The determinants of microcredit loans repayment problem at Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) Kota Bharu / Suriani Mohamad

The microcredit loans are able to improve the economic and social status of the poor since it provides a working opportunity. Apart of the challenges in offering the microcredit loan, the micro finance institutions also having challenge with loan repayment. The aim of this paper is to investigate the determinants of microcredit loans repayment problem at Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) Kota Bharu. The primary data used in this study is gathered through a survey on 100 borrowers from BSN Micro Finance in Kota Bharu. By using Multiple Regression Analysis and Pearson Correlations are employed to identify whether the three determinants have relationship with loans repayment problem. The findings show that all the three determinants; borrower characteristics, business characteristics and microcredit loan characteristics have positive relationship with loans repayment problem. Meanwhile, the business characteristics have the greatest impact towards the loans repayment problem among the three independent variable

THE USE OF TRIPLE-TAILS CUSTOM-MADE SURFACTANT IN THE PRODUCTION OF GRAPHENE OXIDE THIN FILM AS TRANSPARENT CONDUCTIVE ELECTRODE

In this work, graphene oxide (GO) and reduced GO (rGO) thin films were fabricated from GO and rGO using the custom-made and commercial surfactants, which were sodium 1,4-bis (neopentyloxy)-3-(neopentyloxycarbonyl)-1,4-dioxobutane-2-sulphonate and sodium dodecyl sulphate, respectively. The GO solution was synthesized using electrochemical exfoliation method followed by reduction process utilizing hydrazine hydrate to produce rGO solution. The GO and rGO transfer process were done using spraying deposition method on fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate. The fabricated GO and rGO thin films consists of several layers resulted in high transparency over 85% with maximum transmittance of 93.69%. Based on several characterizations, the fabricated GO and rGO thin films have potential to be applied as transparent conductive electrode.Key words: Custom-made, Surfactant, Electrochemical, Spraying, Electrode. ABSTRAKDalam penelitian ini, film tipis grafin oksida (GO) dan grafin oksida yang direduksi (rGO) difabrikasi dari GO dan rGO menggunakan surfaktan yang dibuat khusus dan surfaktan komersial yaitu secara berurutan adalah sodium 1,4-bis (neopentyloxy)-3-(neopentyloxycarbonyl)-1,4-dioxobutane-2-sulphonate dan sodium dodecyl sulphate. Larutan GO disintesis menggunakan metode eksfoliasi elektrokimia diikuti dengan proses reduksi menggunakan hidrazin hidrat untuk menghasilkan larutan rGO. Proses transfer GO dan RGO dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode deposisi penyemprotan diatas substrat oksida timah oksida dengan doping florin. Film tipis GO dan rGO yang difabrikasi terdiri dari beberapa lapis dengan transparansi tinggi mencapai 85% dengan transmitansi maksimum sebesar 93,69%. Berdasarkan beberapa karakterisasi, film tipis GO dan rGO ini memiliki potensi untuk diaplikasikan sebagai elektroda konduktif transparan.Kata Kunci: dibuat khusus, surfaktan, elektrokimia, penyemprotan, elektrod

HYDROTHERMAL GROWTH AND SQUEEGEE METHOD IN THE FABRICATION OF MIXED-PHASE TiO2 NANOSTRUCTURES

In this work, the modification of TiO2 nanostructures based on its morphology and crystallinity phase were fabricated using a simple method. Hydrothermal growth method was used to synthesize nanorods and nanoflowers, while nanoparticles was applied using squeegee method. The average length and diameter of the as-grown nanorods were 3.5 and 46-215 nm, respectively. Meanwhile, the average total thickness and band gap value of mixed-phase TiO2 nanostructures were 15.98-24.54 nm and 2.84 eV, respectively. Based on its structural and electrical properties, the fabricated film has great potential to be applied as photoanode semiconductor layer for dye-sensitized solar cells application. Key words: TiO2, Nanostructures, Mixed-phase, Hydrothermal, Squeege

THE STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF ZnO/TiO2 BILAYER THIN FILM AS PHOTOANODE

   The ZnO/TiO2 bilayer was fabricated on the fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate. The ZnO nanorods and TiO2 nanoparticles were developed as photoanode material that were fabricated by using sol-gel immersion and squeegee method. The structure of ZnO/TiO2 bilayer showed a good properties for photoanode in DSSCs application. The ZnO/TiO2 bilayer has large surface area that could increase a dye loading and performance of photoanode. Meanwhile, the micro-Raman spectra of ZnO/TiO2 bilayer indicated a good crystallinity. Therefore, the ZnO/TiO2 bilayer showed a good structure for photoanode in DSSCs application.Key words: ZnO nanorods, TiO2 nanoparticles, ZnO/TiO2 bilayer, Photoanode ABSTRAKLapisan ZnO/TiO2 difabrikasi di atas substrat oksida timah yang di doping florin (FTO). Batang nano ZnO dan partikel nano TiO2 dikembangkan sebagai material fotoanoda yang difabrikasi menggunakan metode pencelupan sol-gel dan squeegee. Struktur lapisan ZnO/TiO2menunjukkan sifat fotoanoda yang baik dalam aplikasi DSSCs. Lapisan ZnO/TiO2memiliki luas permukaan yang besar yang bisa meningkatkan muatan dye dan performa fotoanoda. Sedangkan spktrum mikro-Raman lapisan ZnO/TiO2mengindikasikan kristalinitas yang bagus. Oleh karena itu, lapisan ZnO/TiO2menunjukkan struktur yang baik untuk fotoanoda di dalam aplikasi DSSCs.Kata Kunci: batang nano ZnO, partikel nano TiO2, lapisan ZnO/TiO2, fotoanod

Palm oil as the carbon source for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes using floating catalyst - chemical vapour deposition method

CNTs were synthesized using floating catalyst by dual‐furnace thermal chemical vapour deposition method at 800–1000° C. Cooking oil made of palm oil was used as the carbon precursor. Ferrocene in the presence of 0.05 M zinc nitrate and a p‐type silicon wafer was used as a catalyst precursor and a sample target, respectively. The deposition temperature was varied from 800–1000° C. Nitrogen gas was used as a gas carrier with a constant flow rate of 150 sccm/min. Field emission scanning electron micrographs show the formation of CNTs together with other carbons formed on the silicon substrate. Raman spectroscopy studies were also supported the formation of CNTs

Heterogeneous SnO2/ZnO nanoparticulate film: Facile synthesis and humidity sensing capability

Highly sensitive and extremely thin tin oxide/zinc oxide (SnO2/ZnO) heterojunction films were prepared via a two-step solution-based method for humidity-sensing application. The average diameters of the ZnO and SnO2 nanoparticles were 26 and 6 nm, respectively. The deposition of SnO2 for 3 min reduced film resistance from 6.74 MΩ to 0.40 MΩ. Remarkably, the humidity-sensing performance of the heterojunction sensors was critically dependent on deposition time, and sensors subjected to 3 min deposition exhibited the highest sensitivity (90.56) to humidity, which was significantly higher than that of bare ZnO. This study indicates that the use of SnO2/ZnO heterojunction has a great potential in humidity sensing applications

Penerapan konsep pembelajaran terbeza: kandungan, proses, produk dan persekitaran terhadap pelajar pintar dan berbakat

Kertas ini menilai penerapan konsep pengajaran terbeza yang dijalankan ke atas pelajar pintar dan berbakat di Kolej GENIUS@Pintar Negara, UKM. Kepelbagaian dan keunikan setiap pelajar yang semakin ketara hari ini memerlukan strategi pengajaran yang sesuai. Begitu juga dengan Pelajar Pintar Berbakat (PPB) yang mempunyai bakat dan potensi pembelajaran yang berlainan dan memerlukan perhatian khusus. Dengan itu, Kaedah Terbeza (Differentiated Instruction) dikemukakan sebagai penyelesaian utama kepada keperluan PPB ini walaupun ianya amat mencabar. Pemantapan dalam kaedah terbeza dalam PPB perlu diperkukuhkan agar keseronokan belajar dalam kalangan PPB tidak membosankan dan memenuhi keperluan mereka. Selain itu, kertas ini juga memfokuskan kepada empat konsep utama dalam pembelajaran terbeza iaitu kandungan, proses, produk dan persekitaran. Setiap daripada konsep pembelajaran terbeza menghasilkan kepelbagain teknik, serta aktiviti yang boleh meningkatkan tahap keaktifan serta minta dan menambahkan lagi kreativiti antara PPB ketika belajar. Oleh itu, hasil pelaksanaan pengajaran terbeza yang dijalankan ke atas PPB menunjukkan sangat sesuai dipraktikkan dalam pengajaran dan pembelajaran pintar dan berbakat

Tahap penguasaan teori dan amali dalam kalangan pelajar ekonomi rumah tangga: kajian persepsi di universiti awam Malaysia

Penguasaan teori dan amali adalah penting dalam bidang pendidikan teknikal dan vokasional untuk melahirkan modal insan yang berkemahiran dan berketerampilan. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji persepsi tahap penguasaan teori dan amali pelajar-pelajar Ekonomi Rumah Tangga (ERT) di sebuah universiti awam bagi kursus jahitan. Seramai 100 orang pelajar program Sarjana Muda ERT terlibat sebagai sampel kajian. Kajian ini berbentuk tinjauan dan menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif. Data daripada responden kemudiannya dianalisis menggunakan perisian SPSS versi 18.0. Nilai kebolehpercayaan soal selidik adalah α = .771. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan persepsi tahap penguasaan teori pelajar adalah pada tahap sederhana (min = 0.65) dan amali juga adalah sederhana (min = 3.50). Keputusan analisis ujian ANOVA mendapati bahawa tidak terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan bagi tahap penguasaan teori dan amali pelajar ERT dalam kursus jahitan bagi semester pengajian. Walau bagaimanapun, analisis ujian Eta pula menunjukkan bahawa terdapat tiga item teori dan empat item amali yang mempunyai hubungan signifikan rendah dengan semester pengajian. Analisis Pearson r pula menunjukkan tiada hubungan yang signifikan antara penguasaan teori dengan penguasaan amali dalam kalangan pelajar ERT

Effects of Incorporating Banana Skin Powder (BSP) and Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) on mechanical properties of lightweight foamed concrete

This paper presents the effects of agricultural wastes on the mechanical properties of lightweight foamed concrete, LFC. The agricultural wastes utilized in this research are banana skin powder (BSP) and palm oil fuel ash (POFA) as cement and sand replacement, respectively. Physical and chemical tests were conducted to determine the chemical composition and particle size of both BSP and POFA. These chemical and physical properties of the raw materials are important in understanding the effects they have on the mechanical properties of lightweight foamed concrete incorporating BSP and POFA, which is designated as LFC-BSP-POFA. Cube, cylindrical, and prism specimens of LFC-BSP-POFA with density of 1800kg/m³ were cast and tested to determine its compressive strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity and flexural strength. Twelve (12) LFC-BSP-POFA mixtures were prepared with content of BSP as cement replacement of 0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8% and 1% by weight. For each mixture, the content of POFA as sand replacement are 0% and 15%. It was found that BSP and POFA each contain 55.98% and 51.83% silicon dioxide, and 2.71% and 2.32% aluminum oxide, respectively. The particle size for these two materials as obtained from PSA test showed that both materials are considered as fine particles, which is within 0.1µm to 250 µm. These chemical composition and particle size of BSP and POFA contribute to the pozzolanic reaction in LFC. This is proven by the results obtained from the  mechanical properties tests which show that the incorporation of both BSP and POFA as cement and sand replacement have some significant effects on the mechanical properties of LFC. The increase percentage of BSP and POFA incorporated in LFC had shown slight increment in its mechanical properties