• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.6-14
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• 2015

In this study, physically and chemically stable core-crosslinked amphiphilic polymer (CCAP) nanoparticles were prepared using amphiphilic reactive precursors via soap-free emulsion process. Obtained CCAP nanoparticles were used as templates for synthesis of nanostructured $TiO_2$ nanoparticles. First, CCAP nanoparticles dispersed aqueous solutions were mixed with titanium isopropoxide to prepare stable organic-inorganic hybrid sols, and then obtained sols were spin coated onto glass substrate to prepare hybrid thin films onto glass, and then hybrid thin films were calcinated at various temperature to remove CCAP. Nanostructure of calcinated thin fims were examined by SEM. To study effect of CCAP nanoparticles on nanostructure of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles, the morphology of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles prepared using various CCAP templates was compared with that of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles prepared using conventional organic template, nonionic surfactant, Triton X-100.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.264-268
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• 2018

Vertically-aligned $TiO_2$ nanotube electrodes have attracted considerable attention for applications in solar cells, catalysts, and sensors, because of their ideal structure for electron transport and electrolyte diffusion. Here, we prepare vertically-aligned $TiO_2$ nanotube electrodes using a two-step anodization process. The prepared $TiO_2$ nanotube electrodes exhibit uniform pore structures with an inner diameter of ~80-90 nm and wall thickness of ~20-25 nm. In addition, they exhibit an anatase crystal phase after a high-temperature annealing. The annealed $TiO_2$ nanotube electrodes are applied in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as photoanodes. The fabricated DSSC exhibits conversion efficiencies of 3.46 and 2.15% with liquid- and gel-type electrolytes, respectively.

• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2013

Visible light-sensitive $TiO_2$ and ZnO nanostructure materials have attracted great attention as the promising material for solar energy conversion systems such as photocatalysts for water splitting and environmental purification as well as nano-biosensors. Success of their applications relies on how to control their surface state behaviors related to the exciton dynamics and optoelectronic properties. In this paper, we briefly review some recent works on single nanoparticle photoluminescence (PL) technique and its application to observation of their surface state behaviors which are raveled by the conventional ensemble-averaged spectroscopic techniques. This review provides an opportunity to understand the temporal and spatial heterogeneities within an individual nanostructure, allowing for the potential use of single-nanoparticle approaches in studies of their photoenergy conversion and nano-scale optical biosensing.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.466.2-466.2
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• 2014

The Quantum dot (QD) solar cells have been under active research due to their high light harvesting efficiencies and low fabrication cost. In spite of these advantages, there have been some problems on the charge collection due to the limitation of the diffusion length. The modification of advanced nanostructure is capable of solving the charge collection problem by increasing diffusion length of electron. One dimensional nanomaterials such as nanorods, nanowires, and nanotubes may enhance charge collection efficiency in QD solar cells. In this study, we synthesized $TiO_2$ anatase nanorod arrays with length of 200 nm by two-step sol-gel method. The morphology and crystal structure for the nanorod were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The anatase nanorods are single-crystalline and possess preferred orientation along with (001) direction. The photovoltaic properties for the heterojunction structure QD solar cells based on the anatase nanorod were also characterized. Compared with conventional $TiO_2$ nanoparticle based QD solar cells, these nanostructure solar cells exhibited better charge collection properties due to long life time measured by transient open circuit studies. Our findings demonstrate that the single crystalline anatase nanorod arrays are promising charge transport semiconductors for heterojunction QD solar cells.

• Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
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• v.67
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• pp.486-496
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• 2018

Bimetallic Pd@Ni nanostructure exhibited enhanced co-catalytic activity for the selective hydrogenation of benzaldehyde compare to their monometallic counterparts. Impregnation of these mono/bimetallic nanostructures on mesoporous $TiO_2$ leads to several surface modifications. The bimetallic PNT-3 ($Pd_3@Ni_1/mTiO_2$) exhibited large surface area ($212m^2g^{-1}$), and low recombination rate of the charge carriers ($e^--h^+$). The hydrogenation reaction was analyzed under controlled experiments. It was observed that under UV-light irradiations and saturated hydrogen atmosphere the bimetallic PNT-3 photocatalyst display higher rate constant $k=5.31{\times}10^{-1}h^{-1}$ owing to reduction in the barrier height which leads to efficiently transfer of electron at bimetallic/$mTiO_2$ interface.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.220-223
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• 2007

이 논문은 DMFC와 태양전지의 하이브리드형 연료전지에 적합한 $TiO_{2}$구조에 대한 연구로서, DMFC에 사용되는 귀금속 Pt의 사용량을 줄이기 위해 Pt를 $TiO_{2}$광촉매 지지체에 함침 시켜 UV가 조사될 때 Pt의 활성을 극대화시키기 위한 연구이다. $TiO_{2}$는 Rutile결정 구조를 이루었으며, 반응 시간에 따라 나노막대 모양을 형성하였다. $NaBH_{4}$ 환원법을 통해 Pt를 함침 시켜 전극을 제조하였다. 이 전극들은 UV가 입사되지 않을 때보다 UV가 입사될 때 메탄올 산화성능이 주목할 만큼 향상되었다. 특히 긴 막대모양의 $TiO_{2}$에 백금이 잘 분산된 촉매의 메탄올 산화반응 성능이 크게 향상되었다. 이러한 $Pt/TiO_{2}$의 주목할 만한 성능 향상은 UV가 조사될 때 빛에 의해 생성된 $TiO_{2}$의 hole들에 의해 메탄올 산화반응이 향상된 것으로 사료된다.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.31.2-31.2
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• 2011

We have investigated frequency dependant conductivity (or permittivity) of low dimensional oxide structures represented by [($Sr_{0.75}$, $La_{0.25}$)$TiO_3$]$_1$/1$[SrTiO_3]_n$ superlattices. The low dimensional oxide superlattice was made by cumulative stacking of one unit cell thick La doped $SrTiO_3$ and $SrTiO_3$ with variable thickness from 1 to 6 unit cell, i,e, [($Sr_{0.75}$, $La_{0.25}$)$TiO_3$]$_1$/$[SrTiO_3]_n$ (n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). We found two kinds of relaxation when n is 3 and 4, while, inductance component was observed at n=1. This behavior can be explained by electron modulation in ($Sr_{0.75}$, $La_{0.25}$)$TiO_3/SrTiO_3$ superlattices. When n is 1, electrons by La doping well extend to un-doped layer. Therefore, the transport of superlattices follows bulk-like behavior. On the other hand, as n increased, the doped electrons became two types of carrier: one localized and the other extended. These results in two kinds of transport phase. At further increase of n, most of doped electrons are localized at the doped layer. This result shows that dimensionality of the oxide structure significantly affect the transport of oxide nanostructures.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.150-154
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• 2016

Method for synthesizing a $K_2Ti_6O_{13}$ whisker is a solid-state method, hydrothermal synthesis method, calcination method, flux method, slow-cooling method, melting method, kneading-drying-calcination method, sol-gel method etc. $K_2Ti_6O_{13}$ whisker have been synthesized by a flux method. The average size and distribution of the synthesized $K_2Ti_6O_{13}$ whisker can be controlled by a kind of potassium precursors and reaction temperature and time. The average size of the synthesized $K_2Ti_6O_{13}$ whisker was about in the size range of 500 nm to $2{\mu}m$. The effect of synthesis parameters, such as the molar ratio of KOH to $TiO_2$, pH, reaction temperature and time, are discussed. The synthesized $K_2Ti_6O_{13}$ whisker were characterized by x-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM).

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.337-337
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• 2012

Dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) having high efficiency with low cost was first reported by Gr$\ddot{a}$tzel et al. Many DSSC research groups attempt to enhance energy conversion efficiency by modifying the dye, electrolyte, Pt-coated electrode, and $TiO_2$ films. However, there are still some problems against realization of high-sensitivity DSSC such as the recombination of injected electrons in conduction band and the limited adsorption of dye on $TiO_2$ surface. The surface of $TiO_2$ is very important for improving hydrophilic property and dye adsorption on its surface. In this paper, we report a very efficient method to improve the efficiency and stability of DSSC with nano-structured $TiO_2$. Atmospheric plasma system was utilized for nitrogen plasma treatment on nano-structured $TiO_2$ film. We confirmed that the efficiency of DSSC was significantly dependent on plasma power. Relative in the $TiO_2$ surface change and characteristics after plasma was investigated by various analysis methods. The structure of $TiO_2$ films was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The morphology of $TiO_2$ films was observed using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The surface elemental composition was determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Each of plasma power differently affected conversion efficiency of DSSC with plasma-treated $TiO_2$ compared to untreated DSSC under AM 1.5 G spectral illumination of $100mWcm^{-2}$.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.2200-2206
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• 2012

One-dimensional $TiO_2$ array grown on optically transparent electrode holds a promise as a photoelectrode for photoelectrochemical water splitting; however, its crystal structure is rutile, imposing constraints on the potent use of this nanostructure. To address this issue, a heterojunction with type-II band alignment was fabricated using atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. One-dimensional core/shell structured $TiO_2$/ZnO heterojunction was superior to $TiO_2$ in the photoelectrochemical water splitting because of better charge separation and more favorable Fermi level. The heterojunction also possesses better light scattering property, which turned out to be beneficial even for improving the photoelectrochemical performance of semiconductor-sensitized solar cell.