and temperature, which are influenced by the type of base materials, reinforcements, method of fabrication, etc. Hence, the material characteristics of porous materials such as compressive stress-strain behavior and void volume fraction according to aforementioned factors should be precisely identified. In this study, unconfined uniaxial compressive test for two types of closed-cell structure polyurethane foam, namely, 0.16 and 0.32 g/cm3 of densities were carried out. In addition, the void volume fraction of three different domains, namely, center, surface and buckling regions under various compressive strains (10%, 30 %, 50 % and 70 %) were quantitatively observed using Micro 3D Computed Tomography(micro-CT) scanning system. Based on the experimental results, the relationship between compressive strain and void volume fraction with respect to cell size, density and boundary condition were investigated.

Porous W-10 wt% Ti alloys are prepared by freeze-drying a WO3-TiH2/camphene slurry, using a sintering process. X-ray diffraction analysis of the heat-treated powder in an argon atmosphere shows the WO3 peak of the starting powder and reaction-phase peaks such as WO2.9, WO2, and TiO2 peaks. In contrast, a powder mixture heated in a hydrogen atmosphere is composed of the W and TiW phases. The formation of reaction phases that are dependent on the atmosphere is explained by a thermodynamic consideration of the reduction behavior of WO3 and the dehydrogenation reaction of TiH2. To fabricate a porous W-Ti alloy, the camphene slurry is frozen at -30℃, and pores are generated in the frozen specimens by the sublimation of camphene while drying in air. The green body is hydrogen-reduced and sintered at 1000℃ for 1 h. The sintered sample prepared by freeze-drying the camphene slurry shows large and aligned parallel pores in the camphene growth direction, and small pores in the internal walls of the large pores. The strut between large pores consists of very fine particles with partial necking between them.

KAERI의 PRIDE 시설에서 공학규모의 전해환원용 원료물질인 UO2 다공성펠렛 제조를 위해 공정과 장치를 최적화시킨 내 용을 다루었다. UO2 분말과 별도로 attrition 밀링된 대용산화물 분말을 출발분말로, 정밀 칭량을 통해 사용후핵연료 조성을 모사하였다(Simfuel). Simfuel 분말은 각각 tumbling mixer로 혼합하여 균질화 하고, rotary press로 성형하여 furnace를 이 용해 소결하였다. 4% H2-Ar 분위기에서 1450℃ 24시간 고온 열처리하여 제조된 소결펠렛은 6.89 g·cm-3의 벌크밀도를 가 지며 이는 후속 전해환원 공정의 요구에 부합한다. 소결된 다공성펠렛의 미세구조 관찰을 통해 다공성 기지상과 함께 산화/ 금속 석출물이 관찰되어 사용후핵연료의 상이 모사됨을 확인하였다. 본 결과는 향후 공학규모 이상의 파이로 연구를 위한 UO2 다공성펠렛 제조에 중요한 기초자료로 활용 될 것이다.

We report facile solution processing of mesoporous hematite (α-Fe2O3) thin films for high efficiency solar-driven water splitting. Fe2O3 thin films were prepared on fluorine doped tin oxide(FTO) conducting substrates by spin coating of a precursor solution followed by annealing at 550 oC for 30 min. in air ambient. Specifically, the precursor solution was prepared by dissolving non-toxic FeCl3 as an Fe source in highly versatile dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) as a solvent. The as-deposited and annealed thin films were characterized for their morphological, structural and optical properties using field-emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction(XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The photoelectrochemical performance of the precursor (α-FeOOH) and annealed (α-Fe2O3) films were characterized and it was found that the α-Fe2O3 film exhibited an increased photocurrent density of ~0.78 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE, which is about 3.4 times higher than that of the α-FeOOH films (0.23 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE). The improved performance can be attributed to the improved crystallinity and porosity of α-Fe2O3 thin films after annealing treatment at higher temperatures. Detailed electrical characterization was further carried out to elucidate the enhanced PEC performance of α-Fe2O3 thin films.

The highly performing polyamide (PA) thin film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membrane was prepared using the commercialized porous polyolefin (PO) membrane as a support. The PO-supported TFC (PO-TFC) membrane was fabricated via a conventional interfacial polymerization process. The highly permselective PA layer was formed by optimizing membrane fabrication parameters such as monomer/additive composition and post-treatment. The uniform pore structure and high surface porosity of the PO support are beneficial for improving the membrane permselectivity. As a result, the prepared PO-TFC membrane showed ~30% higher water flux and ~0.4% higher NaCl rejection compared to a commercial RO membrane. In addition, the PO-TFC membrane exhibited excellent mechanical properties and organic solvent resistance.

본 연구에서는 Polyvinylidene Fluoride(PVDF)와 Polyacrylonitrile(PAN)의 중공 사막 표면에 계면중합하여 복합막을 제조하였다. 지지체 중공사 막은 기존에 상 용화된 제품을 사용하였고, Poly(4-styrene sulfonic acid)(PSSA)와 Polyetherimide 의 농도변화, 이온세기의 변화, 코팅시간의 변화에 따라 막을 제조하였다. 제조한 막의 특성평가를 위해 NaCl, MgCl2, CaSO4 100ppm의 공급액을 이용하여 일정 가동압력과 공급유량에서 막의 투과도와 배제율을 측정하였다.

The gas separation through membrane is considered as a promising solution for the stabilization of greenhouse gas level of atmosphere attributed from CO2. The separation process of membrane allows low energy requirement, low cost, and ease of operation. However, conventional polymeric membranes generally suffer from the trade-off between permeability and selectivity, which remains as one of the most important challenges for commercialization. Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), consisting of a polymer matrix and porous nano-filler, are considered to be a promising solution to overcome the trade-offs in polymeric membranes. Herein the porous nano-structures were fabricated to enhance the permselectity of CO2 separation membranes. The MMM which were fabricated with prepared porous nano-filler showed permeability improvement without significant selectivity loss.

Ceramic powder, such as MgO, is added as a binder to prepare the green compacts of molten salts of an electrolyte for a thermal battery. Despite the addition of a binder, when the thickness of the electrolyte decreases to improve the battery performance, the problem with the unintentional short circuit between the anode and cathode still remains. To improve the current powder molding method, a new type of electrolyte separator with porous MgO preforms is prepared and characteristics of the thermal battery are evaluated. A Spherical PMMA polymer powder is added as a pore-forming agent in the MgO powder, and an organic binder is used to prepare slurry appropriate for tape casting. A porous MgO preform with 300 μm thickness is prepared through a binder burnout and sintering process. The particle size of the starting MgO powder has an effect, not on the porosity of the porous MgO preform, but on the battery characteristics. The porosity of the porous MgO preforms is controlled from 60 to 75% using a pore-forming agent. The batteries prepared using various porosities of preforms show a performance equal to or higher than that of the pellet-shaped battery prepared by the conventional powder molding method.

본 연구는 열유도 상분리법(thermally induced phase separation, TIPS)을 사용하여, 수처리 분리막에 적용하기 위 해, 응고조의 열용량의 변화를 위해 서로 다른 두 용액의 함량을 조절하였다. 또한, 온도의 변화를 통해 분리막의 구조 변화 에 대하여 관찰하였다. 분리막을 제조하기 위한 소재로는 수처리 분리막에 주로 이용되는 기계적 물성과 내화학성이 우수한 poly (vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF)를 사용하였고, 첨가제로 실리카를 이용하였다. 희석제는 PVDF와 호환성이 좋은 dioctyl phthalate (DOP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP)를 사용하였다. 응고액의 함량 변화에 따른 열용량 변화에 따라 제조된 분리막의 구 조를 관찰하기 위해 SEM 이미지를 촬영하였다. 열용량이 증가할수록 PVDF의 결정화 속도가 느려져 큰 기공을 나타내며 열 용량이 작을수록 결정화 속도가 증가하여 작은 기공이 생기는 것을 확인하였다.

전해질막을 사용하는 알칼라인 연료전지는 최근 들어서 시스템 구성이 비슷하고 전해질막의 종류만 다른 기존의 양이온 교환막 연료전지를 대체할 수 있을 것으로 기대를 모으고 있다. 특히, 알칼라인 연료전지에서는 비백금계 저가 촉매가 사용 가능하여 많은 연구들이 진행되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 이러한 알칼라인 연료전지 시스템에 적용하기 위한 고성능, 고내 구성 음이온 교환막을 제조하기 위하여, 두 종류의 다공성 지지체인 폴리벤조옥사졸 지지체와 폴리에틸렌 지지체에 Fumion FAA 이오노머를 함침시켜, 기존의 Fumion 시리즈의 막보다 우수한 기계적 강도를 가지면서 높은 이온전도도를 유지할 수 있는 함침막을 제조하고자 하였다. 이를 통하여 최종적으로 지지체-함침막이 성공적으로 제조되었고, 이온 전도도와 기계적 특성이 지지체의 성질에 따라 서로 다른 결과를 보여 주었다. PE 지지체에 Fumion 이오노머를 함침시킨 함침막에서는 우수 한 기계적 특성이 얻어졌지만, 이온전도도는 감소하였으며 특히 높은 온도에서 성능감소가 더욱 증가하였다. 반면에 PBO 지 지체에 Fumion 이오노머를 함침 시킨 경우에는 PBO의 높은 염기성으로 인하여 함침 후에 높은 이온 전도도를 보였지만, Fumion-PE막에 비하여 상대적으로 낮은 기계적 특성을 나타내었다. 결과적으로 지지체-함침막 제조 시 알칼라인 연료전지의 운전조건에 따라 지지체의 특성을 충분히 고려하여 연구를 진행할 필요가 있다는 결론을 얻었다.

본 논문에서는 변형에 의해 유발된 패턴변화(pattern transformation)에 기반하여 압축(compression)과 인장(tension) 하중 모두에서 음의 포아송 비(negative poisson’s ratio)를 나타내는 다공성(porous) 구조를 제안한다. 기존에 개발된 원형 구멍을 이용한 구조는 연결선(ligament)의 회전 모멘트 부족으로 인해 인장 시 양의 포아송 비를 나타내는 한계점이 있었으며, 타원 형 구멍을 이용한 구조는 응력집중 현상으로 인하여 내구성(durability)이 약한 문제점이 있었다. 이에 본 연구에서는 휘어진 연결선의 배열을 통하여 인장하중 하에서의 회전 모멘트를 증가시키는 동시에 응력집중 현상을 완화하고 변형에너지(strain energy)를 구조물 전반에서 고르게 흡수하도록 설계하였다. 이를 통해 10%의 공칭 변형률(nominal strain) 범위 내의 압축 과 인장 모두에서 음의 포아송 비를 가지며, 기존 모델에 비하여 강성(stiffness)과 내구성이 개선된 구조를 개발하였다. 비선 형 유한요소해석을 통하여 기존 타원형 구멍 모델과의 비교를 수행하였으며 제안된 모델이 구조의 강성과 내구성 측면에서 현저히 개선됨을 확인하였다.

Porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) thin films are fabricated by spin-coating using a dispersion solution containing PTFE powders, and their crystalline properties are investigated after thermal annealing at various temperatures ranging from 300 to 500°C. Before thermal annealing, the film is densely packed and consists of many granular particles 200-300 nm in diameter. However, after thermal annealing, the film contains many voids and fibrous grains on the surface. In addition, the film thickness decreases after thermal annealing owing to evaporation of the surfactant, binder, and solvent composing the PTFE dispersion solution. The film thickness is systematically controlled from 2 to 6.5 μm by decreasing the spin speed from 1,500 to 500 rpm. A triboelectric nanogenerator is fabricated by spin-coating PTFE thin films onto polished Cu foils, where they act as an active layer to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. A triboelectric nanogenerator consisting of a PTFE layer and Al metal foil pair shows typical output characteristics, exhibiting positive and negative peaks during applied strain and relief cycles due to charging and discharging of electrical charge carriers. Further, the voltage and current outputs increase with increasing strain cycle owing to accumulation of electrical charge carriers during charge-discharge.

Though nonsolvent-induced phase separation has been used for decades to prepare polymeric membranes, it still remains a challenge to have clear insight into how the porous structure forms during membrane preparation. The presentation focuses on a point that is usually overlooked in the literature: phase separation may need time to occur. We found that the times, given and needed for phase separation to occur, play important roles in the formation of membrane pores, and they are strongly related to the degree of polymer chain entanglement in the casting solution, which can be well characterized by solution rheology. Examples will also be given to show how the knowledge about the phase separation time scales led to preparation of porous membranes with high inter-pore connectivity and polymer membranes with super-hydrophobic properties.

For possibility of specific gas sieve and adsorption, metal organic framework has attracted expectation in the gas separation field. But, this enhances gas transport performance only at high loading. So we designed effective composite growing MOF on porous 2D template to improve membrane at low concentration. The mixed matrix membranes showed improved CO2 permeability drastically by improved CO2/N2 diffusion selectivity and showed anti-plasticization effect.

본 연구에서는 다공성 PAN(Polyacrylonitrile) 중공사 분리막을 지지체로 이용하여 계면중합반응을 통해 나노여과막을 제조하였다. 지지체로는 PAN을 사용하였으며 수용상으로는 피페라진으로 중공사 분리막 내부에 코팅한 후 유기상인 TMC와 반응하여 계면중합이 일어나도록 진행하였다. 지지체로 사용된 UF 중공사 분리막은 분획분자량 10,000, 30,000, 100,000Da를 각각 사용하였으며 피페라진(Piperazine) 농도를 0.1%, 02%, 0.3%, TMC(Trimesoyl Chloride)의 농도를 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%로 변화시켜 제조 하여 5bar에서의 수투과도(LMH)와 MgSO4 2000ppm, Na2SO4 2000ppm, NaCl 500ppm 수용액으로부터 염배제율(Rejection, %)을 확인하였다.

A porous polyolefin (e.g. polypropylene and polyethylene) membrane has been commercialized as a lithium ion battery separator. The highly performing thin film composite (TFC) forward osmosis (FO) membrane was fabricated using the porous polyolefin membrane as a support via typical interfacial polymerization process. A very thin thickness (~8 μm) and highly interconnected pore structure of the polyolefin support can greatly reduce the internal concentration polarization, leading to high water flux, as evidenced by its low structural parameter (~168 μm). The prepared polyolefin-supported TFC membrane showed ~3.7 times higher water flux and ~33% lower specific salt flux compared to HTI-CTA commercial FO membrane with 1.0 M NaCl draw solution and DI water feed solution in FO mode. In addition, its excellent mechanical strength enables stable membrane operation.

Porous materials play a vital role in science and technology. The ability to control their pore structures at the atomic, molecular, and nanometer scales enable interactions with atoms, ions and molecules to occur throughout the bulk of the material, for practical applications. Three-dimensional (3D) porous carbon-based materials (e.g., graphene aerogels/hydrogels, sponges and foams) made of graphene or graphene oxide-based networks have attracted considerable attention because they offer low density, high porosity, large surface area, excellent electrical conductivity and stable mechanical properties. Water pollution and associated environmental issues have become a hot topic in recent years. Rapid industrialization has led to a massive increase in the amount of wastewater that industries discharge into the environment. Water pollution is caused by oil spills, heavy metals, dyes, and organic compounds released by industry, as well as via unpredictable accidents. In addition, water pollution is also caused by radionuclides released by nuclear disasters or leakage. This review presents an overview of the state-of-the-art synthesis methodologies of 3D porous graphene materials and highlights their synthesis for environmental applications. The various synthetic methods used to prepare these 3D materials are discussed, particularly template-free self-assembly methods, and template-directed methods. Some key results are summarized, where 3D graphene materials have been used for the adsorption of dyes, heavy metals, and radioactive materials from polluted environments.