Youngson Choe

Multifunctional epoxy composites with enhanced properties were developed by incorporating hydrophobic N-doped carbon dots (NCDs) into a sustainable thiol–epoxy resin system for the first time. NCDs synthesized via the hydrothermal method demonstrated exceptional hydrophobicity, fluorescence, and superior dispersion, ensuring uniform integration into the epoxy matrix. The properties of the optimized 0.5 wt% NCDs–epoxy composite were remarkably enhanced, with a 21% increase in the tensile strength, a 50% improvement in the lap shear strength, a 38% reduction in the coefficient of thermal expansion, and a remarkable corrosion-protection efficiency of 97.5%, as evidenced by potentiodynamic polarization analysis. The fluorescence properties of the NCDs facilitate uniform dispersion, enabling real-time monitoring and potential quality control applications. The eco-friendly nature of this methodology is underscored by the low-temperature, solvent-free curing process, making it suitable for large-scale and sustainable applications. These findings highlight the potential of NCDs-reinforced thiol–epoxy composites as protective coatings for use in harsh environments, particularly under marine conditions, and offer a robust platform for future innovations in sustainable material design.

A facile solvo-hydrothermal method was used to synthesize sub-100 nm diameter TiO₂/α-Fe₂O₃@SiO₂ nanorods (TiO₂/HNRs@SiO₂). Thermal annealing of TiO₂/HNRs@SiO₂ activated the photosensitizing crystalline TiO₂ domains containing mixed anatase and rutile phases. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB), conducted using thermally annealed TiO₂/HNRs@SiO₂ photocatalysts, was successfully demonstrated with ~95% MB removal efficiency under mild conditions of pH = ~7 and room temperature using ~150 min of solar irradiation. The enhanced removal efficiency was attributed to the rapid adsorption of MB onto the TiO₂/HNRs@SiO₂ surface via favorable electrostatic interactions and the synergistic integration of α-Fe₂O₃ and TiO₂ into nanorod heterostructures with bandgaps of 1.99–2.03 eV, allowing them to absorb visible light for efficient photocatalytic decomposition. This study provides insights into designing photocatalysts with improved selectivity for sustainable water treatment and environmental remediation.

A facile solvo-hydrothermal method was developed to synthesize sub-100 nm diameter TiO2/α-Fe2O3@SiO2 nanorods (TiO2/HNRs@SiO2). Thermal annealing of TiO2/HNRs@SiO2 activated the photosensitizing crystalline TiO2 domains containing mixed anatase and rutile phases. Photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue (MB) was performed using thermally the annealed TiO2/HNRs@SiO2 photocatalysts was successfully demonstrated with ~95% MB removal efficiency achieved under mild conditions of pH = ~7 and room temperature using ~150 min of solar irradiation. The enhanced removal efficiency was attributed to the rapid adsorption of MB onto the TiO2/HNRs@SiO2 surface via favorable electrostatic interactions and the synergistic integration of α-Fe2O3 and TiO2 into nanorod heterostructures with bandgaps of 1.99–2.03 eV, allowing them to absorb visible light for efficient photocatalytic degradation reactions. This study provides insights into designing photocatalysts with improved selectivity for sustainable water treatment and environmental remediation.

In this study, SnO₂–reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposites (NCs) were synthesized via a hydrothermal method using tea extract as a reducing agent.

This study explored the effect of maleinized polybutadiene (MPB) on the mechanical properties of epoxy resins. Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A, an epoxy resin, was modified by incorporating MPB having different molecular weights in order to improve the fracture toughness and peel strength. MPB was mixed with epoxy resin at several concentrations (5, 10, and 15 phr), with the epoxy resin as the major phase and MPB as the minor phase. A comparative study was performed to investigate the influence of MPB on epoxy resins based on their molecular weight difference. Lap shear test results showed that the shear strength of the MPB-modified epoxy resins was superior to that of the neat epoxy resin. At 10 wt% MPB loading, the modified epoxy resin exhibited an 87% enhancement in T-peel strength relative to that of the neat epoxy resin. Moreover, the fracture energy of the modified epoxy system increased proportionally with the amount of MPB in the epoxy matrix. These results indicate that MPB incorporation is a simple and effective method for designing multifunctional epoxy resins, thus facilitating their industrial application in various spheres.