• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.11.2-11.2
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• 2011

A key technological issue related to the implementation of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is the replacement of Pt at the counter electrodes with an inexpensive and electro-chemically stable alternative. Carbon based nanomaterials could be promising candidates, but in practice they exhibit inadequate device performance. Here, we report very thin graphene oxide (GO)/metal hybrid films as transparent counter electrodes for high-efficiency DSSCs. Transparent GO/Pt and GO/Au hybrid films showed cell efficiencies of 9.2 and 9.0%, respectively (improvements of 9.5 and 7.1% over conventional Pt counter electrodes). More interestingly, highly stable DSSCs with GO hybrid films from relatively inexpensive metals such as Cu and Ni have been demonstrated with efficiency values comparable to Pt counter electrodes. The results reported in this study should enable low-cost fabrication of DSSCs because it allows the use of relatively inexpensive metals such as Au, Cu, Ni, and Ag that could not be previously employed in DSSCs with iodide/tri-iodide electrolyte due to corrosion.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1505-1516
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• 2016

The detection of food pathogens is an important aspect of food safety. A range of detection systems and new analytical materials have been developed to achieve fast, sensitive, and accurate monitoring of target pathogens. In this review, we summarize the characteristics of selected nanomaterials and their applications in food, and place focus on the monitoring of biological and chemical contaminants in food. The unique optical and electrical properties of nanomaterials, such as gold nanoparticles, nanorods, quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, graphenes, nanopores, and polydiacetylene nanovesicles, are closely associated with their dimensions, which are comparable in scale to those of targeted biomolecules. Furthermore, their optical and electrical properties are highly dependent on local environments, which make them promising materials for sensor development. The specificity and selectivity of analytical nanomaterials for target contaminants can be achieved by combining them with various biological entities, such as antibodies, oligonucleotides, aptamers, membrane proteins, and biological ligands. Examples of nanomaterial-based analytical systems are presented together with their limitations and associated developmental issues.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.39.2-39.2
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• 2011

With the steady increase in the demand for flexible devices, mainly in display panels, researchers have focused on finding a novel material that have excellent electrical properties even when it is bended or stretched, along with superior mechanical and thermal properties. Graphene, a single-layered two-dimensional carbon lattice, has recently attracted tremendous research interest in this respect. However, the limitations in the growing method of graphene, mainly chemical vapor deposition on transition metal catalysts, has posed severe problems in terms of device integration, due to the laborious transfer process that may damage and contaminate the graphene layer. In addition, to lower the overall cost, a fabrication technique that supports low temperature and low vacuum is required, which is the main reason why solution-based process for graphene layer deposition has become the hot issue. Nonetheless, a direct deposition method of large area, few-layered, and uniform graphene layers has not been reported yet, along with a convenient method of patterning them. Here, we report an evaporation-induced technique for directly depositing few layers of graphene nanosheets with excellent uniformity and thickness controllability on any substrate. The printed graphene nanosheets can be patterned into desired shapes and structures, which can be directly applicable as flexible and transparent electrode. To illustrate such potential, the transport properties and resistivity of the deposited graphene layers have been investigated according to their thickness. The induced internal flow of the graphene solution during tis evaporation allows uniform deposition with which its thickness, and thus resistivity can be tuned by controlling the composition ratio of the solute and solvent.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.49-57
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• 2012

The reduction of greenhouse gas emission currently becomes more urgent task for Korean Industries, especially for the paper industries because of the new regulation based on the low carbon-green growth law. In order to reduce effectively the greenhouse gas emission, the development of greenhouse gas emission inventory has been widely considered as one of the basic processes and has been applied to many industries. In this study, the fundamental schemes and the cases of greenhouse gas inventories were investigated. Especially, the major considering units for paper industries were suggested to develope greenhouse emission inventory of paper industry.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.345-354
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• 2020

Cement is the most significant component in concrete. Large scale manufacturing of cement consumes more energy and release harmful products (Carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere that adversely affect the environment and depletes the natural resources. A lot of research is going on in globally concentrating on the recycling and reuse of waste materials from many industries. A major share of research is focused on finding cementitious materials alternatives to ordinary Portland cement. Many industrial waste by-products such as quartz powder, metakaolin, ground granulated blast furnace slag, silica fume, and fly ash etc. are under investigations for replacement of cement in concrete to minimize greenhouse gases and improve the sustainable construction. In current research, the effects of a new generation, ultra-fine material i.e., alccofine which is obtained from ground granulated blast furnace slag are studied as partial replacement by 25% and with varying amounts of sulfonated naphthalene formaldehyde (i.e., 0.3%, 0.35% and 0.40%) on mechanical, water absorption, thermal and microstructural properties of concrete. The results showed moderate improvement in all concrete properties. Addition of SNF with combination of alccofine showed a significant enhancement in fresh, hardened properties and water absorption test as well as thermal and microstructural properties of concrete.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.517-526
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• 2017

The biodegradation and water absorption properties of lignin/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibrous webs are investigated. Lignin/PVA nanofibrous webs containing 0, 50, and 85wt% of lignin were prepared via an electrospinning process to observe the effect of the lignin concentration on the biodegradability and water absorption properties of lignin/PVA nanofibrous webs. The morphology of the materials was examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). To understand the wetting behavior and hydrophilic nature of the electrospun lignin/PVA nanofibrous webs, the water absorbency, contact angle, and water uptake were examined. The enzymatic degradation of lignin/PVA nanofibrous webs was investigated using laccase by measuring total organic carbon (TOC) concentration over a course of 50 days. Water drops were absorbed immediately into all of the specimens. The water uptake of lignin/PVA nanofibrous webs increased as the amount of PVA in the lignin/PVA hybrid webs increased. The enzymatic degradation experiment indicated that the inherent biodegradability of lignin was retained after its transformation into nanofibers. Our findings imply that blending these two types of polymers is promising because it can lead to the development of a new range of multifunctional materials such as antimicrobial absorbent nanotextiles based on sustainable biopolymers.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.170-172
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• 2014

$CO_2$ sensor was used only one solid electrolyte in many cases. To improve the sensing characteristics of $CO_2$ sensors, solid electrolyte $CO_2$ sensor has been developed by bi-electrolyte type sensor using Na-Beta-alumina and YSZ. However, in many further studies, bi-electrolyte type sensor was made by pellet pressed by press machine and additional treatment for formation of interface. In the aspect of mass production, using thick film and additional treatment is not suitable. In this study, $CO_2$ sensor was fabricated by bi-electrolyte structure which was made by an NBA paste layer deposited on YSZ pellet and fired at $1650^{\circ}C$ for 2 hour. The formation of stable interface between YSZ and NBA were confirmed by SEM image. When the type IV electrochemical cell arrangement represented by $CO_2,O_2,Pt{\mid}Li_2CO_3-CaCO_3{\parallel}NBA{\parallel}YSZ{\mid}O_2,Pt$ is used to measure the $CO_2$ concentration in air. This sensor EMF should depend only on the concentration of $CO_2$ by logarithmic. Also, sensor shows $P_{CO_2}$ and EMF relationship like nerstian reaction at a temperature of $450^{\circ}C$.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.119-121
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• 2006

We studied the mechanical and magnetic properties of Y-Ba-Cu-O superconductor with and without resin and Ag impregnation. Bulk YBCO superconductor was manufactured with the top-seeded melt-growth method. Typical sample of 40mm X 20mm X 3mm was made and then 8 holes with 0.5mm diameter were drilled arbitrally. Epoxy resin and $AgNO_3$ were systematically added into the holes to compare the mechanical and magnetic properties of YBCO superconductor before and after reinforcement of resin and Ag. Based on the result of 3 point bending, bending strength increased with increasing amounts of resin and carbon nano-tube. However, it was found that the levitation force decreased after making hole, compared with virgin sample without hole.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.267-267
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• 2012

$TiO_2$-Ni inverse catalysts were prepared using atomic layer deposition (ALD) process and catalytic $CO_2$ reforming of methane (CRM) reaction over catalysts (either bare Ni or $TiO_2$ coated-Ni particles) were performed using a continuous flow reactor at $800^{\circ}C$. $TiO_2$-Ni inverse catalyst showed higher catalytic reactivity at initial stage of CRM reactions at $800^{\circ}C$ comparing to bare Ni catalysts. Moreover, catalytic activity of $TiO_2$/Ni catalyst was kept high during 13 hrs of the CRM reactions at $800^{\circ}C$, whereas deactivation of bare Ni surface was started within 1hr under same conditions. The results of surface analysis using SEM, XPS, and Raman showed that deposition of graphitic carbon was effectively suppressed in a presence of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles on Ni surface, thereby improving catalytic reactivity and stability of $TiO_2$/Ni catalytic systems. We suggest that utilizing decoration effect of metal catalyst with oxide nanoaprticles is of great potential to develop metal-based catalysts with high stability and reactivity.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.151-166
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• 2007

High-cycle fatigue characteristics of quasi-isotropic carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminates [-45/0/45/90]s up to $10^8$ cycles were investigated. To assess the fatigue behavior in the high-cycle region, fatigue tests were conducted at a frequency of 100 Hz, since it is difficult to investigate the fatigue characteristics in high-cycle at 5 Hz. Then, the damage behavior of the specimen was observed with a microscope, soft X-ray photography and a 3D ultrasonic inspection system. In this study, to evaluate quantitative characteristics of both transverse crack propagation and delamination growth in the high-cycle region, the energy release rate associated with damage growth in the width direction was calculated. Transverse crack propagation and delamination growth in the width direction were evaluated based on a modified Paris law approach. The results revealed that transverse crack propagation delayed under the test conditions of less than ${\sigma}_{max}/{\sigma}_b$ = 0.3 of the applied stress level.