• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.239-245
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• 2020

Synthesizing one-dimensional nanostructures of oxide semiconductors is a promising approach to fabricate highefficiency photoelectrodes for hydrogen production from photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. In this work, vertically aligned zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod arrays are successfully synthesized on fluorine-doped-tin-oxide (FTO) coated glass substrate via seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method with the use of a ZnO nanoparticle seed layer, which is formed by thermally oxidizing a sputtered Zn metal thin film. The structural, optical and PEC properties of the ZnO nanorod arrays synthesized at varying levels of Zn sputtering power are examined to reveal that the optimum ZnO nanorod array can be obtained at a sputtering power of 20 W. The photocurrent density and the optimal photocurrent conversion efficiency obtained for the optimum ZnO nanorod array photoanode are 0.13 mA/㎠ and 0.49 %, respectively, at a potential of 0.85 V vs. RHE. These results provide a promising avenue to fabricating earth-abundant ZnO-based photoanodes for PEC water oxidation using facile hydrothermal synthesis.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.252-261
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• 2020

We prepare ZnO nanoparticles by environmentally friendly synthesis using Cyathea nilgiriensis leaf extract. Various phytochemical constituents are identified through the assessment of ethanolic extract of plant Cyathea nilgiriensis holttum by GC-MS analysis. The formation of ZnO nanoparticles is confirmed by FT-IR, XRD, SEM-EDX, TEM, SAED and PSA analysis. TEM observation reveals that the biosynthesized ZnO nanopowder has a hexagonal structure. The calculated average crystallite size from the high intense plane of (1 0 1) is 29.11 nm. The particle size, determined by TEM analysis, is in good agreement with that obtained by XRD analysis. We confirm the formation of biomolecules in plant extract by FT-IR analysis and propose a possible formation mechanism of ZnO nanoparticles. Disc diffusion method is used for the analyses of antimicrobial activity of ZnO nanoparticles. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles exhibit antimicrobial effect in disc diffusion experiments. The biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles display good antibacterial performance against B. subtilis (Gram-positive bacteria) and K. pneumonia (Gram-negative bacteria). Bio-synthesized nanoparticles using green method are found to possess good antimicrobial performance.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.338-342
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• 2020

Tin oxide (SnO₂) nanocrystals are synthesized by a thermal evaporation method using a mixture of SnO₂ and Mg powders. The synthesis process is performed in air at atmospheric pressure, which makes the process very simple. Nanocrystals with a belt shape start to form at 900 ℃ lower than the melting point of SnO₂. As the synthesis temperature increases to 1,100 ℃, the quantity of nanocrystals increases. The size of the nanocrystals did not change with increasing temperature. When SnO₂ powder without Mg powder is used as the source material, no nanocrystals are synthesized even at 1,100 ℃, indicating that Mg plays an important role in the formation of the SnO₂ nanocrystals at temperatures as low as 900 ℃. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the SnO₂ nanocrystals have a rutile crystal structure. The belt-shaped SnO₂ nanocrystals have a width of 300~800 nm, a thickness of 50 nm, and a length of several tens of micrometers. A strong blue emission peak centered at 410 nm is observed in the cathodoluminescence spectra of the belt-shaped SnO₂ nanocrystals.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.278.2-278.2
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• 2013

그래핀은 우수한 전기적, 기계적, 광학적 특성들로 인하여 전자소자, 센서, 에너지 재료 등으로의 응용이 가능하다고 알려진 단 원자층의 탄소나노재료이다. 특히 그래핀을 전자소자로 응용하기 위해서는 캐리어 농도, 전하 이동도, 밴드갭 등의 전기적 특성을 향상시키거나 제어하는 것이 요구되며, 에너지 소재로의 응용을 위해서는 높은 전기전도도와 함께 기능화를 통한 촉매작용을 부여하여 효율을 향상시키는 것이 요구된다. 일반적으로 화학적 도핑은 그래핀의 전기적 특성을 제어하는 효율적인 방법으로 알려져 있다. 화학적 도핑의 방법으로 질소, 수소, 산소 등 다양한 이종원소를 열처리 또는 플라즈마 처리함으로써 그래핀을 구성하는 탄소원자를 이종원자로 치환하거나 흡착시켜 기능화 처리된 그래핀을 얻는 방법들이 제시되었다. 이중 플라즈마를 이용한 도핑방법은 저온에서 처리가 가능하고, 처리시간, 공정압력, 인가전압 등 플라즈마 변수를 변경하여 도핑정도를 비교적 수월하게 제어할 수 있다는 장점을 가지고 있다. 본 연구에서는 열화학기상증착법으로 합성된 그래핀을 직류 플라즈마로 처리함으로써 효율적인질소도핑 조건을 도출하고자 하였다. 그래핀의 합성은 200 nm 두께의 니켈 박막이 증착된 몰리브덴 호일을 사용하였으며, 원료가스로는 메탄을 사용하였다. 그래핀의 질소 도핑은 평행 평판형 직류 플라즈마 장치를 이용하여 암모니아($NH_3$) 플라즈마로 처리하였으며, 플라즈마 파워와 처리시간을 변수로 최적의 도핑조건 도출 및 도핑 정도를 제어하였다. 그래핀의 질소 도핑 정도는 라만 스펙트럼의 G밴드의 위치와 반치폭(Full width at half maximum; FWHM)의 변화를 통해 확인하였다. NH3 플라즈마 처리 후 G밴드의 위치가 장파장 방향으로 이동하며, 반치폭은 감소하는 것을 통해 그래핀의 질소도핑을 확인하였다.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.690-696
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• 2005

The ultrastructure ore of a nanostructured apatite film nucleated from solution was studied to gain insights into that of bone minerals which is the most important constituent to sustain the strength of bones. Needle-shaped apatite crystal plates with a bimodal size distribution $(\~100\;to\;\~1000 nm)$ were randomly distributed and they were found to grow parallel to the c-axis ([002]), driven by the reduction of surface energy. Between these randomly distributed needle-shaped apatite crystals which are parallel to the film, apatite crystals (20-40nm) with the normal of the grains quasi-perpendicular to the c-axis were observed. These observations suggest that the apatite film is the interwoven structure of apatite crystals with the c-axis parallel and quasi-perpendicular to the fan. In some regions, amorphous calcium phosphate, which is a precursor of apatite, was also observed. In the amorphous phase, small crystalline particle with the size of 2-3 nm were observed. These particles were quite similar, in size and shape, to those observed in the femoral trabecular bone, suggesting the nucleation of apatites by a biomimetic process in vitro is similar to that in vivo.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.533-539
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• 2002

Porous anodic aluminum oxide layer for nano templates was prepared in acidic solutions. In order to investigate effects of 2nd anodization on ordered formation behaviors of the porous oxide layers, electrochemical and microstructural studies were performed, primarily using TEM, FE- SEM, AFM, and Ultramicrotomy. The pore diameter of the anodic oxide layer increased approximately linearly with increasing voltages, and to the contrary, the pore density decreased. It was shown that 2nd anodizing on the cell base after dissolving 1st anodic oxide layer was remarkably effective for forming ordered array of the pores, comparing with the case for 1st anodization only. And for controlling the diameter of pores, widening method by chemical dissolution seemed more practical than by electrochemical methods.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.663-667
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• 2006

CTAB(cetyltrimethylammonium bromide)-capped CdSe nanoparticles were prepared by using a 4 : 1(v/v) distilled water-isopropyl alcohol mixture. The cadmium chloride and sodium selenosulfate were used as the cadmium and selenium source. By the analysis of XRD and XPS, the resultant particle was confirmed to be cubic CdSe phase. TEM image showed CdSe nanoparticles with empty core. The CTAB-capped sample showed an maximum absorption at 418nm, blue-shifting compared with bulk CdSe, which indicated stronger quantum confinement effect compared with uncapped sample. From FT-IR analysis, it was found that the presence of the new peaks in the $850{\sim}1250cm^{-1}$ range indicated the existence of chemical bonding between CTAB and surface of CdSe nanoparticles. Also TG analysis indicated that there were two weight-loss steps for the CTAB-capped CdSe nanoparticles. It was suggested that CTAB played a significant role in protecting CdSe nanoparticles.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.113-118
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• 2015

To improve the methanol electro-oxidation in direct methanol fuel cells(DMFCs), Pt electrocatalysts embedded on porous carbon nanofibers(CNFs) were synthesized by electrospinning followed by a reduction method. To fabricate the porous CNFs, we prepared three types of porous CNFs using three different amount of a styrene-co-acrylonitrile(SAN) polymer: 0.2 wt%, 0.5 wt%, and 1 wt%, respectively. A SAN polymer, which provides vacant spaces in porous CNFs, was decomposed and burn out during the carbonization. The structure and morphology of the samples were examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and their surface area were measured using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller(BET). The crystallinities and chemical compositions of the samples were examined using X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties on the methanol electro-oxidation were characterized using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Pt electrocatalysts embedded on porous CNFs containing 0.5 wt% SAN polymer exhibited the improved methanol oxidation and electrocatalytic stability compared to Pt/conventional CNFs and commercial Pt/C(40 wt% Pt on Vulcan carbon, E-TEK).

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.95-99
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• 2016

In this study, 5 um sized $ZrSiO_4$ was ground to 1.9 um, 0.3 um, and 0.1 um sized powders by wet high energy milling process, and the sintering characteristics were observed. Pure $ZrSiO_4$ itself can-not be sintered to these levels of theoretical density, but it was possible to sinter $ZrSiO_4$ powder of nano-scale size of, -0.1 um to the theoretical density and to lower the sintering temperature for full density. Also, the decomposition of $ZrSiO_4$ with a size in the micron range resulted in the formation of monoclinic $ZrO_2$; however, in the nano sized range, the decomposition resulted in the tetragonal phase of $ZrO_2$. So, it was possible to improve the sintering characteristics of nano-sized $ZrSiO_4$ powders.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.519-525
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• 2012

Enhancement of light trapping in solar cells is becoming increasingly urgent for the development of next generation thin film solar cells. One of the possible candidates for increasing light trapping in thin film solar cells that has emerged recently is the use of scattering from metallic nanostructures. In this study, we have investigated the effects of the geometric parameters of Ag nanorings on the light scattering efficiency by using three dimensional Finite Different Time Domain (FDTD) calculations. We have found that the forward scattering of incident radiation from Ag nanorings strongly depends on the geometric parameters of the nanostructures such as diameter, height, etc. The forward scattering to substrate direction is increased as the outer diameter and height of the nanorings decrease. In particular, for nanorings larger than 200 nm, the inner diameter of Ag nanorings should be optimized to enhance the forward scattering efficiency. Light absorption and scattering efficiency calculations for the various nanoring arrays revealed that the periodicity of nanorings arrays also plays an important role in the absorption and the scattering efficiency enhancement. Light scattering efficiency calculations for nanoring arrays also revealed that enhancement of scattering efficiency could be utilized to enhance the light absorption through the forward scattering mechanism.