A flexible piezoelectric energy harvester(f-PEH) that converts tiny mechanical and vibrational energy resources into electric signals without any restraints is drawing attention as a self-powered source to operate flexible electronic systems. In particular, the nanocomposites-based f-PEHs fabricated by a simple and low-cost spin-coating method show a mechanically stable and high output performance compared to only piezoelectric polymers or perovskite thin films. Here, the non-piezoelectric polymer matrix of the nanocomposite-based f-PEH is replaced by a P(VDF-TrFE) piezoelectric polymer to improve the output performance generated from the f-PEH. The piezoelectric hybrid nanocomposite is produced by distributing the perovskite PZT nanoparticles inside the piezoelectric elastomer; subsequently, the piezoelectric hybrid material is spin-coated onto a thin metal substrate to achieve a nanocomposite-based f-PEH. A fabricated energy device after a two-step poling process shows a maximum output voltage of 9.4 V and a current of 160 nA under repeated mechanical bending. Finite element analysis(FEA) simulation results support the experimental results.

Piezoelectric energy harvesting technology is attracting attention, as it can be used to convert more accessible mechanical energy resources to periodic electricity. Recent developments in the field of piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) are associated with nanocomposites made from inorganic piezoelectric nanomaterials and organic elastomers. Here, we used the BaTiO3 nanoparticles and piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) polymeric matrix to fabricate the nanocomposites-based PEH to improve the output performance of PEHs. The piezoelectric nanocomposite is produced by dispersing the inorganic piezo-ceramic nanoparticles inside an organic piezo-polymer and subsequently spin-coat it onto a metal plate. The fabricated organic-inorganic piezoelectric nanocomposite-based PEH harvested the output voltage of ~1.5 V and current signals of ~90 nA under repeated mechanical pushings: these values are compared to those of energy devices made from non-piezoelectric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomers and supported by a multiphysics simulation software.

Although thin-film nanocomposite membranes (TFNs) have paved the way to develop high-performance reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, scale-up production of TFNs is still challenging issue. Herein, we introduced a novel preparation method for TFNs using spray-assisted nanofiller pre-deposition (Spray method) to circumvent the limitations in conventional method. The precise control of nanofiller (ZIF-8) loading was possible by simply varying the spraying ZIF-8 concentration. Most importantly, TFNs prepared by both Spray and conventional method showed similar RO performances, while Spray method only requires ~100 times minimized amount of ZIF-8 with an unprecedentedly short deposition time (< 1 min) ever reported. Our results revealed that Spray method would be promising for the scale-up of TFNs in terms of cost, time, and controllability.

Plasticization is one of the biggest challenges in gas separation polymeric membranes. Mixed matrix membrane (MMM) comprising inorganic nanofiller is the most promising solution for anti-plasticization, however, it requires large amount of nanofillers to achieve desired performance. We adopted 2-D nanocomposite of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) attached on graphene oxide to effectively prevent plasticization of polyimide membrane under mixed gas condition. ZIF nanofillers, known as suitable additive for olefin/paraffin separation membranes, were grown on graphene oxide 2-D nanotemplates to maximize encounter frequency between gas permeant and nanofillers even in lower concentrations. The prepared MMMs successfully showed an improved mixed gas selectivity compapred to pristine membrane, indicating better anti-plasticization effect.

염색공정으로부터 배출되는 염료⋅염색 폐수를 효과적으로 제거하고 재활용하기 위해 막분리법을 적용하고자 하였고, 본 연구에서는 상용화된 나노복합막 표면을 실란 커플링제로 개질하여 분리막 성능을 향상시키고자 하였다. NaCl, MgSO4를 사용하여 개질한 막의 성능 평가를 진행하였고, 그 결과 상용막에 비해 투과도와 제거율이 향상되었음을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 염색, 염료 폐수의 분리 특성을 확인하고자 인공염색 폐수를 적용하였고, UV 흡광도 측정을 통해 99% 이상의 제거 성능을 확인할 수 있었다. 제조된 분리막의 표면 특성은 AFM, XPS, FE-SEM, FT-IR, Contact angle 등을 이용하여 분석하였다.

본 연구에서는 폴리아미드 층 내에 그래핀 옥사이드를 첨가시킴으로써 피페라진 기반 나노여과막의 내산성을 높이고자 하였다. 50% 황산 용액에 나노여과막을 침지시키며 주기적으로 MgSO4 염제거율을 확인한 결과, 그래핀 옥사이드 함유 나노여과막의 경우 95% 이상으로 염제거율을 유지한 기간이 대조군에 비해 4.7배로 길어졌다. 이에 반해, 산화 탄소 나노 튜브는 그래핀 옥사이드와 비슷한 화학적 특성을 가지고 있음에도 나노여과막에 첨가했을 때 내산성에 큰 효과를 나타내지 못하였다. 이에 그래핀 옥사이드의 화학적 성질에서 기인하는 폴리아미드 돌출 희생층이나 폴리아미드와의 수소결합보다 형태적 특성에서 기인하는 장벽 효과가 내산성 향상에 가장 주요한 역할을 했다고 여겨진다.

In this research, a novel and efficient quinoline thioacetamide functionalized magnetic graphene oxide composite (GO@Fe3O4@QTA) was synthesized and utilized for dispersive magnetic solid phase preconcentration of Cd(II) and Ni(II) ions in urine and various food samples. A number of diverse methods were employed for characterization of the new nanosorbent. The design of experiments approach and response surface methodology were applied to monitor and find the parameters that affect the extraction performance. After sorption and elution steps, the concentrations of target analytes were measured by employing FAAS. The highest extraction performance was achieved under the following experimental conditions: pH, 5.8; sorption time, 6.0 min; GO@Fe3O4@QTA amount, 17 mg; 2.4 mL 1.1 mol L-l HNO3 solution as the eluent and elution time, 13.0 min. The detection limit is 0.02 and 0.2 ng mL-1 for Cd(II), and Ni(II) ions, respectively. The accuracy of the new method was investigated by analyzing two certified reference materials (sea food mix, Seronorm LOT NO 2525 urine powder). The interfering study revealed that there are no interferences from commonly occurring ions on the extractability of target ions. Finally, the new method was satisfactorily employed for rapid extraction and determination of target ions in urine and various food samples.

정삼투법을 이용한 해수담수화는 역삼투 공정에 비해 에너지 절감이 가능하여 해수담수화 차세대 기술로 주목받 고 있다. 막을 기반으로 하는 수처리 분야에서 분리 성능을 향상시키고 새로운 기능을 부여하기 위해, 고분자 매트릭스에 필 러인 나노물질을 삽입하는 박막 나노복합체 분리막(thin film nanocomposite, TFN) 개발에 대한 연구가 요구되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 딥 코팅(dip coating) 방법을 기반으로 한 다층박막적층법(Layer-by-layer, LBL)을 이용하여 산화그래핀(graphene oxide, GO)의 나노 적층구조를 제어하여, 정삼투 공정에서의 높은 안정성 및 높은 수투과도 및 염 제거, 낮은 염 역확산을 갖는 그래핀 나노복합체 분리막을 개발하고자 하였다. 정삼투 공정의 성능 향상을 위한 산화그래핀의 환원 반응시간과 LBL 딥 코팅 적층 수의 최적화를 통해, 수투과도 2.51 LMH/bar, 물분자 선택성 8.3 L/g, 염 제거율 99.5%를 갖는 나노복합체 분리막 을 개발하였다. 이는 상용화된 CTA FO 분리막보다 수투과도는 10배, 물분자 선택성은 4배 높게 향상되었으며, 염 제거율은 비슷한 수준으로 나타났다.

A Nanosized WO3 and CuO powder mixture is prepared using novel high-energy ball milling in a bead mill to obtain a W-Cu nanocomposite powder, and the effect of milling time on the structural characteristics of WO3-CuO powder mixtures is investigated. The results show that the ball-milled WO3-CuO powder mixture reaches at steady state after 10 h milling, characterized by the uniform and narrow particle size distribution with primary crystalline sizes below 50 nm, a specific surface area of 37 m2/g, and powder mean particle size (D50) of 0.57 μm. The WO3-CuO powder mixtures milled for 10 h are heat-treated at different temperatures in H2 atmosphere to produce W-Cu powder. The XRD results shows that both the WO3 and CuO phases can be reduced to W and Cu phases at temperatures over 700oC. The reduced W-Cu nanocomposite powder exhibits excellent sinterability, and the ultrafine W-Cu composite can be obtained by the Cu liquid phase sintering process.

Fe3O4/Fe/graphene nanocomposite powder is synthesized by electrical wire explosion of Fe wire and dispersed graphene in deionized water at room temperature. The structural and electrochemical characteristics of the powder are characterized by the field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, field-emission transmission electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and galvanometric discharge-charge method. For comparison, Fe3O4/Fe nanocomposites are fabricated under the same conditions. The Fe3O4/Fe nanocomposite particles, around 15-30 nm in size, are highly encapsulated in a graphene matrix. The Fe3O4/Fe/graphene nanocomposite powder exhibits a high initial charge specific capacity of 878 mA/g and a high capacity retention of 91% (798 mA/g) after 50 cycles. The good electrochemical performance of the Fe3O4/Fe/graphene nanocomposite powder is clearly established by comparison of the results with those obtained for Fe3O4/Fe nanocomposite powder and is attributed to alleviation of volume change, good distribution of electrode active materials, and improved electrical conductivity upon the addition of graphene.

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.

Thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes have drawn keen attention to overcome the limitations in polymeric desalination membranes. However, preparation of TFN-RO membranes using conventional protocol involves problems such as a waste of expensive nanomaterials and inaccurate control of loading amount. In this work, we suggest a new protocol of TFN-RO membranes through pre-adsorption of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the support layer using spray coating. SEM images of spray coated supports showed well-dispersed adsorption of CNTs compared with those using conventional method. RO performances of TFN membranes using spray coating were comparable to conventionally prepared membranes. Thus, this new protocol is useful to prepare TFN membranes in terms of cost-efficiency.

최근 이온 교환 고분자 전해질 막을 활용한 고효율 에너지 전환 및 저장 장치에 대한 연구가 활발히 이루어지고 있다. 고분자 전해질 연료전지, 레독스 흐름전지 및 역전기투석 등 다양한 에너지 시스템에서 에너지 효율 향상을 위해 이온 교환 전해질 막의 양/음이온의 선택적 수송 거동이 중요시되고 있다. 본 총설은 각각의 고효율 전해질 전지 시스템에 따라 요 구되는 다양한 이온 교환막의 선택적 양/음이온 투과 거동의 한계점을 고찰하고, 한계를 극복하기 위한 다양한 구조의 고분 자 이온 교환 복합막의 장점 및 단점을 정리하였다. 고분자 가교법 및 다공성 지지체 복합막 이외에 다양한 구조의 신규다공 성 무기 나노입자를 유-무기 이온교환 복합막에 도입하는 시도가 이루어지고 있는 동시에, 이온 선택도 향상을 위한 다양한 형태의 표면 개질 방법이 개발되고 있으며, 이를 통해 이온 교환 복합막의 선택적 양/음이온 거동의 한계를 극복하는 전략을 제시하고 있다.