Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are promising photocatalysts with a broad light absorption range and high catalytic activity. However, conventional synthesis methods often involve toxic chemicals, limiting their environmental applicability. In this study, we developed an eco-friendly bio-templating method to synthesize hierarchical micro/nano-structured silver (MNAg) photocatalysts that uses plant leaves, including Nelumbo nucifera (lotus leaf), Rosa sp. (rose petal), and Limonium sinuatum (statice petal), as natural templates. By modifying the leaf surfaces with citrate functional groups, AgNPs were selectively formed along the microstructures of the templates, preserving their hierarchical morphology. MNAg photocatalysts were subsequently obtained through controlled calcination, and successfully retained the microscale structure of the original template. The surface morphology, chemical composition and crystalline structure of the MNAg were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), confirming the successful formation of hierarchical AgNPs. The optical behavior of the MNAg, characterized with diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), demonstrated broadened absorption across the visible region, which is attributed to plasmonic coupling among the densely packed AgNPs, partially interconnected along the hierarchical surface. The photocatalytic performance of the MNAg materials was evaluated for methylene blue degradation under UV-Vis illumination. The MNAg derived from lotus leaves exhibited the highest photocatalytic efficiency. This study presents a sustainable route to hierarchical Ag photocatalysts, highlighting the potential of bio-inspired nanomaterials for environmental applications.

This research aimed to find an eco-friendly way to neutralize water recovered from ready-mixed concrete by dissolving carbon dioxide in it, and to verify the potential use of such water for mixing concrete. Carbon dioxide was injected using nanobubble technology into recovered water, and the optimized conditions for dissolution were established by analyzing the carbon dioxide concentration in the water and measuring pH over time. Mortar was manufactured using this recovered water following carbon dioxide nanobubbles treatment, and measurements of compressive strength and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were conducted to verify the formation of calcium carbonate. 2,464 mg/L of carbon dioxide was dissolved in the recovered water, and the pH was measured to be 6.34. The compressive strength of the manufactured mortar was found to be 32.02 % stronger than mortar manufactured with normal tap water. According to the thermogravimetric analysis results, the amount of calcium hydroxide produced in the mortar manufactured with recovered water from ready-mixed concrete was 8.10 %, and the production amount of calcium carbonate was 6.49 %. This means that the amount of calcium carbonate produced was greater than that in mortar manufactured with normal tap water, as well as tap water containing nanobubble carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide was stably dissolved in water recovered from ready-mixed concrete using nanobubbles, enabling environmentally friendly neutralization without the use of chemicals. Also, when the recovered water from ready-mixed concrete containing dissolved carbon dioxide was used for mixing concrete, it was determined that the carbonation reaction influenced the formation of calcium carbonate, which contributed to the improvement in concrete strength.

이 연구는 주름개선에 효능이 우수한 활성성분을 개발하는데 목적이 있다. 난용성 성분 중 하나인 ursolic acid (UA)의 용해를 쉽게 하고, 나노캡슐을 만들어 안정성을 높이고 경표피 흡수를 빠르 게 하는 것이다. UA의 나노 캡슐(nano-UA60)을 위한 최적조건은 0.5 wt%의 하이드로제네이티드 레시 틴 (HyL), 0.5 wt%의 불포화레시틴 (UsL), 0.5 wt%의 하이드로제네이티드 리소레시틴 (HyLL), 0.1 wt%의 피토스핑고신 (PhyS), 0.05 wt%의 세라아미드 엔피, 0.1 wt%의 콜레스테롤, 5.0 wt%의 BG, 5.0 wt%의 PG, 5.0 wt%의 DPG, 0.03 wt%의 수소첨가콜라겐 (HyC), 10.0 wt%의 에탄올, 72.22 wt%의 정제수에 1.0 wt%의 UA 혼합했을 때, 가장 파인한 나노캡슐을 얻을 수 있었다. Nano-UA60을 만들기 위하여 사용된 microfluidizer의 최적조건은 시료의 통과온도 60℃, microfluidizer의 통과횟수 3 회, 반응 쳄버 통과압력 10,000 psi에서 가장 우수하였다. Nano-UA60의 입자크기는 60.2±3.7 nm이었 다. Microfluidizer에 3회 통과 시의 zeta potential이 -24.48±3.27 mV로 베지클이 안정하게 분산되어 있다는 것을 확인하였다. Nano-UA60의 pH범위는 pH 6부터 9에서 가장 안정하였으나, 그밖에 산성과 알칼리성 상태에서는 불안정하였다. 24시간 경과 시 Nano-UA60의 경표피의 침투량은 26.80 mg/cm2 침투되었으며, 피부두께를 0.7 mm로 가정하면 838.31μg/㎠가 피부에 침투가 가능하였다. 1μM에서 효능을 발휘하는 것으로 볼 때, 약 838.31 배의 활성이 있는 것으로 기대된다. Nano-UA60의 안정성은 실온에서는 99.0%, 냉온에서는 102.1%, 가속조건에서는 97.8%, 가혹 조건에서는 97.8%가 검출되어, 비교군인 O/W 에멀젼의 57.9% 보다 안정하였다.

목적 : 본 연구는 세륨(IV)-지르코늄(IV) 산화물 나노입자를 사용하여 콘택트렌즈를 제조한 후, 안의료용 기능성 렌즈로의 사용 가능을 확인 위해 제조된 렌즈의 물성을 비교 분석하였다. 방법 : 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate에 나노 세륨-지르코늄 산화물(cerium(IV)-zirconium(IV) oxide)을 첨가하여 공중합 한 후 물성을 측정하고, 친수성 단량체인 methacrylic acid(MA)를 추가로 첨가하여 물성을 측정, 비교하였다. 결과 : 다양한 비율의 세륨(IV)-지르코늄(IV) 산화물 나노입자와 MA를 첨가한 렌즈의 물성을 평가한 결과, UV-B 투과율은 40.95~66.26%, 굴절률 1.4163~1.4357, 함수율 37.44~47.18%, 접촉각 36.87~56.36°, 인장 강도 0.0612~0.561 kgf/mm², 표면거칠기 7.70~8.72 nm로 각각 측정되었다. 나노입자 및 MA 첨가는 습윤성, 인장강도 및 중합안정성을 향상시키고, UV-B 투과율과 표면거칠기를 감소시켰으며, 황색포도상구균에 대한 항균 성이 확인되었다. 결론 : 세륨(IV)-지르코늄(IV) 산화물 나노입자에 MA를 첨가하여 제조한 렌즈가 중합 안정성, 내구성, 습윤성 을 향상시키는 것을 확인하였으며, 따라서 안의료용 기능성 콘택트렌즈 소재로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

나노에멀젼은 일반적으로 입자 크기가 20~200nm로 특유의 푸른빛을 띠며 투명하거나 반투명한 외관부터 유백색의 외관을 띤다. 입자가 작고 고르므로 장기간 안정할 수 있고, 유효성분의 피부 투과율 증 진에 도움을 줄 수 있어 다방면으로 활용되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 고에너지 유화 방법과 저에너지 유화 방법을 사용하여 나노에멀젼 형성 능력을 비교하였다. Polysorbate 60 (HLB 14.9), PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil (HLB 14.0)을 계면활성제로써 각각 사용하여 나노에멀젼을 제조하였다. 제조 방 식으로는 직접 유화와 고압 유화, 상반전 유화를 활용하였다. 오일의 종류에 따라 나노에멀젼의 형성 능력 이 달랐으며, 에스터계 오일만이 21.5~105.0 nm 범위의 입자 사이즈를 나타내어 우수한 나노에멀젼 형성 을 보여주었다. 더불어, 제조 방식에 따라 나노에멀젼의 입자 사이즈가 다름을 나타내었다. 특히 Rotor/Stator 교반기를 이용한 직접 유화 방식의 입자 사이즈는 28.0~61.2 ± 1.2~17.5 nm로 비교적 큰 변화를 보이지 않고 안정한 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 저에너지와 고에너지 유화 방법의 입자 사이즈는 각각 24.9~105.0 nm와 24.1~75.3 nm로 얻어졌다. 이는 저에너지 방법으로도 입자가 작은 나노에멀젼을 효과 적으로 형성할 수 있음을 나타내며, 이러한 방법에 대한 에너지 효율을 시사한다. 또한, 본 실험에선 동일한 조성에서 유화 방법보다는 오일의 종류가 나노에멀젼 형성에 좀 더 지배적임을 확인함으로써 나노에멀 젼 제조 시에 필요한 물리적인 에너지 크기보다는 상호작용하는 물질 간의 친화성이 비교적 중요한 것으로 사료된다.

The heat transfer characteristics of double-pipe spiral heat exchanger using aluminum oxide nano-fluid were investigated by three different sizes of curvature size, experimentally. Five concentration of nano-fluid as working fluid were made and tested to analyze the heat transfer characteristics. As results, the heat transfer performance was improved at 0.25% of nano-fluid due to high thermal conductivity, however, as the concentration of nanofluid increased (~2.0%), the heat transfer performance deteriorated due to the increase in thermal resistance caused by the sedimentation of particles in the flow path. In addition, the nano-fluid has a higher pressure drop than water due to its high density and viscosity. The optimal range for heat transfer enhancement of nano-fluid was found to be less than 4.0 LPM in flow rate and 0.25% of nano-fluid concentration in this study.

Mo-ODS alloys have excellent mechanical properties, including an improved recrystallization temperature, greater strength due to dispersed oxides, and the ability to suppress grain growth at high temperatures. In ODS alloys, the dispersed Y2O3 and added Ti form Y-Ti-O complex oxides, producing finer particles than those in the initial Y2O3. The complex oxides increase high-temperature stability and improve the mechanical properties of the alloy. In particular, the use of TiH2 powder, which is more brittle than conventional Ti, can enable the distribution of finer oxides than is possible with conventional Ti powder during milling. Moreover, dehydrogenation leads to a more refined powder size in the reduction process. This study investigated the refinement of Yi2Ti2O7 in a nano Mo-ODS alloy using TiH2. The alloy compositions were determined to be Mo-0.5Ti-0.5Yi2O3 and Mo-1.0Ti-0.5Yi2Oi2. The nano Mo-ODS alloys were fabricated using Ti and TiH2 to explore the effects of adding different forms of Ti. The sintered specimens were analyzed through X-ray diffraction for phase analysis, and the microstructure of the alloys was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Vickers hardness tests were conducted to determine the effect of the form of Ti added on the mechanical properties, and it was found that using TiHi2 effectively improved the mechanical properties.

Activated carbon has broad application prospects for treating pollutants due to its easy availability, low cost and good adsorption. In our work, nano-activated carbons (NAC) with abundant functional groups are obtained by the oxidation modification of HNO3, ( NH4)2S2O8, and KMnO4, which are used to construct the particle electrodes to degrade NDEA in a continuous flow electrochemical reactor, and the influence of relevant factors on the performance of NDEA removal is discussed. The experimental data show that the optimal degradation efficiency is 42.55% at the conditions of 3 mL/min influent water flow, 0.21 M electrolyte concentration, 10 mA/cm2 current density, and 10 μg/mL initial NDEA concentration. The degradation of NDEA conforms to a quasi second order kinetic equation. The electrocatalytic mechanism of NAC electrodes for removing NDEA is firstly discussed. The effects of different free radicals on the degradation of NDEA are also demonstrated through free radical quenching experiments, indicating that the degradation of NDEA is dominated by ⋅OH. The degradation pathway of NDEA and final products are obtained using GC–MS. NAC particle electrodes as the cheap and efficient electrocatalyst in continuous flow electrochemical reactor system provide a greener solution for the removal of disinfection by-products from drinking water.

In this study, we report significant improvements in lithium-ion battery anodes cost and performance, by fabricating nano porous silicon (Si) particles from Si wafer sludge using the metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) process. To solve the problem of volume expansion of Si during alloying/de-alloying with lithium ions, a layer was formed through nitric acid treatment, and Ag particles were removed at the same time. This layer acts as a core-shell structure that suppresses Si volume expansion. Additionally, the specific surface area of Si increased by controlling the etching time, which corresponds to the volume expansion of Si, showing a synergistic effect with the core-shell. This development not only contributes to the development of high-capacity anode materials, but also highlights the possibility of reducing manufacturing costs by utilizing waste Si wafer sludge. In addition, this method enhances the capacity retention rate of lithium-ion batteries by up to 38 %, marking a significant step forward in performance improvements.

In the current study, the epoxy material was mixed with 10%, and 30% weight percent carbon material as filler in different thicknesses (1 cm, 1.5 cm, and 2 cm). Transmission electron microscope (TEM) measurements showed the average size of the nano-carbon was 20 nm with a standard deviation of 5 nm. The morphology of samples was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which showed the flatness of the epoxy surface, and when the content of carbon increases, the connection between the epoxy array and carbon increases. The compression test indicates the effect of nano-size on enhancing the mechanical properties of the studied samples. To survey the shielding properties of the epoxy/carbon composites using gamma-rays emitted from Am-241, Ba-133, Cs-137, Co-60, and Eu-152 sources, which covered a wide range of energies from 0.059 up to 1.408 MeV, the gamma intensity was measured using the NaI (Tl) detector. The linear and mass attenuation coefficients were calculated by obtaining the area under each peak of the energy spectrum observed from Genie 2000 software in the presence and absence of the sample. The experimental results obtained were compared theoretically with XCOM software. The comparison examined the validity of experimental results where the relative division rate ranged between 0.02 and 2%. Also, the measurement of the relative division rate between linear attenuation coefficients of microand nano-composites was found to range from 0.9 to 21% The other shielding parameters are calculated at the same range of energy, such as a half-value layer (HVL), mean free path (MFP), tenth-value layer (TVL), effective atomic number (Zeff), and the buildup factors (EBF and EABF). The data revealed a consistent reduction in the particle size of the shielding material across various weight percentages, resulting in enhanced radiation shielding capabilities. The sample that contains 30% nano-carbon has the lowest values of TVL (29.4 cm) and HVL (8.85 cm); moreover, it has the highest value of the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC), which makes it the best in its ability to attenuate radiation.

Mg81Ni19-8wt.% REO (oxides of Lanthanum and Cerium) alloys were successfully prepared using mechanical alloying method with Mg-Ni alloy and REO powder. Phase analysis, structural characterization, and microstructure imagine of the alloys were conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD), metallurgical microscope, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods. Multi-phase structures, including the primary phase of Mg2Ni and several secondary phases of Mg + Mg2Ni, MgNi-LaO, and MgNi-CeO, were found in in the as-cast Mg81Ni19- 8wt.% REO alloys. XRD and TEM results showed that Ce exhibits variable valence behavior at various stages, and the addition of REO promotes the nanocrystalline of the alloy. The hydrogen absorption capacity of ball-milled Mg81Ni19 and Mg81Ni19- 8wt.%REO alloy for 2 h at 343 K is 1.34 wt.% and 1.83 wt.%, which are much larger than 0.94 wt.% of as-cast Mg81Ni19 alloy. The addition of REO led to a decrease of the thermal decomposition temperature of the alloy hydride by approximately 20 K and a reduction of the activation energy of the hydrogen desorption reaction by 10% and 13%, respectively.